بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
'Abasa 80:18
He Frowned · Juz 30 · Page 585
مِنۡ أَيِّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ ١٨
From what thing [i.e., substance] did He create him?
Tafsir · in English
Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 80:18
The word safarah may be used as the plural of safir in the sense of 'envoy'. In this case, it would refer to the angels who convey the revelation, and Prophets ﷺ and their companions who write the revelation. The ` ulama' (knowledgeable persons) of the Muslim community' are also included in this term, because they too are envoys between the Holy Prophet and the Muslim community. The messenger of Allah is reported to have said that he who recites the Qur’ an and is an expert in the art of recitation, he will be with the honorable, righteous envoys. He who is not an expert in the art of recitation, but recites it correctly with difficulty, he shall receive double reward. [ Transmitted by Shaikhain from ` A'ishah - Mazhari ]. This shows that a non-expert will receive double reward - one for recitation of Qur’ an, and the other for bearing the difficulty. This also indicates that an expert will receive countless rewards. [ Mazhari ]
The preceding verses mentioned that the Qur’ an is exalted and that belief in it is incumbent. Subsequently, the rejecters of Qur’ an are cursed and they are warned against showing ingratitude towards Divine favours. That the Holy Qur'an is a great Divine blessing is understood only by the men of Divine knowledge and understanding. Further, there is the mention of those Divine favours that Allah confers on man since his inception to the end of his life. These are material and physical things that a man with basic intellect can understand. Human creation is mentioned, thus:
مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ (From which stuff did He [ Allah ] create him? From a drop of semen! ..80:18-19).
First a question is raised: '0 man! Consider what Allah has created you from?' Since its reply is so obvious that there can be no other reply, the next verse itself says: 'From a drop of semen!' Thus the verse draws pointed attention to the very humble beginning of man, so that it may be brought home to him that Allah having created him from such an insignificant thing as a sperm-drop, created him and proportioned him:
Page 585
سورة عبس
'Abasa
He Frowned · Meccan · 42 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
80:1
عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ ١
He [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ) ] frowned and turned away
80:2
أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ ٢
Because there came to him the blind man,1 [interrupting].
1 translator’s note
- ʿAbdullāh, the son of Umm Maktūm. ↩
80:3
وَمَا يُدۡرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ ٣
But what would make you perceive, [O Muḥammad], that perhaps he might be purified1
1 translator’s note
- As a result of what he learns from you. ↩
80:4
أَوۡ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰٓ ٤
Or be reminded and the remembrance would benefit him?
80:5
أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰ ٥
As for he who thinks himself without need,1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., without need of faith or need of Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) . Here it is in reference to a certain influential member of the Quraysh whom the Prophet (ﷺ) had hoped to bring to Islām. ↩
80:6
فَأَنتَ لَهُۥ تَصَدَّىٰ ٦
To him you give attention.
80:7
وَمَا عَلَيۡكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ ٧
And not upon you [is any blame] if he will not be purified.1
1 translator’s note
- The Prophet (ﷺ) was responsible only for conveying the message, not for ultimate guidance. ↩
80:8
وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسۡعَىٰ ٨
But as for he who came to you striving [for knowledge]
80:9
وَهُوَ يَخۡشَىٰ ٩
While he fears [Allāh],
80:10
فَأَنتَ عَنۡهُ تَلَهَّىٰ ١٠
From him you are distracted.
80:11
كـَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذۡكِرَةٞ ١١
No! Indeed, they [i.e., these verses] are a reminder;
80:12
فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ ١٢
So whoever wills may remember it.1
1 translator’s note
- The revelation. Or "Him," i.e., Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) . ↩
80:13
فِي صُحُفٖ مُّكَرَّمَةٖ ١٣
[It is recorded] in honored sheets,
80:14
مَّرۡفُوعَةٖ مُّطَهَّرَةِۭ ١٤
Exalted and purified,
80:15
بِأَيۡدِي سَفَرَةٖ ١٥
[Carried] by the hands of messenger-angels,
80:16
كِرَامِۭ بَرَرَةٖ ١٦
Noble and dutiful.
