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
وَمَا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْبَحْرَانِ هَـٰذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَآئِغٌ شَرَابُهُۥ وَهَـٰذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ ۖ وَمِن كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا ۖ وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And not alike are the two seas [i.e., bodies of water]. One is fresh and sweet, palatable for drinking, and one is salty and bitter. And from each you eat tender meat and extract ornaments which you wear, and you see the ships plowing through [them] that you might seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.
إِنْ أَنتَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ
You, [O Muḥammad], are not but a warner.
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ شُرَكَآءَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ أَمْ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمْ كِتَـٰبًا فَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَتٍ مِّنْهُ ۚ بَلْ إِن يَعِدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ بَعْضُهُم بَعْضًا إِلَّا غُرُورًا
Say, "Have you considered your 'partners' whom you invoke besides Allāh? Show me what they have created from the earth, or have they partnership [with Him] in the heavens? Or have We given them a book so they are [standing] on evidence therefrom? [No], rather, the wrongdoers do not promise each other except delusion."
وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
And if they deny you, [O Muḥammad] - already were messengers denied before you. And to Allāh are returned [all] matters.