This blog is part of a series of blogs based on my research and compilation of all the Surahs of Holy Quran. An effort to make each of these Surahs understandable in an easy way. Today's effort is This blog is part of a series of blogs based on my research and compilation of all the Surahs of Holy Quran. An effort to make each of these Surahs understandable in an easy way. Today's effort is SURAH ABASA Chapter- 80. If you consider it a piece of learning do comment at the bottom of the blog. May Allah forgive any mistake, omission, or error on my part in its compilation (Aameen Summa Aameen). Please do write comments about this blog at its bottom.
English Translation:
In the name of Allah, the
beneficent, the merciful.
He frowned and turned away﴾1﴿
Because the blind man came unto him.﴾2﴿ What could inform thee but that he might grow
(in grace) ﴾3﴿ Or take heed and so the reminder might avail
him?﴾4﴿ As for him who thinketh himself independent,﴾5﴿
Unto him thou payest regard.﴾6﴿
Yet it is not thy concern if he grow not (in grace).﴾7﴿ But as for him who cometh unto thee with earnest purpose﴾8﴿
And hath fear,﴾9﴿ From him thou art distracted.﴾10﴿
Nay, but verily it is an Admonishment,﴾11﴿ So let whosoever will
pay heed to it,﴾12﴿ On honoured leaves﴾13﴿ Exalted, purified,﴾14﴿ (Set
down) by scribes﴾15﴿ Noble and righteous.﴾16﴿ Man is (self-)destroyed:
how ungrateful!﴾17﴿ From what thing doth He create him?﴾18﴿
From a drop of seed. He createth him and proportioneth him,﴾19﴿ Then maketh the way easy for him,﴾20﴿
Then causeth him to die, and burieth him;﴾21﴿ Then, when He will, He bringeth him again to life.﴾22﴿ Nay, but (man) hath not done what
He commanded him.﴾23﴿ Let man
consider his food:﴾24﴿ How We pour
water in showers﴾25﴿ Then split the
earth in clefts﴾26﴿ And cause the
grain to grow therein﴾27﴿ And grapes
and green fodder﴾28﴿ And olive-trees
and palm-trees﴾29﴿ And garden-closes
of thick foliage﴾30﴿ And fruits and
grasses:﴾31﴿ Provision for you and
your cattle.﴾32﴿ But when the Shout
cometh﴾33﴿ On the day when a man
fleeth from his brother﴾34﴿ And his
mother and his father﴾35﴿ And his
wife and his children,﴾36﴿ Every man
that day will have concern enough to make him heedless (of others).﴾37﴿ On that day faces will be bright
as dawn,﴾38﴿ Laughing, rejoicing at
good news;﴾39﴿ And other faces, on
that day, with dust upon them,﴾40﴿
Veiled in darkness,﴾41﴿ Those are
the disbelievers, the wicked.﴾42﴿
Introduction:
Surah
Abasa (Arabic: عبس, "He Frowned"), Chapter 80 is
the third surah of the 30th Juzz' of the Quran. It’s a Meccan surah (period
between 610-616 AD), with 42 verses (Ayats), 552 letters 133 words, 116 unique
words without repetition and is 24th surah in order of revelation. The
name of the Surah is derived from its first verse. It tells the story of a
blind, poor, yet pious Sahabi. Abdullah
ibn Umme Maktoom (RA), He is being referred to in the third verse of Surah
Abasa. He was also appointed as a Muazzin by Rasulullah (PBUH) who approached
the Prophet seeking spiritual guidance. The Prophet frowned and turned away,
focusing on the Quraysh leaders he was hoping to influence. The Surah begins by
criticizing the Prophet’s act of turning away from Abdullah, emphasizing that
the quest for spiritual knowledge should never be disregarded, regardless of
who is seeking it.
Surah Abasa is short, but contains various important
subjects, which especially emphasize on the Resurrection and can be summarized
under five topics:
1. Allah’s
serious admonishment to the one who did not show suitable behavior to a
truth‑seeking blind man.
2. The
importance of the Holy Quran.
3. Man's
ungratefulness toward the blessings of Allah.
4. A
partial description about His blessings in the field of nutrition for Men and
animals in order to stimulate a sense of thankfulness.
