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wa-man kāna fī hādhihī ʾaʿmā fa-huwa fī l-ʾākhirati ʾaʿmā wa-ʾaḍallu sabīlan
But whoever has been blind in this [world], will be blind in the Hereafter, and [even] more astray from the [right] way.
— Ali Quli Qarai
17Al-Isrā’الإسراءVerse 72 of 111
The Night Journey17. Al-Isrā’الإسراء
Al Isrā’
The Night Journey
MeccanVerse 72 of 111
Surah Isra’ – Verse 72
72. “And, whoever is blind in this (life), he will (also) be blind in the Hereafter and (even) more erring from the way.”
Those who have turned a blind eye to the face of the truth in this world, will be likewise and even more misled in the Hereafter. They will neither be led in this world to the way of guidance, nor do they find the way to Heaven and prosperity in Hereafter, for they have turned a blind eye to all the realities, thus they have deprived themselves from all of the blessings which the Lord had bestowed upon them. As the world Hereafter is a grand reflection of this world, it would by no means be astonishing to find that such blind-folded people enter the doomsday scene in their like manner.
The verse says:
“And, whoever is blind in this (life), he will (also) be blind in the Hereafter and (even) more erring from the way.”
Explanations
In addition to those who rise up from death as deaf and dumb in the resurrection day, there will also be seen scenes where people are as blind, which case has its roots in their ‘ inwardly blindness’ in this world. Some Islamic quotations denote that whoever is required to go on a ‘Hajj pilgrimage’ but he does not perform the ceremonies on site, or he who reads the Qur’an but he does not practice accordingly, will be mustered blind in Hereafter.6
Being inwardly blind is a worse situation than being a really blind by eyes. As Hadrat Ali (as) remarks:
“The worst kind of blindness, is the blindness at heart.”
He (as) has also stated:
“The worst (and the hardest form) of blindness is (when) someone is blind unto our excellence.” 7
Cases of blindness on the resurrection day, have also been reiterated in other verses as well, among which one may refer to verse 97, of the Surah ‘Isra’ which says:
“We shall muster them on the Day of Resurrection upon their faces, blind, dumb, and deaf whose dwelling shall be Hell…”.
And again verse 125 of Surah TaHa, No. 20, indicates the rising blind from the dead on the resurrection day as the consequence of being inwardly blind and neglectful to the Divine verses in this world and turning away form accepting the truth. Imam Baqir (as) remarks:
“Whoever does not acquire the true spiritual benefit by witnessing the creation, is far worse blinded in the Hereafter which he has not witnessed.” 8
Question: We have it in some verses that on Hereafter Day the sinners are commanded to read their record. How would that be feasible and compatible despite such verses with regard to their conditions of blindness? Answer: Their case of blindness is confined to one of the passing stages of the resurrection day; they will regain their eye-sight in other phases, witnessing clearly those cases and facts which they have failed to grasp in the world.
Footnotes