Surah 80. Abasa

He frowned and turned 'his attention' away,

  - Mustafa Khattab

The (Prophet) frowned and turned away. ⁵⁹⁵⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See the Introduction to this Sura for the incident to which this refers. The lesson is that neither spiritual worth nor the prospect of effective spiritual guidance is to be measured by a man's position in life. The poor, or the blind, the halt, or the maimed, may be more susceptible to the teaching of Allah's Word than men who are apparently gifted, but who suffer from arrogance and self-sufficiency.

'simply' because the blind man came to him 'interrupting'.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 In a ḥadîth collected by At-Tirmiⱬi, a blind man by the name of ’Abdullâh ibn Um Maktûm, an early Muslim, came to the Prophet (ﷺ) seeking to learn more about the faith, while the Prophet (ﷺ) was in the middle of a discussion with an elite Meccan pagan, trying to convince him to abandon his idols and believe in the One True God. ’Abdullâh was so impatient that he interrupted the discussion several times. The Prophet (ﷺ) frowned and turned all his attention to the man he was already talking to. This Meccan sûrah was later revealed, telling the Prophet (ﷺ) that he should have tended to the faithful man who was eager to learn. After this sûrah was revealed, the Prophet (ﷺ) would honour ’Abdullâh, calling him ‘the man for whom my Lord rebuked me.’ He (ﷺ) even appointed him several times as his deputy over Medina.

Because there came to him the blind man (interrupting).

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

You never know 'O Prophet', perhaps he may be purified,

  - Mustafa Khattab

But what could tell thee but that perchance he might Grow (in spiritual understanding)?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

or he may be mindful, benefitting from the reminder.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Or that he might receive admonition and the teaching might profit him? ⁵⁹⁵¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It may be that the poor blind man might, on account of his will to learn, be more likely to grow in his own spiritual development or to profit by any lessons taught to him even in report than a self-sufficient leader. In fact it was so. For the blind man became a true and sincere Muslim and lived to become a governor of Madinah.

As for the one who was indifferent,

  - Mustafa Khattab

As to one who regards himself as self-sufficient ⁵⁹⁵²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Such a one would be a Pagan Quraish leader, whom the holy Prophet was anxious to get into his fold, in order that the work of preaching Allah's Message might be facilitated. But such a Message works first amongst the simple and lowly, the poor and despised folk, and the mighty ones of the earth only come in when the stream rushes in with irresistible force.

you gave him your 'undivided' attention,

  - Mustafa Khattab

To him dost thou attend;

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

even though you are not to blame if he would not be purified.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Though it is no blame to thee if he grow not (in spiritual understanding). ⁵⁹⁵³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah's Message is for all, but if the great ones arrogantly keep back from it, it is no fault of the preacher, so long as he has proclaimed the Message. He should attend to all, and specially to the humble and lowly.

But as for the one who came to you, eager 'to learn',

  - Mustafa Khattab

But as to him who came to thee striving earnestly

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

being in awe 'of Allah',

  - Mustafa Khattab

And with fear (in his heart) ⁵⁹⁵⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The fear in the blind man's heart may have been two-fold. (1) He was humble and God-fearing, not arrogant and self-sufficient; (2) being poor and blind, he feared to intrude; yet his earnest desire to learn the Qur-an made him bold, and he came, perhaps unseasonably, but was yet worthy of encouragement, because of the purity of his heart.

you were inattentive to him.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Of him wast thou unmindful.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali