عبس

عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ 1

He [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ) ] frowned and turned away

أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ 2

Because there came to him the blind man,[1853] [interrupting].

Translation notes

[1853] ʿAbdullāh, the son of Umm Maktūm.

وَمَا يُدۡرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ 3

But what would make you perceive, [O Muḥammad], that perhaps he might be purified[1854]

Translation notes

[1854] As a result of what he learns from you.

أَوۡ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰٓ 4

Or be reminded and the remembrance would benefit him?

أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰ 5

As for he who thinks himself without need,[1855]

Translation notes

[1855] i.e., without need of faith or need of Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) . Here it is in reference to a certain influential member of the Quraysh whom the Prophet (ﷺ) had hoped to bring to Islām.

فَأَنتَ لَهُۥ تَصَدَّىٰ 6

To him you give attention.

وَمَا عَلَيۡكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ 7

And not upon you [is any blame] if he will not be purified.[1856]

Translation notes

[1856] The Prophet (ﷺ) was responsible only for conveying the message, not for ultimate guidance.

وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسۡعَىٰ 8

But as for he who came to you striving [for knowledge]

وَهُوَ يَخۡشَىٰ 9

While he fears [Allāh],

فَأَنتَ عَنۡهُ تَلَهَّىٰ 10

From him you are distracted.

كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذۡكِرَةٞ 11

No! Indeed, they [i.e., these verses] are a reminder;

فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ 12

So whoever wills may remember it.[1857]

Translation notes

[1857] The revelation. Or "Him," i.e., Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) .

فِي صُحُفٖ مُّكَرَّمَةٖ 13

[It is recorded] in honored sheets,

مَّرۡفُوعَةٖ مُّطَهَّرَةِۭ 14

Exalted and purified,

بِأَيۡدِي سَفَرَةٖ 15

[Carried] by the hands of messenger-angels,

كِرَامِۭ بَرَرَةٖ 16

Noble and dutiful.

قُتِلَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مَآ أَكۡفَرَهُۥ 17

Destroyed [i.e., cursed] is man;[1858] how disbelieving is he.

Translation notes

[1858] i.e., those who deny Allāh's message.

مِنۡ أَيِّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ 18

From what thing [i.e., substance] did He create him?

مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ خَلَقَهُۥ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ 19

From a sperm-drop He created him and destined for him;[1859]

Translation notes

[1859] His proportions, provisions, life span, etc.

ثُمَّ ٱلسَّبِيلَ يَسَّرَهُۥ 20

Then He eased the way for him;[1860]

Translation notes

[1860] Into this world (i.e., his birth) . It may also refer to life itself, which has been made easier by Allāh's guidance.

ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُۥ فَأَقۡبَرَهُۥ 21

Then He causes his death and provides a grave for him.[1861]

Translation notes

[1861] To conceal his decaying body.

ثُمَّ إِذَا شَآءَ أَنشَرَهُۥ 22

Then when He wills, He will resurrect him.

كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقۡضِ مَآ أَمَرَهُۥ 23

No! He [i.e., man] has not yet accomplished what He commanded him.

فَلۡيَنظُرِ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِۦٓ 24

Then let mankind look at his food -

أَنَّا صَبَبۡنَا ٱلۡمَآءَ صَبّٗا 25

How We poured down water in torrents,

ثُمَّ شَقَقۡنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ شَقّٗا 26

Then We broke open the earth, splitting [it with sprouts],

فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا حَبّٗا 27

And caused to grow within it grain

وَعِنَبٗا وَقَضۡبٗا 28

And grapes and herbage

وَزَيۡتُونٗا وَنَخۡلٗا 29

And olive and palm trees

وَحَدَآئِقَ غُلۡبٗا 30

And gardens of dense shrubbery

وَفَٰكِهَةٗ وَأَبّٗا 31

And fruit and grass -

مَّتَٰعٗا لَّكُمۡ وَلِأَنۡعَٰمِكُمۡ 32

[As] enjoyment [i.e., provision] for you and your grazing livestock.

فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلصَّآخَّةُ 33

But when there comes the Deafening Blast[1862]

Translation notes

[1862] The piercing blast of the Horn which signals resurrection. Aṣ-Ṣākhkhah is also a name for the Day of Resurrection.

يَوۡمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلۡمَرۡءُ مِنۡ أَخِيهِ 34

On the Day a man will flee from his brother

وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ 35

And his mother and his father

وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ 36

And his wife and his children,

لِكُلِّ ٱمۡرِيٕٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ يَوۡمَئِذٖ شَأۡنٞ يُغۡنِيهِ 37

For every man, that Day, will be a matter adequate for him.[1863]

Translation notes

[1863] i.e., to occupy him. He will be concerned only with himself, thus forgetting all others.

وُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٖ مُّسۡفِرَةٞ 38

[Some] faces, that Day, will be bright -

ضَاحِكَةٞ مُّسۡتَبۡشِرَةٞ 39

Laughing, rejoicing at good news.

وَوُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٍ عَلَيۡهَا غَبَرَةٞ 40

And [other] faces, that Day, will have upon them dust.

تَرۡهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ 41

Blackness will cover them.

أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡكَفَرَةُ ٱلۡفَجَرَةُ 42

Those are the disbelievers, the wicked ones.