Signification
Lacking both physical sight and understanding or discernment.
Contexte culturel
The phrase is deeply tied to the Quranic view that the 'heart' sees more than the 'eye'. Spiritual blindness is considered a greater tragedy than physical blindness. Blind poets like Al-Ma'arri used this concept to claim they saw the 'truth' of the world better than those with sight. Journalists use this phrase to criticize 'political blindness' in the Middle East, especially regarding regional conflicts. In Sufi mysticism, 'Basira' is the goal of the spiritual path—to see the divine reality behind the physical veil.
Use for Impact
Save this phrase for the conclusion of an essay or a dramatic moment in a speech to maximize its rhetorical weight.
Gender Matters
Remember to change 'A'ma' to 'Amya' (عمياء) when talking about a woman, or you will sound ungrammatical.
Signification
Lacking both physical sight and understanding or discernment.
Use for Impact
Save this phrase for the conclusion of an essay or a dramatic moment in a speech to maximize its rhetorical weight.
Gender Matters
Remember to change 'A'ma' to 'Amya' (عمياء) when talking about a woman, or you will sound ungrammatical.
Respect the Blind
In modern Arabic, 'Kafif' (كفيف) or 'Faqid al-basar' are preferred for physical blindness. Use 'A'ma' primarily for this idiom or in classical contexts.
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
الرجل الذي يظلم الناس هو شخص أعمى ___ والبصيرة.
The standard idiom uses 'al-basar' (البصر) to pair with 'al-basira'.
Which of these best describes 'Basira'?
ما هو معنى 'البصيرة' في هذا السياق؟
Basira refers to wisdom and deep understanding, not physical sight.
Match the situation to the phrase.
A politician ignores the suffering of the poor while claiming the economy is perfect.
This situation perfectly illustrates a lack of both physical awareness and moral insight.
Choose the best response.
أحمد: 'لماذا خسر التاجر كل أمواله؟' سارة: 'لأنه كان...'
The idiom explains his failure to see and understand the market.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesالرجل الذي يظلم الناس هو شخص أعمى ___ والبصيرة.
The standard idiom uses 'al-basar' (البصر) to pair with 'al-basira'.
ما هو معنى 'البصيرة' في هذا السياق؟
Basira refers to wisdom and deep understanding, not physical sight.
A politician ignores the suffering of the poor while claiming the economy is perfect.
This situation perfectly illustrates a lack of both physical awareness and moral insight.
أحمد: 'لماذا خسر التاجر كل أمواله؟' سارة: 'لأنه كان...'
The idiom explains his failure to see and understand the market.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt is a strong critique, but not a slur. It is used to describe a moral or intellectual failing, not to mock physical disability.
Only if you are describing a past mistake you learned from. Using it to describe others might make you sound too judgmental.
Basar is the faculty of sight; Nadar is the act of looking. Basira is the faculty of understanding.
Yes, you can just say 'أعمى البصيرة' (blind of insight).
Yes: 'عُمي البصر والبصيرة' (Umy al-basar wal-basira).
It is understood everywhere but used mostly in formal speech (MSA). Dialects have their own versions.
No, it is only used for people or entities like governments/companies.
The opposite is 'ثاقب البصيرة' (having piercing insight).
It has religious roots but is used in secular contexts today.
With a 'Sad' (ص), not a 'Sin' (س). This is a common spelling mistake.
Expressions liées
طمس على قلبه
synonymTo have one's heart sealed/blinded
بعيد النظر
contrastFar-sighted/Visionary
قصير النظر
similarShort-sighted
لا يرى أبعد من أنفه
similarCan't see past his nose
بصيرة نافذة
builds onPiercing insight
