وَمَا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْبَصِيرُ 19
Translations
Not equal are the blind and the seeing,
Transliteration
Wa mā yastawi al-a'mā wa-al-basīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that the blind and the sighted are not equal, serving as a metaphorical comparison between those who are spiritually blind (heedless of divine signs) and those who possess spiritual insight and faith. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this as referring primarily to spiritual blindness and sight—the blindness of disbelief versus the sight of belief—though the literal comparison illustrates the principle that differences in perception lead to vastly different outcomes in understanding divine truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Fatir, which is a Meccan surah emphasizing God's creative power and the contrast between believers and disbelievers. It uses the metaphor of physical blindness to illustrate the spiritual condition of those who reject Allah's signs, continuing the surah's theme of highlighting disparities in human understanding and faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. And another portion of it was hard and held the water; and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, making their animals drink from it and for irrigation of the land for cultivation. And a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation.' (Sahih Bukhari 79)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that the capacity to recognize and accept divine truth is not equal for all—those who open their hearts to Allah's guidance gain clarity, while those who turn away remain in spiritual darkness. We should earnestly seek knowledge and faith, recognizing that our spiritual vision directly determines our path in this life and the next.
Related Ayahs
ٱسْتِكْبَارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَكْرَ ٱلسَّيِّئِ ۚ وَلَا يَحِيقُ ٱلْمَكْرُ ٱلسَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِۦ ۚ فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا سُنَّتَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ۚ فَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا ۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَحْوِيلًا
[Due to] arrogance in the land and plotting of evil; but the evil plot does not encompass except its own people. Then do they await except the way [i.e., fate] of the former peoples? But you will never find in the way [i.e., established method] of Allāh any change, and you will never find in the way of Allāh any alteration.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَـٰرَةً لَّن تَبُورَ
Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allāh and establish prayer and spend [in His cause] out of what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, [can] expect a transaction [i.e., profit] that will never perish -
وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا ٱلْحَزَنَ ۖ إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
And they will say, "Praise to Allāh, who has removed from us [all] sorrow. Indeed, our Lord is Forgiving and Appreciative -
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ بَصِيرًۢا
And if Allāh were to impose blame on the people for what they have earned, He would not leave upon it [i.e., the earth] any creature. But He defers them for a specified term. And when their time comes, then indeed Allāh has ever been, of His servants, Seeing.