Waminhum man yanthuru ilayka afaanta tahdee alAAumya walaw kanoo la yubsiroon (surah Yunus: 43)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(10:43) And of them some look towards you; will you, then, guide the blind, even though they can see nothing? *51

Wa minhum mai yanzuru ilaik; afa anta tahdil `umya wa law kaanoo laa yubsiroon

*51). The import of the statement is substantially the same as that made above. The limb called the 'eye' is of little service if it serves no other purpose than that of observation. For the eye, as an instrument of observation, is also available to animals and they use it solely for that purpose. What is of true worth is the mental eye which ought to enable man to see not only that which is apparent and evident, but also that which is beyond that. If a man is not possessed of this mental eye - which is the true eye - then even though he might be able to observe in the literal sense of the word, he cannot be considered to be one who truly sees.
Both these verses are addressed to the Prophet (peace be on him). But it is to those whom he wanted to reform rather than directly to himself that the reproach was directed. Moreover, the purpose of the statement is not just to reproach. The pinching sarcasm which has been employed in the statement aims at awakening the slumbering humanity of people so that they may be able to take heed.
The manner of the discourse brings to mind the image of a righteous man who lives in the midst of a corrupt people. He is a man who maintains for himself extremely high standards of character and conduct. At the same time, he attempts, out of sincerity and goodwill, to awaken his fellow-beings to realize the low depths to which they have sunk. He also seeks to explain to them, out of sincere concern for them, how evil their ways of life are. And above all, he highlights for them the contours of the right way of life. But the people around him are such that they are neither inspired to righteousness by his practical and righteous example, nor do they pay any heed to his earnest counsel and admonition. The purpose of what has been said here, viz.'... will you, then, make the deaf hear even though they understand nothing?' should be understood in the above context.
This statement resembles the remark of someone who, feeling disgusted when he finds his friend fails to make people hear his earnest exhortations, throws up his hands in exasperation and says: 'Are you not wasting your time, my friend, trying to make the deaf hear, or trying to direct the blind to the right path? The ears that would make them listen to the voice of the truth are sealed; the eyes that could have made them perceive the truth have been blinded.' The purpose of so saying is not to reproach that righteous person for his sincere exhortation nor to prevent him from making his efforts to reform people. What