﴿ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًۭا ۚ وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ كُلَّ ءَايَةٍۢ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوكَ يُجَٰدِلُونَكَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴾

“And there are among them such as [seem to] listen to thee [O Prophet]: but over their hearts We have laid veils which prevent them from grasping the truth, and into their ears, deafness. And were they to see every sign [of the truth], they would still not believe in it-so much so that when they come unto thee to contend with thee, those who are bent on denying the truth say, "This is nothing but fables of ancient times!"”

(Of them are some who listen unto you) Allah says: of the people of Mecca there are some who listen to your speech and words, among them Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb, al-Walid Ibn al-Mughira, al-Nadr Ibn al-Harith, 'Utbah and Shaybah the sons of Rabi'ah, Umayyah Ibn Khalaf, and al-Harth Ibn 'Amir, (but We have placed upon their hearts veils) a cover, (lest they should understand) so that they do not understand your speech or words, (and in their ears a deafness) so that they do not hear the Truth and guidance; it is also said this means: We have placed a heaviness in their ears so that they cannot comprehend the guidance. (If they saw every token) they have asked you to produce (they would not believe therein) this was asked by al-Harth Ibn 'Amir; (to the point that, when they come unto thee to argue with thee) asking you about what was revealed in the Qur'an, and when you informed them, (the disbelievers) i.e. al-Nadr Ibn al-Harith (say: This) what Muhammad (s)ays (is naught else than fables of the men of old) the lies and stories of people of old.