Surah Abasa is the 80th chapter of the Quran, whose message is deeply rooted in humility and guidance. Its name, in translation: He Frowned, is indicative of a scene of human error and Godly punishment. This is a revelation that was disclosed in Mecca, about an event that occurred between Prophet Muhammad and a blind man, Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum. It has 42 verses, which highlight the importance of respect, sincerity, and the essence of wealth in the eyes of God.
The particular nature of Surah Abasa has been extensively pointed out by scholars and researchers. It is regarded as a witness of the authenticity of the Quran as it freely deals with the moment of the human reaction of the Prophet. According to analysts, no piece of fabricated text would depict its main character to this effect. The lesson learned in this chapter is timeless, and past research studies underscore the importance of sincerity over status. It is also meant to remind the reader about how the Prophet was obedient to the wisdom of God, and how he was a human messenger directed by God.
Surah Abasa in english challenges the readers to think more about their priorities. It questions the social conventions that put more emphasis on power and money than authenticity and reality. The message of the chapter continues to affect us today by reminding us that we need to appreciate honesty and humility over superficial position. It poses a very interesting question: To whom do you call attention? This eternal reminder triggers a change of attitude and makes hearts pure and souls aspire to Godly intimacy.
The Historical Context: A Break in History.
The account of Surah Abasa is a great lesson. This was a speech of the Prophet Muhammad to the powerful rulers of the tribe of Quraysh in Mecca. He was deeply focused. He hoped to deliver the message of Islam to them. The new Muslim community could be severely affected by their acceptance. This was the time the man called Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum came. He was a blind man. He was a sincere and devoted Muslim as well. And he went to the Prophet in search of knowledge. He had to break the serious conversation and request advice.
The Prophet was engrossed with the chiefs of Mecca and appeared a little frowny. He discounted the blind man. This little human response brought a revelation of God. Surah Abasa is the first verse that was revealed by Allah. This was not a harsh rebuke. It was a gentle correction. It was an instructive lesson to the Prophet. Also, it was a teaching to the faithful people at all times.
Surah Abasa in English
Surah Abasa can be interpreted in three different sections. Each part is a continuation of the previous one. It establishes a total spiritual story.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Bismillah hir rahman nir raheem
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
Abasa wa tawallaa
The Prophet frowned and turned away
أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ
An jaa-ahul ‘a-maa
Because there came to him the blind man, [interrupting].
وَمَا يُدۡرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ
Wa maa yudreeka la’allahu yaz zakkaa
But what would make you perceive, [O Muhammad], that perhaps he might be purified
أَوۡ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰٓ
Aw yazzakkaru fatanfa ‘ahuz zikraa
Or be reminded, and does the remembrance benefit him?
أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰ
Amma manis taghnaa
As for he who thinks himself without need,
فَأَنتَ لَهُۥ تَصَدَّىٰ
Fa-anta lahu tasaddaa
To him, you give attention.
وَمَا عَلَيۡكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ
Wa ma ‘alaika allaa yaz zakka
And not upon you [is any blame] if he will not be purified.
وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسۡعَىٰ
Wa amma man jaa-aka yas’a
But as for he who came to you striving [for knowledge]
وَهُوَ يَخۡشَىٰ
Wahuwa yakhshaa,
While he fears [Allah],
فَأَنتَ عَنۡهُ تَلَهَّىٰ
From him, you are distracted.
Fa-anta ‘anhu talah haa
كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذۡكِرَةٞ
Kalla innaha tazkirah
No! Indeed, these verses are a reminder;
فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ
Faman shaa a zakarah
So whoever wills may remember it.
فِي صُحُفٖ مُّكَرَّمَةٖ
Fi suhufim mukar rama,
[It is recorded] in honored sheets,
مَّرۡفُوعَةٖ مُّطَهَّرَةِۭ
Marfoo’atim mutah hara,
Exalted and purified,
بِأَيۡدِي سَفَرَةٖ
Bi’aidee safara
[Carried] by the hands of messenger-angels,
كِرَامِۭ بَرَرَةٖ
Kiraamim bararah
Noble and dutiful.
قُتِلَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مَآ أَكۡفَرَهُۥ
Qutilal-insanu maa akfarah
Cursed is man; how disbelieving is he.
مِنۡ أَيِّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ
Min aiyyi shai-in Khalaq
From what substance did He create him?
مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ خَلَقَهُۥ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ
Min nutfatin khalaqahoo faqaddarah
From a sperm-drop, He created him and destined him;
ثُمَّ ٱلسَّبِيلَ يَسَّرَهُۥ
Thummas Sabeela Yas-Sarah
Then he eased the way for him.
ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُۥ فَأَقۡبَرَهُۥ
Thumma amatahu fa-aqbarah
Then He causes his death and provides a grave for him.
ثُمَّ إِذَا شَآءَ أَنشَرَهُۥ
Thumma iza shaa-a ansharah
Then, when He wills, He will resurrect him.
كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقۡضِ مَآ أَمَرَهُۥ
Kalla lamma yaqdi maa amarah
No! Man has not yet accomplished what He commanded him.
فَلۡيَنظُرِ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِۦٓ
Falyanzuril insanu ilaa ta-amih
Then let mankind look at his food –
أَنَّا صَبَبۡنَا ٱلۡمَآءَ صَبّٗا
Anna sabab nalmaa-a sabba
How we poured down water in torrents,
ثُمَّ شَقَقۡنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ شَقّٗا
Thumma sha qaqnal-arda shaqqa
Then we broke open the earth, splitting [it with sprouts],
فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا حَبّٗا
Fa ambatna feeha habba
And caused to grow within it grain
وَعِنَبٗا وَقَضۡبٗا
Wa ‘inabaw-wa qadba
And grapes and herbage
وَزَيۡتُونٗا وَنَخۡلٗا
Wa zaitoonaw wanakh la’
And olive and palm trees
وَحَدَآئِقَ غُلۡبٗا
Wa hadaa-iqa ghulba
And gardens of dense shrubbery
وَفَٰكِهَةٗ وَأَبّٗا
Wa faki hataw-wa abba
And fruit and grass –
مَّتَٰعٗا لَّكُمۡ وَلِأَنۡعَٰمِكُمۡ
Mata’al-lakum wa li-an’amikum
[As] enjoyment for you and your grazing livestock.
فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلصَّآخَّةُ
Faiza jaa-atis saakhah
But when there comes the Deafening Blast
يَوۡمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلۡمَرۡءُ مِنۡ أَخِيهِ
Yauma yafir-rul mar-u min akheeh
On the Day a man will flee from his brother
وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ
Wa ummihee wa abeeh
And his mother and his father
وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ
Wa sahi batihee wa baneeh
And his wife and his children,
لِكُلِّ ٱمۡرِيٕٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ يَوۡمَئِذٖ شَأۡنٞ يُغۡنِيهِ
Likul limri-im-minhum yawmaa-izin shaa nuy-yughneeh
For every man, that Day, will be a matter adequate for him.
وُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٖ مُّسۡفِرَةٞ
Wujoo huny-yauma-izim-musfira;
[Some] faces, that Day, will be bright –
ضَاحِكَةٞ مُّسۡتَبۡشِرَةٞ
Dahi katum mustab shirah
Laughing, rejoicing at good news.
وَوُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٍ عَلَيۡهَا غَبَرَةٞ
Wa wujoohuy yauma-izin ‘alaiha ghabar a
And [other] faces, that Day, will have upon them dust.
تَرۡهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ
Tarhaquha qatarah
Blackness will cover them.
أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡكَفَرَةُ ٱلۡفَجَرَةُ
Ulaa-ika humul-kafa ratul-fajarah
Those are the disbelievers, the wicked ones.
Conclusion
Surah Abasa is not merely a tale or a given code of law. It acts as a divine mirror. This mild rebuke of the Prophet Muhammad is one of the best pieces of evidence that the Quran is a product of God. None of the human writers would place in their story a representation of their leader in an instance of a small mistake. Fabricated text would aim at idealizing its main character without fail. Rather, the Quran is a literal representation of a human Prophet who had a flawless God. This incident does not in any way diminish the position of the Prophet. It elevates it. It demonstrates his total obedience to God. Thus, it shows his ideal character, which was developed by the wisdom of Allah.
We are compelled today to look in the same mirror as Surah Abasa does. Therefore, we are in the world of influence, status, and wealth. We prioritize the powerful. The simple but sincere individual is usually neglected by us. The Surah poses a question to us: To whom do you run? Whose attention do you seek? A poor inquisitor of the truth can have a greater price in the sight of Allah than a thousand apathetic elites. The chapter teaches that we do not get true value in social status. It is present in a heart that is fearful of God and a soul that desires purification. So, it is an everlasting reminder of this chapter. It informs us that we should judge people based on the measure of their honesty. Not according to the norms of their world.
