← All surahs Search

Surah 80 · Makkan · 42 ayahs

'Abasa

عبس

He Frowned

Arabic in the Uthmani script. English translation by Saheeh International. Every ayah below carries its own reference.

What is this surah about?

Scholarly explanation

Name The Surah is so designated after the word \`abasa with which it opens. Period of Revelation The commentators and traditionists are unanimous about the occasion of the revelation of this Surah. According to them, once some big chiefs of Makkah were sitting in the Holy Prophet's assembly and he was earnestly engaged in trying to persuade them to accept Islam. At that very point, a blind man, named Ibn Umm Maktum, approached him to seek explanation of some point concerning Islam. The Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) disliked his interruption and ignored him. Thereupon Allah sent down this Surah. From this historical incident the period of the revelation of this Surah can be precisely determined. In the first place, it is confirmed that Hadrat Ibn Umm Maktum was one of the earliest converts to Islam.

Reference · Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, Tafhim al-Qur'an — The Meaning of the Quran

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

80:1

عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

He [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ) ] frowned and turned away

80:2

أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ

Because there came to him the blind man, [interrupting].

80:3

وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ

But what would make you perceive, [O Muḥammad], that perhaps he might be purified

80:4

أَوْ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰٓ

Or be reminded and the remembrance would benefit him?

80:5

أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰ

As for he who thinks himself without need,

80:6

فَأَنتَ لَهُۥ تَصَدَّىٰ

To him you give attention.

80:7

وَمَا عَلَيْكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ

And not upon you [is any blame] if he will not be purified.

80:8

وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسْعَىٰ

But as for he who came to you striving [for knowledge]

80:9

وَهُوَ يَخْشَىٰ

While he fears [Allāh],

80:10

فَأَنتَ عَنْهُ تَلَهَّىٰ

From him you are distracted.

80:11

كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ

No! Indeed, they [i.e., these verses] are a reminder;

80:12

فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ

So whoever wills may remember it.

80:13

فِى صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ

[It is recorded] in honored sheets,

80:14

مَّرْفُوعَةٍ مُّطَهَّرَةٍۭ

Exalted and purified,

80:15

بِأَيْدِى سَفَرَةٍ

[Carried] by the hands of messenger-angels,

80:16

كِرَامٍۭ بَرَرَةٍ

Noble and dutiful.

80:17

قُتِلَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مَآ أَكْفَرَهُۥ

Destroyed [i.e., cursed] is man; how disbelieving is he.

80:18

مِنْ أَىِّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ

From what thing [i.e., substance] did He create him?

80:19

مِن نُّطْفَةٍ خَلَقَهُۥ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ

From a sperm-drop He created him and destined for him;

80:20

ثُمَّ ٱلسَّبِيلَ يَسَّرَهُۥ

Then He eased the way for him;

80:21

ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُۥ فَأَقْبَرَهُۥ

Then He causes his death and provides a grave for him.

80:22

ثُمَّ إِذَا شَآءَ أَنشَرَهُۥ

Then when He wills, He will resurrect him.

80:23

كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقْضِ مَآ أَمَرَهُۥ

No! He [i.e., man] has not yet accomplished what He commanded him.

80:24

فَلْيَنظُرِ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِۦٓ

Then let mankind look at his food -

80:25

أَنَّا صَبَبْنَا ٱلْمَآءَ صَبًّا

How We poured down water in torrents,

80:26

ثُمَّ شَقَقْنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ شَقًّا

Then We broke open the earth, splitting [it with sprouts],

80:27

فَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا حَبًّا

And caused to grow within it grain

80:28

وَعِنَبًا وَقَضْبًا

And grapes and herbage

80:29

وَزَيْتُونًا وَنَخْلًا

And olive and palm trees

80:30

وَحَدَآئِقَ غُلْبًا

And gardens of dense shrubbery

80:31

وَفَـٰكِهَةً وَأَبًّا

And fruit and grass -

80:32

مَّتَـٰعًا لَّكُمْ وَلِأَنْعَـٰمِكُمْ

[As] enjoyment [i.e., provision] for you and your grazing livestock.

80:33

فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلصَّآخَّةُ

But when there comes the Deafening Blast

80:34

يَوْمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلْمَرْءُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ

On the Day a man will flee from his brother

80:35

وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ

And his mother and his father

80:36

وَصَـٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ

And his wife and his children,

80:37

لِكُلِّ ٱمْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ شَأْنٌ يُغْنِيهِ

For every man, that Day, will be a matter adequate for him.

80:38

وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُّسْفِرَةٌ

[Some] faces, that Day, will be bright -

80:39

ضَاحِكَةٌ مُّسْتَبْشِرَةٌ

Laughing, rejoicing at good news.

80:40

وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَيْهَا غَبَرَةٌ

And [other] faces, that Day, will have upon them dust.

80:41

تَرْهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ

Blackness will cover them.

80:42

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْكَفَرَةُ ٱلْفَجَرَةُ

Those are the disbelievers, the wicked ones.

Ayah 1 of 42

Recited by Mishari Rashid al-Afasy