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Bismillāh.
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنظُرُ إِلَيْكَ ۚ أَفَأَنتَ تَهْدِي الْعُمْيَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا لَا يُبْصِرُونَ
There are some of them who observe you. But can you guide the blind even if they do not perceive?.
(Sūrat Yūnus No.10, Āyat 43)
Human beings are gifted with many remarkable faculties. One of the most important faculties is the faculty of sight. The eyes are like a person’s window to the world. They shape his perception of reality. Allah ‘azza wajall praises this faculty and encourages men to use it as a means of attaining guidance. He calls upon man to look at various phenomena in this world, such as His signs in His creation, the character of His prophet and the lives and structures of preceding civilizations. For example, He says in Sūrat al-Ghāshiyah:
أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى الْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ
“Do they not look at the camels—how they are created?” (Q 88:17)
In this verse, Allah the Almighty, invites man to observe and look carefully at the manner in which He has created the camel. The word yanẓurūna is derived from the word naẓarun, which means “to look” or “to direct one’s vision toward something in order to perceive it.” A deep perception of reality cannot be attained by merely looking at a camel with the physical eye. One must look with the intention to reflect and contemplate. Through this inner gaze the signs of Allah’s power and wisdom will become more evident.
However, if the faculty of sight is not used properly, it can also become a barrier to true guidance. Like every Divine gift, when it is used appropriately, it becomes a ni’mah (blessing), and if it is not used for its purpose, it becomes a niqmah (punishment). It can be inferred from the verse in discussion that there are two types of gazes:
The Closed-Minded Gaze: A person with a closed-minded gaze does not seek to learn or understand. They are stubbornly attached to some preconceived ideas, and they impose those ideas on what their eyes can see. Such a person seeks to find faults and criticize others instead of listening to them and learning from them. The Qur’an considers such people to be blind. In fact, their condition is worse than blindness because a blind person is unable to see, while this person is choosing not to see. Hence, Allah subhānahu wataʿālā says to the prophet, “But can you guide the blind even if they do not perceive?”
The Open-Minded Gaze: This is a gaze of genuine observation, seeking to learn and benefit from what the eyes can see. The true companions would gaze at the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-ālihi wasallam with the intention of learning from his goodness and following in his footsteps.
لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ
“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example.” (Q 33:21)
Allah (swt) has blessed every human being with a sense of curiosity. He has given sight (basar) to every human being and also given him a basic level of insight (basirah). By using these senses well the human being can understand the true meaning of life. It is narrated that Hārūn al-Abbasi wrote to Imam al-Kazim ‘alayhis-salām saying: ‘Advise me briefly.’ Imam (a) wrote: ‘There is nothing your eyes see except that it contains a lesson.’ (Shaykh Ṣadūq, Al-Amāli, p 599).
We pray to the Almighty to guide us by deepening our insights and making us firm in our faith. It is mentioned in the supplication the Holy Prophet (s) taught Imam Ali (a) that is recommended to be recited after every obligatory prayer, “O Allah fill my heart and mind with true enlightenment, discerning intelligence, quick understanding and knowledge”. We pray for the hastening of the reappearance of Imam al-Hujjah ‘ajjallāhu farajah.
Sources: Āyatullāh Nāsir Makārim Shirāzī (Ed.), Tafsīr-e Namūneh; Shaykh Tabarsī, Tafsīr Majma‘ al-Bayān; Sh. Al-Tūsī, Al-Tibyān fī Tafsīril Quran.
Sources: Allāmah Muhammad Husayn Tabātabā’ī, Tafsīr al-Mīzān
ALI 703: Lessons from the Timeless Event of Karbala
The movement of Imam al-Husayn (ʿa) offers timeless lessons in akhlāq, guiding us to higher spiritual and ethical heights. In this webinar we will reflect on Sayyidah Zaynab (ʿa)’s contributions to this sacred legacy — focusing on the theme of Fervor and Honor (Ghayrah) with insights from the Qur’an and the Ahadith of the Maʿsūmīn (ʿa).
Schedule: Sunday, Oct 26, 2025
Timings: 1:30 pm to 3 pm in Toronto/NY; 10:30 am to 12pm LA/Vancouver
Instructor: Syed Ali Kazmi
Fees: CAD $10.00