Surah Abasa – Mohamed Seddik El Menchaoui

Abasa ("He Frowned") is the 80th surah of the Quran, in the 30th juz. It is a Meccan surah of 42 verses, 24th in the traditional order of revelation, after An-Najm. It opens with a gentle reproach to the Prophet ﷺ for turning away from a blind man who came seeking guidance, then reminds man of his origin, of God's provision, and of the Day when everyone will flee from his own family.

Aisha reports that it was revealed about Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum, a blind man who came to the Prophet ﷺ asking to be guided while he was speaking with one of the notables of the idolaters. The Prophet ﷺ turned away from him toward the other man, and the verses were revealed (at-Tirmidhi, with a chain graded sahih). The first ten verses teach that one who comes seeking to purify himself deserves more attention than the self-satisfied (80:1-10).

The Quran is a reminder, recorded on honored, exalted and purified pages by noble and righteous scribes (80:11-16). Then: perish man, how ungrateful he is! God created him from a drop, eased his path, will cause him to die and then raise him (80:17-22). Let man look at his food: the rain poured down, the earth split open, and grain, grapes, olives, palms, gardens and pasture, provision for him and his livestock (80:24-32).

When the deafening blast comes, a man will flee from his brother, his mother and father, his wife and children, each absorbed in his own concern (80:33-37). Some faces that Day will be bright, laughing and joyful; others covered with dust and darkness, those of the disbelievers and the wicked (80:38-42).

The same care for the sincere seeker appears in Al-An'am and Al-Kahf, where the Prophet ﷺ is told not to turn away from those who call on their Lord.