Tanwir al-Miqbas · Tafsir · in English
عبس
'Abasa
He Frowned · Meccan · 42 ayahs
And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (He frowned): '(He frowned) He says: Muhammad (pbuh) showed a stern face (and turned away) his face
(Because the blind man came unto him) when 'Abdullah Ibn Umm Maktum came to him. His real name is 'Abdullah Ibn Shurayh. Umm Maktum was his father's mother. What happened is that the Prophet (pbuh) was sitting with a group of men among the nobles of Quraysh, among whom were his uncle al-'Abbas Ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib, Umayyah Ibn Khalaf al-Jumahi and Safwan Ibn Umayyah, who were at that time disbelievers. The Prophet (pbuh) was admonishing and inviting them to Islam when Ibn Maktum came to him and said: �O Messenger of Allah! Teach me of that which Allah has taught you�. The Prophet (pbuh) turned his face from him because he was busy with these people. When this happened Allah revealed: he frowned and turned away because the blind man came unto him.
80:3Page 585
وَمَا يُدۡرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ ٣
But what would make you perceive, [O Muḥammad], that perhaps he might be purified1
(What could inform thee) O Muhammad (but that he might) i.e. the blind man (grow (in grace)) became righteous through the admonitions of the Qur'an
80:4Page 585
أَوۡ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰٓ ٤
Or be reminded and the remembrance would benefit him?
(Or take heed) by means of the Qur'an (and so the reminder) by means of the Qur'an (might avail him?) It is also said that this means: how do you know O Muhammad, whether or not he becomes righteous and whether or not he benefits from the admonitions of the Qur'an.
(As for him who thinketh himself independent) of Allah, i.e. the three men mentioned above,
(Unto him thou payest regard) you turn your face to them.
80:7Page 585
وَمَا عَلَيۡكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ ٧
And not upon you [is any blame] if he will not be purified.1
(Yet it is not thy concern if he grow not (in grace)) it is not your concern if these three men do not believe in Allah's divine Oneness.
(But as for him who cometh unto thee with earnest purpose) hastening for goodness
(And hath fear) of Allah, and is also a Muslim; this is because Ibn Umm Maktum had accepted Islam before this incident,
(From him thou) O Muhammad (art distracted) being busy with those three men.
(Nay) do not do this; He says: do not turn to those who think themselves independent of Allah and turn away from he who fears Allah. After this reminder, the Prophet (pbuh) used to honour Ibn Umm Maktum and treat him well, (but verily it) this surah (is an Admonishment) from Allah both for the rich and the poor,
(So let whosoever will pay heed to it) whoever Allah wants him to be admonished will be admonished,
(On honoured leaves) He says: the Qur'an is written on scrolls made of skin which are honoured in the sight of Allah
(Exalted) in heaven, (purified) from filth and idolatry,
((Set down) by scribes) written by scribes
(Noble) in the sight of Allah and surrendered to Him (and righteous) truthful; these are the keepers of the nether heaven.
80:17Page 585
قُتِلَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مَآ أَكۡفَرَهُۥ ١٧
Destroyed [i.e., cursed] is man;1 how disbelieving is he.
(Man is (self)-destroyed) the disbeliever, i.e. 'Utbah Ibn Abi Lahab, is cursed: (how ungrateful!) what has made him a disbelieve in Allah and in the stars of the Qur'an, i.e. in the star when it sets; it is also said that this means: how extreme is his disbelief.
(From what thing doth He create him?) He says: let him think about his own person: from what did He create him as a living being?
80:19Page 585
مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ خَلَقَهُۥ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ ١٩
From a sperm-drop He created him and destined for him;1
Allah then explained and said to him: (From a drop of seed. He createth him) a living being (and proportioneth him) He proportioned his creation by giving him two hands, two feet, two eyes, two ears as well as all the other organs,
(Then maketh the way easy for him) He made clear to him the way of good and the way of evil; and it is also said this means: He made easy for him to come out of the way of the womb,
80:21Page 585
ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُۥ فَأَقۡبَرَهُۥ ٢١
Then He causes his death and provides a grave for him.1
(Then causeth him to die) after this, (and burieth him) and commanded to bury him;
(Then, when He will, He bringeth him again to life) i.e. He will resurrect him from the grave.
80:23Page 585
كـَلَّا لَمَّا يَقۡضِ مَآ أَمَرَهُۥ ٢٣
No! He [i.e., man] has not yet accomplished what He commanded him.
(Nay) truly, O Muhammad, (but (man) hath not done what He commanded him) of profession of Allah's divine Oneness and other things.
(Let man consider his food) let the disbelieving person, 'Utbah Ibn Abi Lahab, think about the food he eats, how it is transformed from state to state until it reaches him to eat:
Allah then explained these different states, saying: (How We pour water) i.e. rain (in showers) upon the earth
80:26Page 585
ثُمَّ شَقَقۡنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ شَقّٗا ٢٦
Then We broke open the earth, splitting [it with sprouts],
(Then split the earth in clefts) through plants
(And cause the grain) all kinds of grain (to grow therein) in the earth
(And grapes and green fodder
And olive trees and palm-trees
And garden closes of thick foliage
And fruits) different kinds of fruit (and grasses) and fodder; and it also said this means: straw:
80:32Page 585
مَّتَٰعٗا لَّكُمۡ وَلِأَنۡعَٰمِكُمۡ ٣٢
[As] enjoyment [i.e., provision] for you and your grazing livestock.
(Provision for you) the grains are of benefit to you (and your cattle) and fodder is of benefit to your cattle.
(But when the Shout cometh) when the Hour comes, all created beings will scream and then submit and answer the call. Created being will be abased and know then that its advent is true.
Allah then explained when this will happen, saying: (On the day when a man) the believer (fleeth from his brother) who is a disbeliever
(And his mother) and will also flee from his mother (and his father
And his wife and his children) it is also said this means: when Abel will flee from Cain, and Muhammad (pbuh) will flee from his mother Aminah, and Abraham from his father, and Lot from his wife Wa'ilah and Nuh from his son Canaan.
80:37Page 585
لِكُلِّ ٱمۡرِيٕٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ يَوۡمَئِذٖ شَأۡنٞ يُغۡنِيهِ ٣٧
For every man, that Day, will be a matter adequate for him.1
(Every man that day) on the Day of Judgement (will have concern enough to make him heedless (of others)) to keep him preoccupied from others.
(On that day faces) the faces of the believers who are true in their faith (will be bright as dawn) will be blooming due to Allah's pleasure with them,
(Laughing) pleased with Allah's bestowal of honour upon them, (rejoicing at good news) happy with Allah's reward;
80:40Page 585
وَوُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٍ عَلَيۡهَا غَبَرَةٞ ٤٠
And [other] faces, that Day, will have upon them dust.
(And other faces) the faces of the hypocrites and disbelievers, (on that day) on the Day of Judgement, (with dust upon them,
Veiled in darkness) gloomy and dark,
80:42Page 585
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡكَفَرَةُ ٱلۡفَجَرَةُ ٤٢
Those are the disbelievers, the wicked ones.
(Those) with such a trait (are the disbelievers) in Allah, (the wicked) the liars against Allah'.
Text: Quranic Universal Library (Tarteel), via spa5k/tafsir_api (MIT), at a fixed version. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences