‘Abasa
He frowned
Meccan·42 verses·80 / 114
80:1عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
He frowned and turned away
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 80:1
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:1]
One day when the Holy Prophet was in conversation with some of his companions, a blind man, Abdullab ibn Ummi Maktum, who was also poor, came to meet him and learn the Quran. The Holy Prophet received him with kindness and asked him to sit beside him. The Quraysh leaders did not like the interruption, particularly the respect and honour given to him by the Holy Prophet. One of the companions frowned and turned his back on him, which displeased Allah, and this surah was revealed.
Some commentators say that the pronoun "he" in abasa refers to the Holy Prophet who disliked the interruption at a time when he was engrossed in earnest discourse with some of the pagan Quraysh leaders.
As has been mentioned in the commentary of many verses, particularly Baqarah: 78; Mumin: 55; Fat-h: 2 and Muhammad: 15 to 19, a large number of Muslim scholars try to find out imaginary weaknesses in the character of the Holy Prophet so as to minimise the actual shortcomings, deviation and waywardness found in the companions whom they present as heroes of Islam. It is a preconceived plan to bring the infallible status of the Holy Prophet to the ordinary level of temporal rulers, which has been fully exposed in the commentary of above noted verses. For the perfection bestowed on the Holy Prophet refer to the commentary of Ahzab: 21 and Qalam: 4.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
The commentators who have depended on the sources, other than the Ahl ul Bayt, say that the nominative pronoun in verse 1, the subjective pronoun in verse 2, and the pronouns in verses 3, 6, 7 and 8 refer to the Holy Prophet. It is a deliberate attempt to belie the infallibility of the Holy Prophet.
To know the reason see commentary of verses mentioned above. According to the Ahl ul Bayt all the pronouns refer to a companion who was present there and frowned in anger as soon as Abdullah ibn Ummi Maktum sat beside the Holy Prophet. If, as said by such commentators, the Holy Prophet was deeply and earnestly engrossed in explaining the right path to pagan leaders whose conversion he had long cherished and did not pay attention to a man who had already embraced Islam, then this act should not have been censured by Allah.
The question in verse 3 clearly indicates that the doubt "whether Abdullah would grow in knowledge if the Holy Prophet talked to him" could only creep into the mind of a person whose faith was not fully strengthened. It could never come to the mind of a messenger of Allah who had been sent to preach the religion of Allah to one and all, irrespective of the listener's worldly position.
Verse 4 asserts that it is more likely that a poor man on account of his will to learn may grow in his spiritual development more than a wealthy leader who was proud of his possessions, referred to in verse 5, and it was he who frowned in anger (in verse 1). The wealthy companion who looked down upon Abdullah is commanded to let the poor companion be attended to because the message of Allah is accepted by the poor and lowly at once, and the mighty ones of the earth only come in when the weak and the simple people become an irresistible force. Even if a poor man does not grow in knowledge there is no blame on any one. Attention should be paid to those who come to learn with a sincere longing for knowledge. The wealthy companion, in spite of receiving guidance from the Holy Prophet, was unmindful of the preferences of Allah.
The Quran has been revealed to guide the whole mankind from which no one is to be excluded, rich or poor, great or lowly, learned or ignorant. Those who show sincere earnestness must be given preference.
80:2أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ
when the blind man approached him.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 80:2
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:2] (see commentary for verse 1)
80:3وَمَا يُدۡرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ
And how do you know, maybe he would purify himself,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 80:3
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:3] (see commentary for verse 1)
80:4أَوۡ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰٓ
or take admonition, and the admonition would benefit him!
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 80:4
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:4] (see commentary for verse 1)
80:5أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰ
But as for someone who is wealthy,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 80:5
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:5] (see commentary for verse 1)
80:6فَأَنتَ لَهُۥ تَصَدَّىٰ
you attend to him,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 80:6
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:6] (see commentary for verse 1)
80:7وَمَا عَلَيۡكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ
though you are not liable if he does not purify himself.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 80:7
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:7] (see commentary for verse 1)
80:8وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسۡعَىٰ
But as for someone who comes hurrying to you,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 80:8
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:8] (see commentary for verse 1)
80:9وَهُوَ يَخۡشَىٰ
while he fears [Allah],
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 80:9
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:9] (see commentary for verse 1)
80:10فَأَنتَ عَنۡهُ تَلَهَّىٰ
you are neglectful of him.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:10] (see commentary for verse 1)
80:11كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذۡكِرَةٞ
No indeed! These [verses of the Quran ] are a reminder
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:11] (see commentary for verse 1)
80:12فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ
—so let anyone who wishes remember—
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:12] (see commentary for verse 1)
80:13فِي صُحُفٖ مُّكَرَّمَةٖ
in honoured scriptures,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:13]
In the original texts of all the revealed scriptures the unity (tawhid) of Allah has been clearly proclaimed. These holy books were in the hand of the angels, the prophets and the Imams who have been thoroughly purified by Allah (Ahzab : 33). The scribes have to be pious and just. The representatives of Allah are either the angels, or the prophets or the Imams of the Ahl ul Bayt.
