INTRODUCTION:
This Surah consists of 42 verses, 130 sentences, 533 letters and 1 Ruku’.
It takes its name from the word abasa with which it opens.
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, approachcd 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. Hafiz Ibn Hajar and Hafiz Ibn Kathir have stated that he was one of those who had accepted Islam at a very early stage at Makkah.
Secondly, some of the traditions of the Hadith which relate this incident show that he had already accepted Islam and some others show that be was inclined to accept it and had approached the Holy Prophet in search of the truth. Hadrat Aishah states that coming to the Holy Prophet he had said: "O Messenger of Allah, guide me to the straight path." (Tirmidhi, Hakim, Ibn Hibban, Ibn Jarir, Abu Ya'la. According to Hadrat Abdullah bin Abbas, he had asked the meaning of a verse of the Quran and said to the Holy Prophet: "O Messenger of Allah, teach me the knowledge that Allah has taught you." Ibn Jarir, Ibn Abu Hatim). These statements show that he had acknowledged the Holy Prophet (upom whom be peace) as a Messenger of Allah and the Quran as a Book of Allah. Contrary to this, Ibn Zaid has interpreted the words la allahu yazzakka of verse 3 to mean: la allahu yuslim: "maybe that he accepts Islam." (Ibn Jarir) And Allah's own words: "What would make you know that he might reform, or heed the admonition, and admonishing might profit him?" and "The one who comes to you running, of his own will, and fears, from him you turn away", point out that by that time he had developed in himself a deep desire to learn the truth: he had come to the Holy Prophet with the belief that he was the only source of guidance and his desire would be satisfied only through him; his apparent state also reflected that if he was given instruction, he would benefit by it.
Thirdly, the names of the people who were sitting in the Holy Prophet's assembly at that time, have been given in different traditions. In this list we find the names of `Utbah, Shaibah, Abu Jahl, Umayyah bin Khalaf, Ubayy bin Khalaf, who were the bitterest enemies of Islam. This shows that the incident took place in the period when these chiefs were still on meeting terms with the Holy Prophet and their antagonism to Islam had not yet grown so strong as to have stopped their paying visits to him and having dialogues with him off and on. All these arguments indicate that this is one of the very earliest Surahs to be revealed at Makkah.
In view of the apparent style with which the discourse opens, one feels that in this Surah Allah has expressed His displeasure against the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) for his treating the blind man with indifference and attending to the big chiefs exclusively. But when the whole Surah is considered objectively, one finds that the displeasure, in fact, has been expressed against the disbelieving Quraish, who because of their arrogant attitude and indifference to the truth, were rejecting with contempt the message of truth being conveyed by the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace). Then, besides teaching him the correct method of preaching, the error of the method that he was adopting at the start of his mission has also been pointed out. His treating the blind man with neglect and disregard and devoting all his attention to the Quraish chiefs was not for the reason that he regarded the rich as noble and a poor blind man as contemptible, and, God forbid, there was some rudeness in his manner for which Allah reproved him. But, as a matter of fact, when a caller to Truth embarks on his missinn of conveying his message to the people, he naturally wants the most influential people of society to accept his message so that his task becomes easy, for even if his invitation spreads among the poor and weak people, it cannot make much difference. Almost the same attitude had the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) also adopted in the beginning, his motive being only sincerity and a desire to promote his mission and not any idea of respect for the big people and hatred for the small people. But Allah made him realize that that was not the correct method of extending invitation to Islam, but from his mission's point of view, every man, who was a seeker after truth, was important, even if he was weak, or poor, and every man, who was heedless to the truth, was unimportant, even if he occupied a high position in society. Therefore, he should openly proclaim and convey the teachings of Islam to all and sundry, but the people who were really worthy of his attention, were those who were inclined to accept the Truth, and his sublime and noble message was too high to be presented before those haughty people who in their arrogance and vanity thought that they did not stand in need of him but rather he stood in need of them.
This is the theme of vv. 1-16. From verse 17 onward the rebuke directly turns to the disbelievers, who were repudiating the invitation of the Holy Messenger of Allah (upon whom be peace). In this, first they have been reproved for their attitude which they had adopted against their Creator, Providence and Sustainer. In the end, they have been warned of the dreadful fate that they would meet in consequence of their conduct on the Day of Resurrection.
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
Context of Revelation
: The following verses were revealed when the Prophet was holding a crucial
conversation with certain influential leaders of his own tribe who could have
turned the tide in favour of Islam, if they were convinced of its virtues,
resulting in the entire tribe embracing the new religion. At such a critical
juncture, a blind man arrived and interrupted the conversation with a question
of his own and insisted upon a response at once. In view of the significance of
the meeting in hand, the Prophet frowned at him and continued with his
conversation, but it resulted in this reprimand :
80 : 1
1. AAabasa watawalla
He frowned and turned his face away -
80 : 2
2. An jaahu al-aAAma
Because it was a blind man who approached him!
