If blessings mean praising the Messenger, caring for him, and manifesting his honour, excellence, and the reverence due to him—as is commonly understood from this expression—then “blessings” in the verse is not a homonymous term used in both its meanings. Rather, it is used in a single sense. This is the default rule governing words. Allah willing, we shall return to this issue when discussing His words:
“Indeed, Allah and His angels bestow blessings upon the Prophet.” [33:56]
As for turning away, Allah Most High says:
“Whenever a surah is revealed, they look at one another, saying, ‘Is anyone watching you?’ Then they turn away. Allah has turned their hearts away because they are a people who do not understand.” [9:127]
He—glorified is He—thus describes their action, namely turning away, and His action toward them, namely turning their hearts away from the Quran and reflection upon it, because they are not fit for this. The heart is neither fit nor receptive, for its fitness depends on two things: sound understanding and good intent.
These people’s hearts do not understand, and their intentions are evil. He—glorified is He—has expressly stated this in His words:
“Had Allah known any good in them, He would have made them hear. But even if He had made them hear, they would have turned away in aversion.” [8:23]
He—glorified is He—thus declares that they lack receptivity to faith and possess no goodness through which faith might enter their hearts. He therefore did not grant them a hearing that would bring understanding and benefit, although they heard it in a manner that established His proof against them. They did not attain the hearing accompanied by understanding with which the believers heard it.
He—glorified is He—then describes another obstacle within their hearts that would prevent them from believing even if He made them hear in this particular way: arrogance, turning away, and aversion. The first obstacle prevents understanding; the second prevents compliance and submission. Their understanding is unsound, and their intentions are corrupt. This is the mark of misguidance and the sign of wretchedness, just as sound understanding and good intent are the mark of guidance and the sign of felicity. Allah is the One whose help is sought.
Reflect upon His words—glorified is He:
“Then they turn away. Allah has turned their hearts away.”
Consider how He makes the second sentence—whether a statement of fact or a reiteration—a punishment for their turning away. He punished them for it with a further turning away, distinct from the first. Their turning away occurred because He—glorified is He—did not will or intend that they should turn toward it, since they possessed neither fitness nor receptivity. Thus, they were not granted receptiveness