Commentary on Sūrat ʿAbasa

﴾In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.﴿

﴾He frowned and turned away because the blind man came to him. Yet what could make you know? Perhaps he might purify himself, or take heed and benefit from the reminder. As for the one who considers himself self-sufficient, you give him your attention, though you are not accountable if he does not purify himself. But as for the one who came to you striving, being mindful of Allah, you were distracted from him. No indeed! This is a reminder; so let whoever wills take heed. It is contained in honored pages, exalted and purified, in the hands of scribes, noble and virtuous.﴿

The basmala has already been discussed.

﴾He frowned and turned away﴿: The pronoun refers to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. “He frowned” means that his face became stern; that is, he showed his disapproval through his facial expression. “Turned away” means that he averted his attention. ﴾Because the blind man came to him﴿: The blind man was ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr ibn Umm Maktūm, may Allah be pleased with him. He came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, before the Hijrah, while he was in Mecca. At the time, some eminent men of Quraysh were with him whose conversion to Islam the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, hoped for. It is well known that when eminent and noble people embrace Islam, this becomes a cause for those under their influence to embrace Islam as well. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was therefore extremely eager for their conversion.

This blind man came and questioned the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. It is related that he would say, “Teach me some of what Allah has taught you,” and would ask the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to recite to him. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would turn away from him and frown at him, hoping and eagerly desiring—