Tafsir of Al-Isra 17:72

"And whoever is in this [world] blind, will be blind in the Hereafter and more astray in way."

Meaning: Whoever is blind in this world will likewise be blind in the Hereafter, and "more astray in way" than the blind person.

The Metaphor: The term "blind" is used metaphorically for one who does not perceive visible things due to a defect in their sense, applied here to one who does not find the path to salvation.

• In this world: It is due to the lack of insight.
• In the Hereafter: It is because guidance to the path will be of no benefit to him.

Some scholars have permitted the second [instance of "blind"] to be in the comparative form (af‘al al-tafḍīl). Hence, Abu ‘Amr read the first with imāla (inclination of the vowel) and the second with tafkhīm (full sound). This is because the comparative form is completed by the word min (than), making its alif effectively situated in the middle of the speech—similar to your saying "your deeds" (a‘mālukum). As for the first, nothing is attached to it, so its alif is situated at the end, making it susceptible to imāla.

"And indeed, they were about to tempt you away from that which We revealed to you, in order to invent about Us something else; and then they would have taken you as a friend. And if We had not strengthened you, you would have almost inclined to them a little. Then [if you had], We would have made you taste double [punishment in] life and double [punishment after] death. Then you would not find for yourself against Us any helper."