An-Naml · Makki · ayah 81 of 93

An-Naml 27:81

وَمَآ أَنتَ بِهَـٰدِى ٱلْعُمْىِ عَن ضَلَـٰلَتِهِمْ ۖ إِن تُسْمِعُ إِلَّا مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَهُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

“And you cannot guide the blind away from their error. You will only make hear those who believe in Our verses so they are Muslims [i.e., submitting to Allāh].”

Saheeh International

Essence

Guiding the blind out of their straying is Allah's alone; the ones who truly hear are those who believe, ponder, act and submit.

A reflection

He can give the bearing, not lift the fog

The lexicons picture ʿamā, blindness, as covering. A thick cloud that settled on the mountain tops was ʿamāʾ. Land was ʿāmiya when it had no marks and no one could find the way.

Picture a coastguard officer on the radio at night. A small yacht is lost in fog off a rocky headland. He can give the safe bearing, clearly and repeatedly. He cannot lift the fog. Whether the skipper turns the wheel is out of his hands.

The ayah has two well-known readings: you are not the guide of the blind, and you do not guide the blind. One classical commentator says they are close in meaning. Guiding them out of their straying is Allah's, if He wills. So keep giving the bearing. That part was always yours.

The full entry has 2 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.