5. Some
hints about the terrible incidents of the Day of Judgment' and the fate of the
believers and unbelievers on that Day.
Major
Issues, Divine Laws and Guidance
·
The commandment that the seekers of
guidance should be given preference in conveying Allah's message.
·
Man is reminded to recognize his Creator.
·
On the Day of Judgement man will be so
concerned about himself that he will not even care about his own mother,
father, brother or children.
Theme
of Surah Abasa:
The story behind Surah Abasa is both poignant and
instructive, serving as a lesson in humility and the importance of spiritual
inclusivity. The Surah recounts an incident involving the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) and a blind man named Abdullah ibn Umm-Maktum Upon reading the opening
words of this Surah one feels that in this Surah Allah has expressed His
displeasure against the Prophet (pbuh) for his treating the blind man with
indifference and attending to the big chiefs exclusively. But in reading the
whole Surah objectively, one finds that the displeasure, in fact, is expressed
against the disbelieving Qureysh, who, because of their arrogant attitude and
indifference, were rejecting the message of truth with contempt.
The error in the method that the Prophet adopted at
the start of his mission is also pointed out. His treating of the blind man
with neglect and disregard, and consequently devoting all of his attention to
the Qureysh chiefs was not because he regarded the rich as noble and a poor
blind man as contemptible. Naturally, when a caller to the Truth embarks on the
mission of conveying his message to people, he wants the most influential
people of society to accept the message so his task becomes easier. Almost the
same attitude the Prophet (upon whom be peace) had adopted in the beginning, an
attitude of sincerity and a desire to promote his mission and not out of
respect for the rich people and hatred for the poor. But Allah made him realize
the correct method of extending invitation to Islam and his mission's point of
view: every man, who was a seeker of the truth, was important, even if he was
weak, or poor, and every man, who was heedless to the truth, was unimportant,
even if he occupied a high position in society.
Lessons
from Surah Abasa
Surah Abasa offers valuable lessons that can
positively impact us. By integrating these teachings into our everyday
interactions with others, we can become better individuals personally and
professionally, besides being more merciful. Following are the clear lessons
from Surah Abasa:
1.
Prioritize kindness and mercy: Allah revealed Surah
Abasa as a reminder for everyone that no matter their status or how significant
their work is, they should always prioritize kindness and mercy towards others.
2.
Equality and Compassion: The
incident underscores the importance of treating all individuals with respect
and compassion, irrespective of their social status, wealth, or physical
abilities. Islam emphasizes the inherent dignity of every human being,
regardless of worldly attributes.
3.
Humility and Self-Reflection: Even the noblest of individuals, such as
Prophet Muhammad, are susceptible to moments of human frailty. The Prophet’s
reaction serves as a lesson in humility and the need for constant
self-awareness and improvement.
4.
Interact with all individuals respectfully: It
is important to interact with all individuals respectfully and in a dignified
manner, irrespective of any differences or biases based on appearance,
background, or social status. Underestimating someone solely based on such
factors should be avoided at all times.
5.
Accountability and responsibility: The Surah also teaches us
about accountability and responsibility, every action has consequences, so we
must be aware of our acts permanently.
6.
True guidance comes only from Allah: Another lesson
from Surah Abasa is that true guidance comes only from Allah, not worldly
possessions or material wealth. Therefore, it reminds us to seek His direction
in everything we do and strive for His satisfaction above all else.
7.
Gratitude and Accountability: The
chapter emphasizes the concept of gratitude towards God for His countless
blessings. It reminds believers of their accountability on the Day of Judgment,
where their actions and intentions will be scrutinized.
The
Virtue in Studying this Surah
Ø A
tradition from Prophet Muhammad (S) says: “One who studies Surah 'Abasa will
arrive at the Gathering Place smiling and rejoicing will arrive at the
Gathering Place smiling and rejoicing on The Day of Judgment.”
Ø “Whoever
carries it written on a piece of paper or skin of an animal will attain
goodness on his journey, and that which troubles him will be sufficient.
