[2:19] Or as a cloudburst out of the heaven in which is darkness, and thunder, and lightening - they put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps, cautious of death; and God encompasses the disbelievers.
The meaning of His saying, 'Or', is because He gives either one of these two similitudes for [the hypocrites]. He compares the QurÌān to rain descending from the heaven and compares the promises and threats in the QurÌān to the thunder and lightening in the rain. He compares their seeking refuge in fleeing from hearing the QurÌān, their distancing themselves from attentiveness, and their neglect in trying to gain insight, to those who put their fingers in their ears against hearing the sounds of thunder. Similarly, the allusion is to the heedless when the admonitions of those who admonish reach their ears, or the lights of felicity shine on their hearts. If they would desist from their blind heedlessness, they would be happy. But they keep each other distracted by false hopes and have resolved upon their corrupt path. They make weak excuses and swear by God, 'Had we been able, we would have gone forth with you', destroying their souls [9:42] and they bring about the destruction by their own hands.
Truly when the noble one
gives you his love,
he veils the ugly
and brings the beautiful to light.
Similarly, when the one who is tired
wants to break things off
He becomes weary of being together
and says, 'That was that.