'So you are for him' means without the blind man. 'You strive' means you expose yourself by approaching him and exerting effort in advising him, hoping for his Islam and the Islam of his followers through his Islam. They are 'Utbah ibn Rabiah, Abu Jahl, and [Ubayy and] Umayyah ibn Khalaf. He indicated the omission of the letter 'taa' in the reading of the congregation and its merging in the reading of Nafi' and Ibn Kathir [to] indicate that this was in a light manner, as is the habit of the wise.

And Imam Abu Ja'far ibn al-Zubair said: When He, glorified and exalted is He, said, "Indeed, in that is a lesson for whoever fears" [An-Nazi'at: 26], and then said, "You are only a warner for whoever fears it" [An-Nazi'at: 45], this other surah was opened with an example that reveals the intended meaning regarding the state of the people of remembrance and fear, and the beautiful care of the Lord for them. And although they may be in their worldly lives of low status, not cared for by others, they are with Him, glorified and exalted is He, among those He has chosen for His worship and His obedience, and the response to His Messenger, blessings and peace be upon him. And the highest rank for them with Him is, "Perhaps a disheveled, dusty person, who is not cared for, if he swears by Allah, He will fulfill his oath." Among them is Ibn Umm Maktum, the blind, the caller to prayer of the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him. He is the one because of whom the surah was revealed, and it came as a rebuke to His Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, and a reminder for him to treat his noble self with patience towards the likes of Ibn Umm Maktum, and not to belittle him, and may Allah protect him from that. However, the warning from this, even if there was no occurrence that indicates the great care for whom he warned, includes His saying, glorified and exalted is He, "If you associate others with Allah, your work will surely become worthless" [Az-Zumar: 65], and "And do not invoke with Allah another deity" [Al-Qasas: 88], and "And do not walk upon the earth exultantly" [Al-Isra: 37]. This is abundant, and elaborating on this type does not suit our purpose in this commentary. When Ibn Umm Maktum entered upon him, blessings and peace be upon him, asking and seeking guidance while he was speaking to a man from the nobles of Quraysh, and he had hoped for his Islam and the hope of saving him from the Fire and saving his family and followers, this man persisted in his request while he was hoping for him, and he neglected the immediate response to him. His insistence troubled him, fearing the loss of the latter and his retreat and destruction. Glorified and exalted is He, rebuked him and said: "He frowned and turned away" [Abasa: 1], "Because the blind man came to him" [Abasa: 2], "And what can make you know? Perhaps he might be purified" [Abasa: 3], "Or be reminded" [Abasa: 4]. This is an obligation from Him, glorified and exalted is He. And it has preceded in the surah before the words of Musa, peace be upon him, "Would you like to purify yourself?" [An-Nazi'at: 18]. He did not consider that for him, nor did he benefit from the distance of his fame in his worldly life, nor did what he attained from it suffice him, and the means of his planning failed him, and the news became unclear to him until he said, "I do not know of you any god other than me, so light for me, O Haman, on the clay, and make for me a tower that I may look at the god of Musa" [Al-Qasas: 38]. "And indeed, I think he is a liar, and thus was the evil of his deed made attractive to Pharaoh, and he was hindered from the way" [Ghafir: 37]. So how could he be purified? If happiness had preceded him, he would have seen from his state the eye of distraction and play when he said the disgraceful words, "Or am I better than this one who is insignificant?" [Az-Zukhruf: 52].

And when the best reward had preceded for the son of Umm Maktum, the lack of worldly reputation did not harm him, nor did his blindness detract from him. Rather, his Lord magnified his status when it was revealed concerning him, "And what can make you know? Perhaps he will purify himself" [Abasa: 3] "Or he will be reminded and the reminder will benefit him" [Abasa: 4]. So what a great reputation he has, unlike those whose mention was advanced, yet they were expelled and did not purify themselves nor benefited from the reminder when it was intended for them, "Indeed, you are only a warner for those who fear it" [An-Nazi'at: 45], like the son of Umm Maktum. And among the verses revealed concerning the son of Umm Maktum is His saying, "And be patient with those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, desiring His face" [Al-Kahf: 28] and His saying, "And do not drive away those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, desiring His face" [Al-An'am: 52]. So blessed is our Lord, how great is His kindness to His servants. O Allah, do not let us despair of Your mercy, nor cause us to lose hope in Your kindness, and do not cut us off from You by Your grace and benevolence.