Surah Abasa

Arabic with an established translation

1. 1

   عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

   He frowned and turned away,

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2. 2

   أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ

   when the blind man came to him[1].

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   Translation footnote [1]

   [1] Abdullah ibn Um Maktūm, an early Muslim who was blind, came to the Prophet (ﷺ) seeking knowledge and guidance, while the Prophet (ﷺ) was in the middle of a discussion with some leading pagans of Makkah, calling them to Islam. The Prophet (ﷺ) frowned and turned his attention from him. So this Makkan surah was revealed.

3. 3

   وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ

   How would you know? Perhaps he might be purified[2],

   English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

   Translation footnote [2]

   [2] Through the knowledge he learns from you.

4. 4

   أَوْ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰٓ

   or he might take heed and benefit from the reminder?

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5. 5

   أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰ

   But he who was indifferent[3],

   English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

   Translation footnote [3]

   [3] Towards faith. Here it is referring to that influential pagan of the Quraysh whom the Prophet (ﷺ) had hoped to embrace Islam.

6. 6

   فَأَنتَ لَهُۥ تَصَدَّىٰ

   you give him your full attention,

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7. 7

   وَمَا عَلَيْكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ

   although you are not to be blamed if he does not purify himself[4].

   English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

   Translation footnote [4]

   [4] The Prophets are only responsible to convey the message, not for people’s guidance.

8. 8

   وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسْعَىٰ

   But as for the one who came to you striving [for purification],

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9. 9

   وَهُوَ يَخْشَىٰ

   and he fears Allah,

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10. 10

    فَأَنتَ عَنْهُ تَلَهَّىٰ

    you let yourself be distracted from him.

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11. 11

    كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ

    No indeed; this is a reminder –

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12. 12

    فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ

    so whoever wills may give heed to it –

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13. 13

    فِى صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ

    on venerable pages,

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14. 14

    مَّرْفُوعَةٍ مُّطَهَّرَةٍۭ

    exalted and purified,

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15. 15

    بِأَيْدِى سَفَرَةٍ

    [preserved] in the hands of angel-scribes,

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16. 16

    كِرَامٍۭ بَرَرَةٍ

    honorable and obedient.

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17. 17

    قُتِلَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مَآ أَكْفَرَهُۥ

    Woe to man; how ungrateful he is[5]!

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [5]

    [5] i.e., the disbelievers.

18. 18

    مِنْ أَىِّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ

    From what did He create him?

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19. 19

    مِن نُّطْفَةٍ خَلَقَهُۥ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ

    He created him from a drop of semen and proportioned him[6],

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [6]

    [6] His creation, provisions, life span, etc.

20. 20

    ثُمَّ ٱلسَّبِيلَ يَسَّرَهُۥ

    then He made the way easy for him[7];

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [7]

    [7] i.e., the way out of his mothers’ wombs (his birth), or the way to guidance.

21. 21

    ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُۥ فَأَقْبَرَهُۥ

    then He caused him to die and be buried;

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22. 22

    ثُمَّ إِذَا شَآءَ أَنشَرَهُۥ

    then when He wills, He will resurrect him.

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23. 23

    كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقْضِ مَآ أَمَرَهُۥ

    Yet he has not fulfilled what He commanded him.

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24. 24

    فَلْيَنظُرِ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِۦٓ

    Let man consider the food he eats:

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

25. 25

    أَنَّا صَبَبْنَا ٱلْمَآءَ صَبًّا

    How We pour down rainwater in torrents,

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26. 26

    ثُمَّ شَقَقْنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ شَقًّا

    and cause the soil to split open [for sprouts],

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27. 27

    فَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا حَبًّا

    and cause grains to grow in it,

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28. 28

    وَعِنَبًا وَقَضْبًا

    as well as grapes and fodder,

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29. 29

    وَزَيْتُونًا وَنَخْلًا

    and olive trees and date palms,

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30. 30

    وَحَدَآئِقَ غُلْبًا

    and dense orchards,

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31. 31

    وَفَـٰكِهَةً وَأَبًّا

    and fruits and grass,

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32. 32

    مَّتَـٰعًا لَّكُمْ وَلِأَنْعَـٰمِكُمْ

    as provision for you and your livestock.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

33. 33

    فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلصَّآخَّةُ

    But when the Deafening Blast[8] comes,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [8]

    [8] The piercing Blast; the second Blast for resurrection.

34. 34

    يَوْمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلْمَرْءُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ

    on that Day everyone will flee from his brother,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

35. 35

    وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ

    and from his mother and father,

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36. 36

    وَصَـٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ

    and from his wife and children.

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37. 37

    لِكُلِّ ٱمْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ شَأْنٌ يُغْنِيهِ

    On that day, everyone will have enough concern of his own[9].

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [9]

    [9] Thus forgetting all others.

38. 38

    وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُّسْفِرَةٌ

    On that Day, some faces will be bright,

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39. 39

    ضَاحِكَةٌ مُّسْتَبْشِرَةٌ

    cheerful and rejoicing;

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40. 40

    وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَيْهَا غَبَرَةٌ

    while other faces will be dust-stained,

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41. 41

    تَرْهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ

    covered in darkness.

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42. 42

    أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْكَفَرَةُ ٱلْفَجَرَةُ

    Such are the disbelievers, the wicked.

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