’Abasa (Surah 80)
'Abasa (He Frowned)
Makki SurahIntroduction
In a ḥadîth collected by At-Tirmiⱬi, a blind man by the name of ’Abdullâh ibn Um Maktûm, an early Muslim, came to the Prophet (ﷺ) seeking to learn more about the faith, while the Prophet (ﷺ) was in the middle of a discussion with an elite Meccan pagan, trying to convince him to abandon his idols and believe in the One True God. ’Abdullâh was so impatient that he interrupted the discussion several times. The Prophet (ﷺ) frowned and turned all his attention to the man he was already talking to. This Meccan sûrah was later revealed, telling the Prophet (ﷺ) that he should have tended to the faithful man who was eager to learn. After this sûrah was revealed, the Prophet (ﷺ) would honour ’Abdullâh, calling him ‘the man for whom my Lord rebuked me.’ He (ﷺ) even appointed him several times as his deputy over Medina. The sûrah calls upon the ungrateful disbelievers to reflect on how Allah produces plants out of the earth to realize how He can bring the dead out of their graves. The description of the horrors of the apocalypse is carried over to the next sûrah. In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
A Lesson to the Prophet
1. He frowned and turned (his attention) away, 2. (simply) because the blind man came to him (interrupting). 3. You never know (O Prophet), perhaps he may be purified, 4. or he may be mindful, benefitting from the reminder. 5. As for the one who was indifferent, 6. you gave him your (undivided) attention, 7. even though you are not to blame if he would not be purified. 8. But as for the one who came to you, eager (to learn), 9. being in awe (of Allah), 10. you were inattentive to him. 11. But no! This (revelation) is truly a reminder. 12. So let whoever wills be mindful of it. 13. It is (written) on pages held in honour— 14. highly esteemed, purified— 15. by the hands of angel-scribes, 16. honourable and virtuous.
Surah 80 - 'Abasa (He Frowned) - Verses 1-16
A Reminder to Resurrection Deniers
17. Condemned are (disbelieving) humans! How ungrateful they are (to Allah)! 18. From what substance did He create them? 19. He created them from a sperm-drop, and ordained their development. 20. Then He makes the way easy for them, 21. then causes them to die and be buried. 22. Then when He wills, He will resurrect them. 23. But no! They have failed to comply with what He ordered. 24. Let people then consider their food: 25. how We pour down rain in abundance 26. and meticulously split the earth open (for sprouts), 27. causing grain to grow in it, 28. as well as grapes and greens, 29. and olives and palm trees, 30. and dense orchards, 31. and fruit and fodder— 32. all as (a means of) sustenance for you and your animals.
Surah 80 - 'Abasa (He Frowned) - Verses 17-32
The Overwhelming Day
33. Then, when the Deafening Blast comes to pass— 34. on that Day every person will flee from their own siblings, 35. and (even) their mother and father, 36. and (even) their spouse and children. 37. For then everyone will have enough concern of their own. 38. On that Day (some) faces will be bright, 39. laughing and rejoicing, 40. while (other) faces will be dusty, 41. cast in gloom— 42. those are the disbelievers, the (wicked) sinners.