"Then to him you attend" (فَأَنتَ لَهُ تَصَدَّىٰ)

"You attend to him," meaning you approach him and occupy yourself with him by turning towards him, showing concern for his guidance and seeking his rectification. In this, there is an intensified warning to the Prophet—may the Exalted God bless him and grant him peace—against keeping their company. For turning towards one who turns away is detrimental to one’s dignity. Hence it has been said:

I do not seek the connection of one who does not seek my connection, Nor do I soften for one who does not desire my gentleness. By God, if my own hand were to dislike my companionship, For a single day, I would say to it: "Separate yourself from my company."

The two Haramayn scholars (Ibn Kathīr and Nāfiʿ) read taṣaddā (تَصَّدَّىٰ) with a shaddah on the ṣād, based on the original form tataṣaddā (تتصدى), where the tāʾ was changed into a ṣād and assimilated. Abū Jaʿfar read tuṣaddā (تُصَدَّىٰ) with a ḍamma on the tāʾ and a light ṣād in the passive voice, meaning "you are made to attend." The implication is: that which calls you to attend to him and approach him is an intense eagerness and an increased desire for his conversion to Islam.

The origin of taṣaddā—according to what is in al-Baḥr—is taṣaddud, from al-ṣadad, which is that which faces you and is situated opposite you. It is said, "My house is ṣadada his house," meaning opposite it. It has also been said that it is derived from al-ṣadā, meaning thirst; or that it is from al-ṣadā, which is the well-known echo.