أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ يَثْنُونَ صُدُورَهُمْ لِيَسْتَخْفُوا مِنْهُ ۚ أَلَا حِينَ يَسْتَغْشُونَ ثِيَابَهُمْ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ (5)
(11:5) Lo! They fold up their breasts that they may conceal themselves from Him. *5 Surely when they cover themselves up with their garments Allah knows well what they cover and what they reveal. Indeed He even knows the secrets hidden in the breasts.
*5). When the Prophet's mission became the talk of the day in Makka, some people showed considerable aversion to it, even if they did not actively oppose it. These people were unwilling to listen to the Prophet (peace be on him) and made a point of avoiding him. If they saw him somewhere they would turn their faces away or try to hide themselves. Such people made every effort to avoid any encounter with the Prophet (peace be on him) lest he might invite them to accept his teaching.
The present verse refers precisely to such people; they are portrayed as being frightened at the prospect of facing the truth. Ostrich-like they dug their heads in the sand, fancying that the reality itself had vanished. The fact, however, is that the reality remains, and testifies to the folly of those who hide from it.