a black banner. (1)

“And what could make you know? Perhaps he may purify himself, or be reminded, and the reminder may benefit him. But as for one who considers himself self-sufficient, you give him your full attention, though you are not responsible if he does not purify himself. But as for the one who comes to you striving, while he fears Allah, from him you are distracted. No indeed! This is a reminder. So whoever wills may remember it, inscribed in honored scrolls.”

“And what could make you know? Perhaps he may purify himself”: that is, cleanse himself of sins through righteous deeds and through what he learns from you. Ibn Zayd said: he may embrace Islam. “Or be reminded”: that is, take admonition. “And the reminder may benefit him”: namely, the exhortation. Asim recited “and the reminder may benefit him” with the letter ayn in the subjunctive, as the result of “perhaps,” introduced by the particle fa' (then/so). The majority recited it in the indicative, coordinated with “be reminded.”

“But as for one who considers himself self-sufficient”: Ibn Abbas said: self-sufficient from Allah and from faith because of his wealth. “You give him your full attention”: you turn toward him, receive him attentively, and listen to what he says. The people of the Hijaz recited it with the letter sad doubled through assimilation—that is, as “you turn yourself attentively toward him”—while others recited it with a single sad, with the initial ta omitted.

“Though you are not responsible if he does not purify himself”: that is, if he does not believe or receive guidance; your duty is only to convey the message. “But as for the one who comes to you striving”: that is, Ibn Umm Maktum, making his way to you. “While he fears”: Allah, exalted is He. “From him you are distracted”: you occupy yourself with other matters and turn away from him. (2)

“No indeed!” This is a rebuke: do not do anything like that again. “This”: that is, this exhortation. Muqatil said: the verses of the Quran. “Is a reminder”: an exhortation and a means of reminding mankind. “So whoever wills”: among Allah’s servants, “may remember it”: that is, may take admonition from it. Muqatil said: whoever Allah wills will remember it, understand it, and take admonition through His will and His granting of understanding. The pronoun in “remember it” refers to the Quran, the revelation, and the exhortation.

He then spoke of its lofty rank with Him, saying: “Inscribed in honored scrolls”: that is, the Preserved Tablet. It was also said: the Books of the prophets, peace be upon them, as indicated by His words: