Abasa (عبس)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ
'Abasa wa tawallaa.
HE FROWNED and turned away
أَنْ جَاءَهُ الْأَعْمَىٰ
An jaa-ahul 'a-maa
because the blind man approached him!
وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُ يَزَّكَّىٰ
Wa maa yudreeka la'allahu yaz zakkaa.
Yet for all thou didst know, [O Muhammad,] he might perhaps have grown in purity,
أَوْ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنْفَعَهُ الذِّكْرَىٰ
Au yaz zak karu fatanfa 'ahuz zikraa.
or have been reminded [of the truth], and helped by this reminder.
أَمَّا مَنِ اسْتَغْنَىٰ
Amma manis taghnaa
Now as for him who believes himself to be self-sufficient
فَأَنْتَ لَهُ تَصَدَّىٰ
Fa-anta lahu tasaddaa
to him didst thou give thy whole attention,
وَمَا عَلَيْكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ
Wa ma 'alaika allaa yaz zakka.
although thou art not accountable for his failure to attain to purity;
وَأَمَّا مَنْ جَاءَكَ يَسْعَىٰ
Wa amma man jaa-aka yas'a
but as for him who came unto thee full of eagerness
وَهُوَ يَخْشَىٰ
Wahuwa yakhshaa,
and in awe [of God]
فَأَنْتَ عَنْهُ تَلَهَّىٰ
Fa-anta 'anhu talah haa.
him didst thou disregard!
كَلَّا إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ
Kalla innaha tazkirah
NAY, VERILY, these [messages] are but a reminder:
فَمَنْ شَاءَ ذَكَرَهُ
Faman shaa a zakarah
and so, whoever is willing may remember Him
فِي صُحُفٍ مُكَرَّمَةٍ
Fi suhufim mukar rama,
in [the light of His] revelations blest with dignity,
مَرْفُوعَةٍ مُطَهَّرَةٍ
Marfoo'atim mutah hara,
lofty and pure,
بِأَيْدِي سَفَرَةٍ
Bi'aidee safara
[borne] by the hands of messengers
كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ
Kiraamim bararah.
noble and most virtuous.
قُتِلَ الْإِنْسَانُ مَا أَكْفَرَهُ
Qutilal-insanu maa akfarah.
[But only too often] man destroys himself: how stubbornly does he deny the truth!
مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَهُ
Min aiyyi shai-in Khalaq
[Does man ever consider] out of what substance [God] creates him?
مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ خَلَقَهُ فَقَدَّرَهُ
Min nutfah; khalaqahu faqad-darah.
Out of a drop of sperm He creates him, and thereupon determines his nature,
ثُمَّ السَّبِيلَ يَسَّرَهُ
Thummas sabeela yas-sarah
and then makes it easy for him to go through life;
ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُ فَأَقْبَرَهُ
Thumma amatahu fa-aqbarah
and in the end He causes him to die and brings him to the grave;
ثُمَّ إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْشَرَهُ
Thumma iza shaa-a ansharah
and then, if it be His will, He shall raise him again to life,
كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقْضِ مَا أَمَرَهُ
Kalla lamma yaqdi maa amarah.
Nay, but [man] has never yet fulfilled what He has enjoined upon him!
فَلْيَنْظُرِ الْإِنْسَانُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِ
Falyanzuril insanu ilaa ta-amih
Let man, then, consider [the sources of] his food:
أَنَّا صَبَبْنَا الْمَاءَ صَبًّا
Anna sabab nalmaa-a sabba.
[how it is] that We pour down water, pouring it down abundantly;
ثُمَّ شَقَقْنَا الْأَرْضَ شَقًّا
Thumma sha qaqnal-arda shaqqa.
and then We cleave the earth [with new growth], cleaving it asunder,
فَأَنْبَتْنَا فِيهَا حَبًّا
Fa ambatna feeha habba
and thereupon We cause grain to grow out of it,
وَعِنَبًا وَقَضْبًا
Wa 'inabaw-wa qadba
and vines and edible plants,
وَزَيْتُونًا وَنَخْلًا
Wa zaitoonaw wanakh la'
and olive trees and date-palms,
وَحَدَائِقَ غُلْبًا
Wa hadaa-iqa ghulba
and gardens dense with foliage,
وَفَاكِهَةً وَأَبًّا
Wa faki hataw-wa abba.
and fruits and herbage,
مَتَاعًا لَكُمْ وَلِأَنْعَامِكُمْ
Mata'al-lakum wa li-an'amikum.
for you and for your animals to enjoy.
فَإِذَا جَاءَتِ الصَّاخَّةُ
Faiza jaa-atis saakhah.
AND SO, when the piercing call [of resurrection] is heard
يَوْمَ يَفِرُّ الْمَرْءُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ
Yauma yafir-rul mar-u min akheeh
on a Day when everyone will [want to] flee from his brother,
وَأُمِّهِ وَأَبِيهِ
Wa ummihee wa abeeh
and from his mother and father,
وَصَاحِبَتِهِ وَبَنِيهِ
Wa sahi batihee wa baneeh.
and from his spouse and his children:
لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ شَأْنٌ يُغْنِيهِ
Likul limri-im-minuhm yaumaa-izin shaa nuy-yughneeh
on that Day, to every one of them will his own state be of sufficient concern.
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُسْفِرَةٌ
Wujoo huny-yauma-izim-musfira;
Some faces will on that Day be bright with happiness,
ضَاحِكَةٌ مُسْتَبْشِرَةٌ
Dahi katum mustab shirah
laughing, rejoicing at glad tidings.
وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَيْهَا غَبَرَةٌ
Wa wujoohuy yauma-izin 'alaiha ghabar a
And some faces will on that Day with dust be covered,
تَرْهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ
Tarhaquha qatarah.
with darkness overspread:
أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْكَفَرَةُ الْفَجَرَةُ
Ulaa-ika humul-kafa ratul-fajarah.
these, these will be the ones who denied the truth and were immersed in iniquity!
Meaning
He frowned
Ayas
42
Revelation
Meccan
Surah No
80
Surah Abasa addresses themes of compassion, humility, and the importance of responding to the needs of others. The key themes include:
The Prophet’s interaction with the blind man: The Surah opens with the incident when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) frowned and turned away from a blind man (Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum) who came seeking guidance. The Surah gently reprimands the Prophet (ﷺ) for prioritizing the wealthy, influential people over someone in need.
Value of every individual: It emphasizes that every person, regardless of their status or physical abilities, is important in the eyes of Allah and deserving of kindness and respect.
Reflection on the Day of Judgment: The Surah highlights the realities of the Day of Judgment, where everyone will be focused on their own deeds, and there will be no room for ignoring the poor or weak.
Correction of the Prophet’s behavior: Although the Prophet (ﷺ) was a perfect role model, this Surah shows that even the best of creation can learn from Allah’s guidance, illustrating the importance of empathy and humility.
A reminder to prioritize the needy: It teaches the value of helping and showing kindness to those in need, especially the marginalized or disabled.
Universal lesson for society: It serves as a lesson for all believers about the importance of equality, respect, and empathy in their dealings with others, regardless of status.
Encourages compassion and humility: Reciting this Surah can help develop empathy for others and encourage Muslims to treat everyone with respect, regardless of their social status.
Spiritual growth: Helps in cultivating humility by reflecting on the lesson of not turning away from those in need.
Reminds of the Hereafter: It emphasizes the reality of the Day of Judgment and the importance of focusing on deeds and righteousness.
Humility in interacting with others:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever humbles himself for the sake of Allah, Allah will raise him in status.” (Sahih Muslim)
Teaching of compassion:
“The most beloved to Allah are those who are most kind and gentle towards others.” (Sahih Bukhari)
“If you find any mistakes in this, please let us know. For a more accurate translation, please refer to the English version. May Allah forgive us for any unintentional mistakes.”
