Surah 80. Abasa He Frowned - English Translation

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Verses : 42
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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

bookmark 1. He frowned and turned away.

1. عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

bookmark 2. When the blind man approached him.

2. أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ

bookmark 3. But how do you know? Perhaps he was seeking to purify himself.

3. وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ

bookmark 4. Or be reminded, and the message would benefit him.

4. أَوْ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰٓ

bookmark 5. But as for him who was indifferent.

5. أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰ

bookmark 6. You gave him your attention.

6. فَأَنتَ لَهُۥ تَصَدَّىٰ

bookmark 7. Though you are not liable if he does not purify himself.

7. وَمَا عَلَيْكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ

bookmark 8. But as for him who came to you seeking.

8. وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسْعَىٰ

bookmark 9. In awe.

9. وَهُوَ يَخْشَىٰ

bookmark 10. To him you were inattentive.

10. فَأَنتَ عَنْهُ تَلَهَّىٰ

bookmark 11. Do not. This is a Lesson.

11. كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌۭ

bookmark 12. Whoever wills, shall remember it.

12. فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ

bookmark 13. On honorable pages.

13. فِى صُحُفٍۢ مُّكَرَّمَةٍۢ

bookmark 14. Exalted and purified.

14. مَّرْفُوعَةٍۢ مُّطَهَّرَةٍۭ

bookmark 15. By the hands of scribes.

15. بِأَيْدِى سَفَرَةٍۢ

bookmark 16. Noble and devoted.

16. كِرَامٍۭ بَرَرَةٍۢ

bookmark 17. Perish man! How thankless he is!

17. قُتِلَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ مَآ أَكْفَرَهُۥ

bookmark 18. From what did He create him?

18. مِنْ أَىِّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ

bookmark 19. From a sperm drop He created him, and enabled him.

19. مِن نُّطْفَةٍ خَلَقَهُۥ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ

bookmark 20. Then He eased the way for him.

20. ثُمَّ ٱلسَّبِيلَ يَسَّرَهُۥ

bookmark 21. Then He puts him to death, and buries him.

21. ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُۥ فَأَقْبَرَهُۥ

bookmark 22. Then, when He wills, He will resurrect him.

22. ثُمَّ إِذَا شَآءَ أَنشَرَهُۥ

bookmark 23. But no, he did not fulfill what He has commanded him.

23. كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقْضِ مَآ أَمَرَهُۥ

bookmark 24. Let man consider his food.

24. فَلْيَنظُرِ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِۦٓ

bookmark 25. We pour down water in abundance.

25. أَنَّا صَبَبْنَا ٱلْمَآءَ صَبًّۭا

bookmark 26. Then crack the soil open.

26. ثُمَّ شَقَقْنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ شَقًّۭا

bookmark 27. And grow in it grains.

27. فَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا حَبًّۭا

bookmark 28. And grapes and herbs.

28. وَعِنَبًۭا وَقَضْبًۭا

bookmark 29. And olives and dates.

29. وَزَيْتُونًۭا وَنَخْلًۭا

bookmark 30. And luscious gardens.

30. وَحَدَآئِقَ غُلْبًۭا

bookmark 31. And fruits and vegetables.

31. وَفَٰكِهَةًۭ وَأَبًّۭا

bookmark 32. Enjoyment for you, and for your livestock.

32. مَّتَٰعًۭا لَّكُمْ وَلِأَنْعَٰمِكُمْ

bookmark 33. But when the Deafening Noise comes to pass.

33. فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلصَّآخَّةُ

bookmark 34. The Day when a person will flee from his brother.

34. يَوْمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلْمَرْءُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ

bookmark 35. And his mother and his father.

35. وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ

bookmark 36. And his consort and his children.

36. وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ

bookmark 37. Every one of them, on that Day, will have enough to preoccupy him.

37. لِكُلِّ ٱمْرِئٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ شَأْنٌۭ يُغْنِيهِ

bookmark 38. Faces on that Day will be radiant.

38. وُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ مُّسْفِرَةٌۭ

bookmark 39. Laughing and rejoicing.

39. ضَاحِكَةٌۭ مُّسْتَبْشِرَةٌۭ

bookmark 40. And Faces on that Day will be covered with misery.

40. وَوُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَيْهَا غَبَرَةٌۭ

bookmark 41. Overwhelmed by remorse.

41. تَرْهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ

bookmark 42. These are the faithless, the vicious.

42. أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْكَفَرَةُ ٱلْفَجَرَةُ

Context of Revelation

Surah ‘Abasa (“He Frowned”) is a Meccan surah consisting of 42 verses. It was revealed in the early days of the Prophet’s ﷺ mission. The term ‘Abasa refers to an incident in which the Prophet momentarily turned away from a blind man, ‘Abd Allāh ibn Umm Maktūm, who sought his guidance while the Prophet was addressing Meccan leaders.

According to Sahih Muslim (2401) and commentators such as Ibn Kathīr and Al-Ṭabarī, the surah was revealed to gently correct the Prophet ﷺ and to remind him that the divine message is meant for all — regardless of status, wealth, or power.

Main Teachings and Key Insights

Surah ‘Abasa embodies the principles of justice, humility, and equality in Islam. It teaches that a person’s true worth lies not in social rank, but in faith and sincerity. Its main lessons include:

  • A reminder to the Prophet ﷺ that those most open to faith are not always the powerful but often the humble and sincere. (vv. 1–10)
  • Affirmation that the Qur’an is a universal reminder accessible to anyone seeking truth. (vv. 11–16)
  • A reflection on human creation and divine providence: God nourishes, sustains, and will resurrect mankind. (vv. 17–32)
  • A vivid depiction of the Day of Judgment, when worldly ties will vanish and each soul will face its own outcome. (vv. 33–42)

The surah highlights the moral integrity of the Prophet ﷺ, who accepted this divine admonition as a timeless lesson in humility and compassion.

Structure and Main Themes

  • Prophetic correction (vv. 1–10): God gently reproaches the Prophet for overlooking a humble believer.
  • The universal nature of the Qur’an (vv. 11–16): the message is for all, without exception.
  • Creation and divine blessings (vv. 17–32): a reminder of God’s mercy and power.
  • The Day of Judgment (vv. 33–42): contrast between the radiant faces of believers and the darkened faces of disbelievers.

The tone of the surah is compassionate yet admonitory: it teaches kindness, humility, and the primacy of inner faith over social status.

Key Verse

The central verse of the surah is verse 11:

كَلَّا إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ

No! Indeed, it is a reminder.

Why this verse is key:

  • It reaffirms that the Qur’an is a universal reminder meant for everyone, regardless of class or background.
  • It recenters the prophetic mission: the message must reach every sincere seeker of truth.
  • It reflects the egalitarian essence of Islam: God values hearts, not hierarchies.

In summary, Surah ‘Abasa delivers a divine lesson in humility, fairness, and sincerity. It reminds that the Prophet’s mission — and by extension, the mission of believers — is to call all humanity to faith, recognizing that true worth lies in devotion, not social position.

Surah Abasa
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