Besides, whoever recites it for three days every day, seven times on a well
that has been depleted will be abundant. Whoever recites it on a buried one who
is strayed from him, Allah (SWT) will guide him.” (however, we can’t ensure its
authenticity).
Surah
Abasa Benefits:
Reciting Surah Abasa has numerous benefits. Some of
its benefits are:
1. Surah Abasa Protects from Arrogance:
Reciting Surah Abasa helps to remind us that all people are equal in front of
Allah and that we should treat everyone respectfully. It also reminds us to
remain humble, thankful, and aware of our actions. By internalizing these
lessons, we can better connect with Allah (SWT) and deepen our spiritual
practice.
2.
Surah Abasa Brings peace to the heart and mind: Reciting
Surah Abasa brings peace to the heart and mind. The words of this chapter are
calming, helping us to release stress or anxiety. By incorporating regular
recitation of Surah Abasa into our daily routine, we can experience a greater
sense of inner calmness.
3.
Surah Abasa Increases Wealth and Blessings: It
is believed that reciting Surah Abasa can increase a man’s wealth and
blessings. Through its powerful message, this surah teaches us the significance
of striving for success while remaining grounded in faith.
4.
Surah Abasa Protects from harm during travel: This
Surah acts as a shield against harm and danger during travel. The
authority of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said about Surah Abasa: “If a traveler
recites it on his way, he will be protected from what follows him on his way in
that journey.” Moreover, the recitation of Surah Abasa helps one gain
protection against evil spirits or enemies. (narration we can’t ensure its
authenticity, but it could generally refer to the benefits and virtues of Surah
Abasa.
5.
Surah Abasa Boosts Self-confidence: Reciting Surah Abasa
helps boost self-confidence and overwhelm shyness and fear. That is because the
recitation of this surah is believed to bring about success in all matters and
help one achieve his objectives.
It is also believed in Islamic tradition that reciting
Surah Abasa can protect a person from poverty, but there is no evidence for
that.
6.
Blessings in the afterlife:
Regularly reciting this Surah can lead to blessings in
the afterlife. It was narrated on the authority of the Prophet, may Allah’s
prayers and peace be upon him and his family, that he said: “Whoever reads this
surah will come out of his grave on the Day of Resurrection (Qiyamah), laughing
with joy, and whoever writes it on parchment and hangs it will see nothing but
good wherever he goes.”
Overall, Surah Abasa is a powerful chapter of the
Quran that offers numerous spiritual and worldly benefits.
7.
Spiritual purification: Surah Abasa helps in
spiritual purification and tranquility by removing negative thoughts and feelings
from the mind and heart.
Surah Abasa helps individuals become more self-aware
and recognize their faults and weaknesses. By doing so, they can work towards
improving themselves to become better Muslims and deepen their faith.
8.
Healing power: In Islamic tradition, reciting Surah Abasa
is believed to have healing power for various physical and psychological
ailments. That is because it contains verses that express seeking help and
guidance from Allah.
Conclusion:
Surah Abasa transcends its historical context to offer
timeless lessons and insights for believers. It challenges societal norms of
discrimination and elitism, emphasizing the values of compassion, humility, and
gratitude. Through its teachings, virtues, and benefits, Surah Abasa serves as
a beacon of guidance and inspiration for Muslims believers to remain steadfast
in their faith, humble in their interactions, and conscious of their
accountability before Allah. As Muslims engage with Surah Abasa, they find not
only historical narratives but also a living, breathing guide for navigating
the complexities of life with faith and resilience. May the recitation and
contemplation of Surah Abasa bring about spiritual growth, understanding, and a
deeper connection with the divine wisdom embedded in its verses.
Besides it, Surah Abasa serves as a reminder of
fundamental Islamic principles, including equality, compassion, and
accountability. It encourages believers to reflect on their actions and
intentions and strive for spiritual growth. Surah Abasa benefits include valuable
spiritual guidance and numerous blessings to those who recite it regularly. It
also provides valuable lessons that we should strive to implement in our daily
lives as Muslims seeking Allah’s satisfaction. Additionally, reciting Surah
Abasa with sincerity and focus can bring peace and tranquility, besides
strengthening one’s connection with Allah.
Researched
& Compiled by:
OVAIS
ASAD KHAN
