Commentary · Quran
Surah 80: He FrownedHe Frowned
If you don’t know me, my name is Rachel, and these are my scripture notes on the Quran. The ayat are presented sequentially in English and Arabic, followed by my commentary. Think of it as a living midrash: whenever I learn something new, I add a note. My notes draw from an eclectic range of ancient sources, both Jewish and Gentile. See my about page for more.
I’ve used Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall’s 1930 translation of the Quran’s meanings since it’s both public domain and very pretty.
Surah 80: He Frownedسُورَةُ عَبَسَ
1He frowned and turned away 2Because the blind man came unto him. 3What could inform thee but that he might grow (in grace) 4Or take heed and so the reminder might avail him? 5As for him who thinketh himself independent, 6Unto him thou payest regard. 7Yet it is not thy concern if he grow not (in grace). 8But as for him who cometh unto thee with earnest purpose 9And hath fear, 10From him thou art distracted. 11Nay, but verily it is an Admonishment, 12So let whosoever will pay heed to it, 13On honoured leaves 14Exalted, purified, 15(Set down) by scribes 16Noble and righteous. 17Man is (self-)destroyed: how ungrateful! 18From what thing doth He create him? 19From a drop of seed. He createth him and proportioneth him, 20Then maketh the way easy for him, 21Then causeth him to die, and burieth him; 22Then, when He will, He bringeth him again to life. 23Nay, but (man) hath not done what He commanded him. 24Let man consider his food: 25How We pour water in showers 26Then split the earth in clefts 27And cause the grain to grow therein 28And grapes and green fodder 29And olive-trees and palm-trees 30And garden-closes of thick foliage 31And fruits and grasses: 32Provision for you and your cattle. 33But when the Shout cometh 34On the day when a man fleeth from his brother 35And his mother and his father 36And his wife and his children, 37Every man that day will have concern enough to make him heedless (of others). 38On that day faces will be bright as dawn, 39Laughing, rejoicing at good news; 40And other faces, on that day, with dust upon them, 41Veiled in darkness, 42Those are the disbelievers, the wicked.
1بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ 2أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ 3وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ 4أَوْ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰٓ 5أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰ 6فَأَنتَ لَهُۥ تَصَدَّىٰ 7وَمَا عَلَيْكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ 8وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسْعَىٰ 9وَهُوَ يَخْشَىٰ 10فَأَنتَ عَنْهُ تَلَهَّىٰ 11كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌۭ 12فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ 13فِى صُحُفٍۢ مُّكَرَّمَةٍۢ 14مَّرْفُوعَةٍۢ مُّطَهَّرَةٍۭ 15بِأَيْدِى سَفَرَةٍۢ 16كِرَامٍۭ بَرَرَةٍۢ 17قُتِلَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ مَآ أَكْفَرَهُۥ 18مِنْ أَىِّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ 19مِن نُّطْفَةٍ خَلَقَهُۥ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ 20ثُمَّ ٱلسَّبِيلَ يَسَّرَهُۥ 21ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُۥ فَأَقْبَرَهُۥ 22ثُمَّ إِذَا شَآءَ أَنشَرَهُۥ 23كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقْضِ مَآ أَمَرَهُۥ 24فَلْيَنظُرِ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِۦٓ 25أَنَّا صَبَبْنَا ٱلْمَآءَ صَبًّۭا 26ثُمَّ شَقَقْنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ شَقًّۭا 27فَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا حَبًّۭا 28وَعِنَبًۭا وَقَضْبًۭا 29وَزَيْتُونًۭا وَنَخْلًۭا 30وَحَدَآئِقَ غُلْبًۭا 31وَفَٰكِهَةًۭ وَأَبًّۭا 32مَّتَٰعًۭا لَّكُمْ وَلِأَنْعَٰمِكُمْ 33فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلصَّآخَّةُ 34يَوْمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلْمَرْءُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ 35وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ 36وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ 37لِكُلِّ ٱمْرِئٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ شَأْنٌۭ يُغْنِيهِ 38وُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ مُّسْفِرَةٌۭ 39ضَاحِكَةٌۭ مُّسْتَبْشِرَةٌۭ 40وَوُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَيْهَا غَبَرَةٌۭ 41تَرْهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ 42أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْكَفَرَةُ ٱلْفَجَرَةُ