80 : 3
3. Wama yudreeka laAAallahu yazzakka
How can you (Mohammed) tell whether or not his query would help him grow in faith, -
80 : 4
4. Aw yaththakkaru fatanfaAAahu alththikra
Or that he would take heed and benefit from the Admonishment?
80 : 5
5. Amma mani istaghna
As for him who considers himself beyond the scope Admonishment, -
80 : 6
6. Faanta lahu tasadda
You give him priority -
80 : 7
7. Wama AAalayka alla yazzakka
Even though it is no concern of yours whether he heeds it or not!
80 : 8
8. Waamma man jaaka yasAAa
But as for him who approaches you with sincerity, -
80 : 9
9. Wahuwa yakhsha
And fears Allah -
80 : 10
10. Faanta AAanhu talahha
You ignore him for the sake of the others!
80 : 11
11. Kalla innaha tathkiratun
By no means should it be so! For verily this is but an Admonishment, -
80 : 12
12. Faman shaa thakarahu
So let those who will pay heed to that -
80 : 13
13. Fee suhufin mukarramatin
Which is inscribed on venerable scrolls, -
80 : 14
14. MarfooAAatin mutahharatin
Exalted and sanctified!
80 : 15
15. Bi-aydee safaratin
Written down by scribes -
80 : 16
16. Kiramin bararatin
Who are munificent and righteous!
* * *
80 : 17
17. Qutila al-insanu ma akfarahu
Man destroys himself with his ingratitude!
80 : 18
18. Min ayyi shay-in khalaqahu
From what substance does He create him?
80 : 19
19. Min nutfatin khalaqahu faqaddarahu
From a drop of liquid! He creates him and He evolves him -
80 : 20
20. Thumma alssabeela yassarahu
Then He paves the way for his arrival, -
80 : 21
21. Thumma amatahu faaqbarahu
Then causes him to die and lay buried inside a tomb -
80 : 22
22. Thumma itha shaa ansharahu
Then, when He will, He brings him back to life!
80 : 23
23. Kalla lamma yaqdi ma amarahu
Yet never has he done that which he is commanded to do!
80 : 24
24. Falyanthuri al-insanu ila taAAamihi
Let man cast his look upon the things which he eats -
80 : 25
25. Anna sababna almaa sabban
How We send downpours of rain water; -
80 : 26
26. Thumma shaqaqna al-arda shaqqan
Then We soak the earth to let it crack; -
80 : 27
27. Faanbatna feeha habban
And cause the grain to grow from it;
80 : 28
28. WaAAinaban waqadban
And grapes and green vegetation;
80 : 29
29. Wazaytoonan wanakhlan
And the olive and the date palm;
80 : 30
30. Wahada-iqa ghulban
And gardens with dense foliage;
80 : 31
31. Wafakihatan waabban
And fruits and pastures;
80 : 32
32. MataAAan lakum wali-anAAamikum
As provision for you and your cattle!
80 : 33
33. Fa-itha jaati alssakhkhatu
But when the Shout reverberates -
80 : 34
34. Yawma yafirru almaro min akheehi
On the Day when man flees from his own brother -
80 : 35
35. Waommihi waabeehi
And from his mother and from his father -
80 : 36
36. Wasahibatihi wabaneehi
And from his wife and from his children!
80 : 37
37. Likulli imri-in minhum yawma-ithin sha/nun yughneehi
Every man on that Day will have enough worries of his own to think about the others!
80 : 38
38. Wujoohun yawma-ithin musfiratun
Some faces on that Day will be radiant, -
80 : 39
39. Dahikatun mustabshiratun
Laughing and rejoicing in anticipation of the good news that awaits them;
80 : 40
40. Wawujoohun yawma-ithin AAalayha ghabaratun
And other faces on that Day will be smeared with soot -
80 : 41
41. Tarhaquha qataratun
And sunk in oblivion!
80 : 42
42. Ola-ika humu alkafaratu alfajaratu
Those are the disbelievers, the pernicious! (R)
1. (The Prophet (Peace be upon him)) frowned and turned away,
2. Because there came to him the blind man (i.e. 'Abdullâh bin Umm-Maktűm, who came to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) while he was preaching to one or some of the Quraish chiefs).
3. But what could tell you that per chance he might become pure (from sins)?
4. Or that he might receive admonition, and that the admonition might profit him?
5. As for him who thinks himself self-sufficient,
6. To him you attend;
7. What does it matter to you if he will not become pure (from disbelief, you are only a Messenger, your duty is to convey the Message of Allâh).
