Translation of the Meanings Surah ‘Abasa - English translation - Rowwad Translation Center - Page Number 585 - Encyclopedia of the Noble Quran

‘Abasa

1 : 80

عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

He frowned and turned away,

2 : 80

أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ

when the blind man came to him^[1].

[1] Abdullah ibn Um Maktūm, an early Muslim who was blind, came to the Prophet (ﷺ) seeking knowledge and guidance, while the Prophet (ﷺ) was in the middle of a discussion with some leading pagans of Makkah, calling them to Islam. The Prophet (ﷺ) frowned and turned his attention from him. So this Makkan surah was revealed.

3 : 80

وَمَا يُدۡرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ

How would you know? Perhaps he might be purified^[2],

[2] Through the knowledge he learns from you.

4 : 80

أَوۡ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰٓ

or he might take heed and benefit from the reminder?

5 : 80

أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰ

But he who was indifferent^[3],

[3] Towards faith. Here it is referring to that influential pagan of the Quraysh whom the Prophet (ﷺ) had hoped to embrace Islam.

6 : 80

فَأَنتَ لَهُۥ تَصَدَّىٰ

you give him your full attention,

7 : 80

وَمَا عَلَيۡكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ

although you are not to be blamed if he does not purify himself^[4].

[4] The Prophets are only responsible to convey the message, not for people’s guidance.

8 : 80

وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسۡعَىٰ

But as for the one who came to you striving [for purification],

9 : 80

وَهُوَ يَخۡشَىٰ

and he fears Allah,

10 : 80

فَأَنتَ عَنۡهُ تَلَهَّىٰ

you let yourself be distracted from him.

11 : 80

كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذۡكِرَةٞ

No indeed; this is a reminder –

12 : 80

فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ

so whoever wills may give heed to it –

13 : 80

فِي صُحُفٖ مُّكَرَّمَةٖ

on venerable pages,

14 : 80

مَّرۡفُوعَةٖ مُّطَهَّرَةِۭ

exalted and purified,

15 : 80

بِأَيۡدِي سَفَرَةٖ

[preserved] in the hands of angel-scribes,

16 : 80

كِرَامِۭ بَرَرَةٖ

honorable and obedient.

17 : 80

قُتِلَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مَآ أَكۡفَرَهُۥ

Woe to man; how ungrateful he is^[5]!

[5] i.e., the disbelievers.

18 : 80

مِنۡ أَيِّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ

From what did He create him?

19 : 80

مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ خَلَقَهُۥ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ

He created him from a drop of semen and proportioned him^[6],

[6] His creation, provisions, life span, etc.

20 : 80

ثُمَّ ٱلسَّبِيلَ يَسَّرَهُۥ

then He made the way easy for him^[7];

[7] i.e., the way out of his mothers’ wombs (his birth), or the way to guidance.

21 : 80

ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُۥ فَأَقۡبَرَهُۥ

then He caused him to die and be buried;

22 : 80

ثُمَّ إِذَا شَآءَ أَنشَرَهُۥ

then when He wills, He will resurrect him.

23 : 80

كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقۡضِ مَآ أَمَرَهُۥ

Yet he has not fulfilled what He commanded him.

24 : 80

فَلۡيَنظُرِ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِۦٓ

Let man consider the food he eats:

25 : 80

أَنَّا صَبَبۡنَا ٱلۡمَآءَ صَبّٗا

How We pour down rainwater in torrents,

26 : 80

ثُمَّ شَقَقۡنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ شَقّٗا

and cause the soil to split open [for sprouts],

27 : 80

فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا حَبّٗا

and cause grains to grow in it,

28 : 80

وَعِنَبٗا وَقَضۡبٗا

as well as grapes and fodder,

29 : 80

وَزَيۡتُونٗا وَنَخۡلٗا

and olive trees and date palms,

30 : 80

وَحَدَآئِقَ غُلۡبٗا

and dense orchards,

31 : 80

وَفَٰكِهَةٗ وَأَبّٗا

and fruits and grass,

32 : 80

مَّتَٰعٗا لَّكُمۡ وَلِأَنۡعَٰمِكُمۡ

as provision for you and your livestock.

33 : 80

فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلصَّآخَّةُ

But when the Deafening Blast^[8] comes,

[8] The piercing Blast; the second Blast for resurrection.

34 : 80

يَوۡمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلۡمَرۡءُ مِنۡ أَخِيهِ

on that Day everyone will flee from his brother,

35 : 80

وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ

and from his mother and father,

36 : 80

وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ

and from his wife and children.

37 : 80

لِكُلِّ ٱمۡرِيٕٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ يَوۡمَئِذٖ شَأۡنٞ يُغۡنِيهِ

On that day, everyone will have enough concern of his own^[9].

[9] Thus forgetting all others.

38 : 80

وُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٖ مُّسۡفِرَةٞ

On that Day, some faces will be bright,

39 : 80

ضَاحِكَةٞ مُّسۡتَبۡشِرَةٞ

cheerful and rejoicing;

40 : 80

وَوُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٍ عَلَيۡهَا غَبَرَةٞ

while other faces will be dust-stained,