عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ ١
1. He [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ) ] frowned and turned away
سورة عبس
Surah ’Abasa has 42 verses on one page of the Madinah mushaf (page 585), in juz 30. It is learned in a single portion: listen to it, repeat it, hide it bit by bit, then recite it from memory.
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Tajweed rules
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ ١
1. He [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ) ] frowned and turned away
أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ ٢
2. Because there came to him the blind man,1853 [interrupting].
[1853] ʿAbdullāh, the son of Umm Maktūm.
وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ ٣
3. But what would make you perceive, [O Muḥammad], that perhaps he might be purified1854
[1854] As a result of what he learns from you.
أَوْ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰٓ ٤
4. Or be reminded and the remembrance would benefit him?
أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰ ٥
5. As for he who thinks himself without need,1855
[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 ٦
6. To him you give attention.
وَمَا عَلَيْكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ ٧
7. And not upon you [is any blame] if he will not be purified.1856
[1856] The Prophet (ﷺ) was responsible only for conveying the message, not for ultimate guidance.
وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسْعَىٰ ٨
8. But as for he who came to you striving [for knowledge]
وَهُوَ يَخْشَىٰ ٩
9. While he fears [Allāh],
فَأَنتَ عَنْهُ تَلَهَّىٰ ١٠
10. From him you are distracted.
كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ ١١
11. No! Indeed, they [i.e., these verses] are a reminder;
فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ ١٢
12. So whoever wills may remember it.1857
[1857] The revelation. Or "Him," i.e., Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) .
فِى صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ ١٣
13. [It is recorded] in honored sheets,
مَّرْفُوعَةٍ مُّطَهَّرَةٍۭ ١٤
14. Exalted and purified,
بِأَيْدِى سَفَرَةٍ ١٥
15. [Carried] by the hands of messenger-angels,
كِرَامٍۭ بَرَرَةٍ ١٦
16. Noble and dutiful.
قُتِلَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ مَآ أَكْفَرَهُۥ ١٧
17. Destroyed [i.e., cursed] is man;1858 how disbelieving is he.
[1858] i.e., those who deny Allāh's message.
مِنْ أَىِّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ ١٨
18. From what thing [i.e., substance] did He create him?
مِن نُّطْفَةٍ خَلَقَهُۥ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ ١٩
19. From a sperm-drop He created him and destined for him;1859
[1859] His proportions, provisions, life span, etc.
ثُمَّ ٱلسَّبِيلَ يَسَّرَهُۥ ٢٠
20. Then He eased the way for him;1860
[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 فَأَقْبَرَهُۥ ٢١
21. Then He causes his death and provides a grave for him.1861
[1861] To conceal his decaying body.
ثُمَّ إِذَا شَآءَ أَنشَرَهُۥ ٢٢
22. Then when He wills, He will resurrect him.
كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقْضِ مَآ أَمَرَهُۥ ٢٣
23. No! He [i.e., man] has not yet accomplished what He commanded him.
فَلْيَنظُرِ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِۦٓ ٢٤
24. Then let mankind look at his food -
أَنَّا صَبَبْنَا ٱلْمَآءَ صَبًّا ٢٥
25. How We poured down water in torrents,
ثُمَّ شَقَقْنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ شَقًّا ٢٦
26. Then We broke open the earth, splitting [it with sprouts],
فَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا حَبًّا ٢٧
27. And caused to grow within it grain
وَعِنَبًا وَقَضْبًا ٢٨
28. And grapes and herbage
وَزَيْتُونًا وَنَخْلًا ٢٩
29. And olive and palm trees
وَحَدَآئِقَ غُلْبًا ٣٠
30. And gardens of dense shrubbery
وَفَٰكِهَةً وَأَبًّا ٣١
31. And fruit and grass -
مَّتَٰعًا لَّكُمْ وَلِأَنْعَٰمِكُمْ ٣٢
32. [As] enjoyment [i.e., provision] for you and your grazing livestock.
فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلصَّآخَّةُ ٣٣
33. But when there comes the Deafening Blast1862
[1862] The piercing blast of the Horn which signals resurrection. Aṣ-Ṣākhkhah is also a name for the Day of Resurrection.
يَوْمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلْمَرْءُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ ٣٤
34. On the Day a man will flee from his brother
وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ ٣٥
35. And his mother and his father
وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ ٣٦
36. And his wife and his children,
لِكُلِّ ٱمْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ شَأْنٌ يُغْنِيهِ ٣٧
37. For every man, that Day, will be a matter adequate for him.1863
[1863] i.e., to occupy him. He will be concerned only with himself, thus forgetting all others.
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُّسْفِرَةٌ ٣٨
38. [Some] faces, that Day, will be bright -
ضَاحِكَةٌ مُّسْتَبْشِرَةٌ ٣٩
39. Laughing, rejoicing at good news.
وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَيْهَا غَبَرَةٌ ٤٠
40. And [other] faces, that Day, will have upon them dust.
تَرْهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ ٤١
41. Blackness will cover them.
أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْكَفَرَةُ ٱلْفَجَرَةُ ٤٢
42. Those are the disbelievers, the wicked ones.
2 verses of Surah ’Abasa resemble other verses of the Quran: a classic trap when reciting from memory. The closest ones:
فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ
فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ
مَّتَٰعًا لَّكُمْ وَلِأَنْعَٰمِكُمْ
مَتَٰعًا لَّكُمْ وَلِأَنْعَٰمِكُمْ
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