8. But as to him who came to you running.
9. And is afraid (of Allâh and His Punishment),
10. Of him you are neglectful and divert your attention to another,
11. Nay, (do not do like this), indeed it (these Verses of this Qur'ân) are an admonition,
12. So whoever wills, let him pay attention to it.
13. (It is) in Records held (greatly) in honour (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfűz).
14. Exalted (in dignity), purified,
15. In the hands of scribes (angels).
16. Honourable and obedient.
17. Be cursed (the disbelieving) man! How ungrateful he is!
18. From what thing did He create him?
19. From Nutfah (male and female semen drops) He created him, and then set him in due proportion;
20. Then He makes the Path easy for him;
21. Then He causes him to die, and puts him in his grave;
22. Then, when it is His Will, He will resurrect him (again).
23. Nay, but (man) has not done what He commanded him.
24. Then let man look at his food,
25. That We pour forth water in abundance,
26. And We split the earth in clefts,
27. And We cause therein the grain to grow,
28. And grapes and clover plants (i.e. green fodder for the cattle),
29. And olives and date-palms,
30. And gardens, dense with many trees,
31. And fruits and Abba (herbage, etc.),
32. (To be) a provision and benefit for you and your cattle.
33. Then, when there comes As-Sâkhkhah (the Day of Resurrection's second blowing of Trumpet),
34. That Day shall a man flee from his brother,
35. And from his mother and his father,
36. And from his wife and his children.
37. Everyman, that Day, will have enough to make him careless of others.
38. Some faces that Day, will be bright (true believers of Islâmic Monotheism).
39. Laughing, rejoicing at good news (of Paradise).
40. And other faces, that Day, will be dust-stained;
41. Darkness will cover them,
42. Such will be the Kafarah (disbelievers in Allâh, in His Oneness, and in His Messenger Muhammad (Peace be upon him), etc.), the Fajarah (wicked evil doers).
080.001
YUSUFALI: (The
Prophet) frowned and turned away,
PICKTHAL: He frowned
and turned away
SHAKIR: He frowned and
turned (his) back,
080.002
YUSUFALI: Because
there came to him the blind man (interrupting).
PICKTHAL: Because the
blind man came unto him.
SHAKIR: Because there
came to him the blind man.
080.003
YUSUFALI: But what
could tell thee but that perchance he might grow (in spiritual understanding)?-
PICKTHAL: What could
inform thee but that he might grow (in grace)
SHAKIR: And what would
make you know that he would purify himself,
080.004
YUSUFALI: Or that he
might receive admonition, and the teaching might profit him?
PICKTHAL: Or take heed
and so the reminder might avail him?
SHAKIR: Or become
reminded so that the reminder should profit him?
080.005
YUSUFALI: As to one
who regards Himself as self-sufficient,
PICKTHAL: As for him
who thinketh himself independent,
SHAKIR: As for him who
considers himself free from need (of you),
080.006
YUSUFALI: To him dost
thou attend;
PICKTHAL: Unto him
thou payest regard.
SHAKIR: To him do you
address yourself.
080.007
YUSUFALI: Though it is
no blame to thee if he grow not (in spiritual understanding).
PICKTHAL: Yet it is
not thy concern if he grow not (in grace).
SHAKIR: And no blame
is on you if he would not purify himself
080.008
YUSUFALI: But as to
him who came to thee striving earnestly,
PICKTHAL: But as for
him who cometh unto thee with earnest purpose
SHAKIR: And as to him
who comes to you striving hard,
080.009
YUSUFALI: And with
fear (in his heart),
PICKTHAL: And hath
fear,
SHAKIR: And he fears,
080.010
YUSUFALI: Of him wast
thou unmindful.
PICKTHAL: From him
thou art distracted.
SHAKIR: From him will
you divert yourself.
080.011
YUSUFALI: By no means
(should it be so)! For it is indeed a Message of instruction:
PICKTHAL: Nay, but
verily it is an Admonishment,
SHAKIR: Nay! surely it
is an admonishment.
080.012
YUSUFALI: Therefore
let whoso will, keep it in remembrance.
PICKTHAL: So let
whosoever will pay heed to it,
SHAKIR: So let him who
pleases mind it.
080.013
YUSUFALI: (It is) in
Books held (greatly) in honour,
PICKTHAL: On honoured
leaves
SHAKIR: In honored
books,
080.014
YUSUFALI: Exalted (in
dignity), kept pure and holy,
PICKTHAL: Exalted,
purified,
SHAKIR: Exalted,
purified,
080.015
YUSUFALI: (Written) by
the hands of scribes-
PICKTHAL: (Set down)
by scribes
SHAKIR: In the hands
of scribes
080.016
YUSUFALI: Honourable
and Pious and Just.
PICKTHAL: Noble and
righteous.
SHAKIR: Noble,
virtuous.
080.017
YUSUFALI: Woe to man!
What hath made him reject Allah;
PICKTHAL: Man is
(self-)destroyed: how ungrateful!