80:14مَّرۡفُوعَةٖ مُّطَهَّرَةِۭ
exalted and purified,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:14] (see commentary for verse 13)
80:15بِأَيۡدِي سَفَرَةٖ
in the hands of envoys,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:15] (see commentary for verse 13)
80:16كِرَامِۭ بَرَرَةٖ
noble and pious.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:16] (see commentary for verse 13)
80:17قُتِلَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مَآ أَكۡفَرَهُۥ
Perish man! How ungrateful is he!
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:17]
The origin of man as an animal is lowly. Refer to the commentary of Anam: 2; Araf: 12; Kahf: 37; Hajj: 5; Rum: 20; Muminun : 12 to 16 and Fatir: 11. To provide him sustenance all the forces in nature have been made subservient to him. Everything in nature if properly used serves his life on the earth. Then Allah granted him intellect, perception and free will, and made available guidance through His books and His representatives, so that by using his power of judgement he can avoid evil and follow the right path. Though all these blessings and bounties have been provided by Allah's beneficence for the good of man, yet he goes astray from the right path and rejects Allah and His guidance.
The tone of these verses indicate that this sure is an admonition to those who became Muslims without the proper understanding of the religion of Allah and its purpose.
80:18مِنۡ أَيِّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ
From what did He create him?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:18] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:19مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ خَلَقَهُۥ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ
He created him from a drop of [seminal] fluid; then proportioned him.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:19] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:20ثُمَّ ٱلسَّبِيلَ يَسَّرَهُۥ
Then He made the way easy for him;
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:20] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:21ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُۥ فَأَقۡبَرَهُۥ
then He made him die and buried him;
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:21] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:22ثُمَّ إِذَا شَآءَ أَنشَرَهُۥ
and then, when He wished, resurrected him.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:22] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:23كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقۡضِ مَآ أَمَرَهُۥ
No indeed! He has not yet carried out what He has commanded him.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:23] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:24فَلۡيَنظُرِ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِۦٓ
Let man consider his food:
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:24] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:25أَنَّا صَبَبۡنَا ٱلۡمَآءَ صَبّٗا
We pour down plenteous water [from the sky],
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:25] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:26ثُمَّ شَقَقۡنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ شَقّٗا
then We split the earth making fissures in it
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:26] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:27فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا حَبّٗا
and make the grain grow in it,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:27] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:28وَعِنَبٗا وَقَضۡبٗا
as well as vines and vegetables,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:28] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:29وَزَيۡتُونٗا وَنَخۡلٗا
olives and date palms,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:29] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:30وَحَدَآئِقَ غُلۡبٗا
and densely-planted gardens,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:30] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:31وَفَٰكِهَةٗ وَأَبّٗا
fruits and pastures,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:31] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:32مَّتَٰعٗا لَّكُمۡ وَلِأَنۡعَٰمِكُمۡ
as a sustenance for you and your livestock.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:32] (see commentary for verse 17)
80:33فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلصَّآخَّةُ
So when the deafening Cry comes—
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:33]
These verses warn man not to forget the day of judgement which is certain. Refer to the commentary of Ma-arij: 10; Tur: 21. On the day of judgement in contrast to the depression, gloom and helplessness in the camp of the condemned sinners, there will be rejoicing and thanksgiving in the camp of the believers.
80:34يَوۡمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلۡمَرۡءُ مِنۡ أَخِيهِ
the day when a man will evade his brother,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:34] (see commentary for verse 33)
80:35وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ
his mother and his father,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:35] (see commentary for verse 33)
80:36وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ
his spouse and his sons—
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:36] (see commentary for verse 33)
80:37لِكُلِّ ٱمۡرِيٕٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ يَوۡمَئِذٖ شَأۡنٞ يُغۡنِيهِ
each of them will have a task to keep him preoccupied on that day.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:37] (see commentary for verse 33)
80:38وُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٖ مُّسۡفِرَةٞ
Some faces will be bright on that day,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:38] (see commentary for verse 33)
80:39ضَاحِكَةٞ مُّسۡتَبۡشِرَةٞ
laughing and joyous,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:39] (see commentary for verse 33)
80:40وَوُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٍ عَلَيۡهَا غَبَرَةٞ
and some faces on that day will be covered with dust,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:40] (see commentary for verse 33)
80:41تَرۡهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ
overcast with gloom.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:41] (see commentary for verse 33)
80:42أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡكَفَرَةُ ٱلۡفَجَرَةُ
It is they who are the faithless, the vicious.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 80:42] (see commentary for verse 33)