80:17
قُتِلَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مَآ أَكۡفَرَهُۥ ١٧
Destroyed [i.e., cursed] is man;1 how disbelieving is he.
1 translator’s note
- i.e., those who deny Allāh's message. ↩
80:18
مِنۡ أَيِّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ ١٨
From what thing [i.e., substance] did He create him?
80:19
مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ خَلَقَهُۥ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ ١٩
From a sperm-drop He created him and destined for him;1
1 translator’s note
- His proportions, provisions, life span, etc. ↩
80:20
ثُمَّ ٱلسَّبِيلَ يَسَّرَهُۥ ٢٠
Then He eased the way for him;1
1 translator’s note
- Into this world (i.e., his birth) . It may also refer to life itself, which has been made easier by Allāh's guidance. ↩
80:21
ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُۥ فَأَقۡبَرَهُۥ ٢١
Then He causes his death and provides a grave for him.1
1 translator’s note
- To conceal his decaying body. ↩
80:22
ثُمَّ إِذَا شَآءَ أَنشَرَهُۥ ٢٢
Then when He wills, He will resurrect him.
80:23
كـَلَّا لَمَّا يَقۡضِ مَآ أَمَرَهُۥ ٢٣
No! He [i.e., man] has not yet accomplished what He commanded him.
80:24
فَلۡيَنظُرِ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِۦٓ ٢٤
Then let mankind look at his food -
80:25
أَنَّا صَبَبۡنَا ٱلۡمَآءَ صَبّٗا ٢٥
How We poured down water in torrents,
80:26
ثُمَّ شَقَقۡنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ شَقّٗا ٢٦
Then We broke open the earth, splitting [it with sprouts],
80:27
فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا حَبّٗا ٢٧
And caused to grow within it grain
80:28
وَعِنَبٗا وَقَضۡبٗا ٢٨
And grapes and herbage
80:29
وَزَيۡتُونٗا وَنَخۡلٗا ٢٩
And olive and palm trees
80:30
وَحَدَآئِقَ غُلۡبٗا ٣٠
And gardens of dense shrubbery
80:31
وَفَٰكِهَةٗ وَأَبّٗا ٣١
And fruit and grass -
80:32
مَّتَٰعٗا لَّكُمۡ وَلِأَنۡعَٰمِكُمۡ ٣٢
[As] enjoyment [i.e., provision] for you and your grazing livestock.
80:33
فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلصَّآخَّةُ ٣٣
But when there comes the Deafening Blast1
1 translator’s note
- The piercing blast of the Horn which signals resurrection. Aṣ-Ṣākhkhah is also a name for the Day of Resurrection. ↩
80:34
يَوۡمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلۡمَرۡءُ مِنۡ أَخِيهِ ٣٤
On the Day a man will flee from his brother
80:35
وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ ٣٥
And his mother and his father
80:36
وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ ٣٦
And his wife and his children,
80:37
لِكُلِّ ٱمۡرِيٕٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ يَوۡمَئِذٖ شَأۡنٞ يُغۡنِيهِ ٣٧
For every man, that Day, will be a matter adequate for him.1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., to occupy him. He will be concerned only with himself, thus forgetting all others. ↩
80:38
وُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٖ مُّسۡفِرَةٞ ٣٨
[Some] faces, that Day, will be bright -
80:39
ضَاحِكَةٞ مُّسۡتَبۡشِرَةٞ ٣٩
Laughing, rejoicing at good news.
80:40
وَوُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٍ عَلَيۡهَا غَبَرَةٞ ٤٠
And [other] faces, that Day, will have upon them dust.
80:41
تَرۡهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ ٤١
Blackness will cover them.
80:42
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡكَفَرَةُ ٱلۡفَجَرَةُ ٤٢
Those are the disbelievers, the wicked ones.