SHAKIR: Cursed be man!
how ungrateful is he!
080.018
YUSUFALI: From what
stuff hath He created him?
PICKTHAL: From what
thing doth He create him?
SHAKIR: Of what thing
did He create him?
080.019
YUSUFALI: From a
sperm-drop: He hath created him, and then mouldeth him in due proportions;
PICKTHAL: From a drop
of seed. He createth him and proportioneth him,
SHAKIR: Of a small
seed; He created him, then He made him according to a measure,
080.020
YUSUFALI: Then doth He
make His path smooth for him;
PICKTHAL: Then maketh
the way easy for him,
SHAKIR: Then (as for)
the way-- He has made it easy (for him)
080.021
YUSUFALI: Then He
causeth him to die, and putteth him in his grave;
PICKTHAL: Then causeth
him to die, and burieth him;
SHAKIR: Then He causes
him to die, then assigns to him a grave,
080.022
YUSUFALI: Then, when
it is His Will, He will raise him up (again).
PICKTHAL: Then, when
He will, He bringeth him again to life.
SHAKIR: Then when He
pleases, He will raise him to life again.
080.023
YUSUFALI: By no means
hath he fulfilled what Allah hath commanded him.
PICKTHAL: Nay, but
(man) hath not done what He commanded him.
SHAKIR: Nay; but he
has not done what He bade him.
080.024
YUSUFALI: Then let man
look at his food, (and how We provide it):
PICKTHAL: Let man
consider his food:
SHAKIR: Then let man
look to his food,
080.025
YUSUFALI: For that We
pour forth water in abundance,
PICKTHAL: How We pour
water in showers
SHAKIR: That We pour
down the water, pouring (it) down in abundance,
080.026
YUSUFALI: And We split
the earth in fragments,
PICKTHAL: Then split
the earth in clefts
SHAKIR: Then We cleave
the earth, cleaving (it) asunder,
080.027
YUSUFALI: And produce
therein corn,
PICKTHAL: And cause
the grain to grow therein
SHAKIR: Then We cause
to grow therein the grain,
080.028
YUSUFALI: And Grapes
and nutritious plants,
PICKTHAL: And grapes
and green fodder
SHAKIR: And grapes and
clover,
080.029
YUSUFALI: And Olives
and Dates,
PICKTHAL: And
olive-trees and palm-trees
SHAKIR: And the olive
and the palm,
080.030
YUSUFALI: And enclosed
Gardens, dense with lofty trees,
PICKTHAL: And
garden-closes of thick foliage
SHAKIR: And thick
gardens,
080.031
YUSUFALI: And fruits
and fodder,-
PICKTHAL: And fruits
and grasses:
SHAKIR: And fruits and
herbage
080.032
YUSUFALI: For use and
convenience to you and your cattle.
PICKTHAL: Provision
for you and your cattle.
SHAKIR: A provision
for you and for your cattle.
080.033
YUSUFALI: At length,
when there comes the Deafening Noise,-
PICKTHAL: But when the
Shout cometh
SHAKIR: But when the
deafening cry comes,
080.034
YUSUFALI: That Day
shall a man flee from his own brother,
PICKTHAL: On the day
when a man fleeth from his brother
SHAKIR: The day on
which a man shall fly from his brother,
080.035
YUSUFALI: And from his
mother and his father,
PICKTHAL: And his
mother and his father
SHAKIR: And his mother
and his father,
080.036
YUSUFALI: And from his
wife and his children.
PICKTHAL: And his wife
and his children,
SHAKIR: And his spouse
and his son--
080.037
YUSUFALI: Each one of
them, that Day, will have enough concern (of his own) to make him indifferent to
the others.
PICKTHAL: Every man
that day will have concern enough to make him heedless (of others).
SHAKIR: Every man of
them shall on that day have an affair which will occupy him.
080.038
YUSUFALI: Some faces
that Day will be beaming,
PICKTHAL: On that day
faces will be bright as dawn,
SHAKIR: (Many) faces
on that day shall be bright,
080.039
YUSUFALI: Laughing,
rejoicing.
PICKTHAL: Laughing,
rejoicing at good news;
SHAKIR: Laughing,
joyous.
080.040
YUSUFALI: And other
faces that Day will be dust-stained,
PICKTHAL: And other
faces, on that day, with dust upon them,
SHAKIR: And (many)
faces on that day, on them shall be dust,
080.041
YUSUFALI: Blackness
will cover them:
PICKTHAL: Veiled in
darkness,
SHAKIR: Darkness shall
cover them.
080.042
YUSUFALI: Such will be
the Rejecters of Allah, the doers of iniquity.
PICKTHAL: Those are
the disbelievers, the wicked.
SHAKIR: These are they
who are unbelievers, the wicked.