startled wild donkeys fleeing from a lion.”

He does not remind such people as he reminds the believers, when the proof has already been established against them and they turn away from the reminder, refusing to listen. Hence Allah said:

“He frowned and turned away because the blind man came to him. Yet how could you know? Perhaps he might purify himself, or take heed and benefit from the reminder. As for him who considers himself self-sufficient, you give him your attention, though you are not accountable if he does not purify himself. But as for him who comes to you earnestly, fearing Allah, you neglect him.”

Thus, He commanded him to attend to those who came to him seeking purification and wishing to take heed.

He also said:

“He who fears will take heed,”

through to His words:

“He who purifies himself has certainly succeeded.”

Here He mentioned taking heed and purification, just as He mentioned them in the other passage. He commanded him to attend to those who turned towards him rather than those who turned away from him, for the former benefit from the reminder, unlike the latter.

He is therefore commanded to give those who benefit from the reminder a reminder specifically addressed to them, distinct from the general conveyance of the message by which the proof is established. As Allah said:

“So turn away from them; you are not to blame. And remind, for the reminder benefits the believers.”

He also said:

“Do not recite too loudly in your prayer or too quietly, but seek a way between.”

In the two Sahīh collections, Ibn ‘Abbās said: “When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, recited the Quran, the polytheists would hear him and revile the Quran, the one to whom it was revealed, and the one who brought it. Allah therefore said to him: ‘Do not recite it aloud, lest the polytheists hear it, and do not recite it too quietly