of people toward the storyteller. Sa'id said, “How quickly people hasten to this gathering!” Mujahid said: “I said, ‘They understand the saying of the Most High, “who call upon their Lord morning and evening,” to refer to this.’ He said, ‘Is that what it refers to? Rather, ⦗118/b⦘ it refers to the prayer from which we have just departed.’”

Ibrahim al-Nakha'i said: This means that they remember their Lord. It was also said that what is meant is supplication in its literal sense. “Seeking His countenance” means: they seek Allah through their obedience. Ibn Abbas said: They seek Allah’s reward.

He then said: “You are not accountable for them in any way, nor are they accountable for you in any way, so that you would drive them away.” That is, you are not charged with their affairs, nor are they charged with yours. It was also said: Their provision is not your responsibility, such that you should grow weary of them, nor is your provision their responsibility.

His words, “so that you would drive them away,” are the consequence of His words, “You are not accountable for them in any way”; and His words, “and thus become one of the wrongdoers,” are the consequence of His words, “Do not drive them away.” One is the consequence of a negation, and the other the consequence of a prohibition.