Chapter 80 - 27
He Frowned (Surah Al-Abasa)
(42 verses in total; revealed in Makkah)
This chapter, longer than previous ones but also very poetic, full of rhymes and poignant words, points to our lack of interest (1) in knowing our Creator and the created world around us, (2) in reflecting on our sources of food and sustenance and (3) in recognizing the consequences for denials and ungratefulness of God. This chapter, unlike any other chapter, also begins with a slight chiding to the Prophet for giving preferential attention to the rich and powerful, who may not listen to him while a poor deaf man comes by who is eager to listen and follow whom the Prophet ignored for the moment. This happened when the Prophet was preaching to a group of Quraish leaders in Makkah.
Key themes of this chapters are as follows:
- The message of God should be conveyed to all, without any preference but based on whoever is sincere, willing to listen and follow and whom God brings to the conversation
- The message and guidance are described as a book of nobility and purity prepared by scribers who are also pure and virtuous – perhaps referring to angles and the scribes who wrote the Qur’an as it was revealed (at the instruction of the Prophet)
- Life of human beings is considered a marvel as it grows from simple cells to complex organs and a functioning body; so are the ways God produces for our sustenance - food, vegetations, fruits on earth with water pouring down from heaven
- Every human life has a beginning, a growth period, a decline and then an assigned grave – all according to the divine plan that we hardly reflect and take lessons from
- The day of resurrection will be terrifying, and every human being will worry about itself and will have no time to think about parents, children, spouses, friends or anything else – such will be impact and demand of the blast that will initiate resurrection
In the Name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
He (Prophet) frowned and turned away!
When the blind man came –
Perhaps he was inclined to purify himself
Or become mindful
Such that this Reminder would benefit him (v. 1-4)
Whereas you (Prophet) give attention to those
Who consider themselves in no such need
Whose purification is not your responsibility
Yet, who comes to you with eagerness and awe
You pay no attention!
But it is truly a Reminder
Let him who will, be reminded (v. 5-12)
Books of nobility
Honored and pure!
By the hands of scribes
Noble and virtuous!
Let man perish!
How ungrateful! (v. 13-17)
God creates him from a small life cell
And shapes him with precision
Makes living easy
Then causes him to die
And assigns him a grave
And when God wills, He resurrects him (v. 18-22)
Yet, he does not do what God commands him to do! (v. 23)
Let him look at his food
We rain down water abundant
We split the soil
We grow grains
Grapes and fresh vegetations
Olives and palms
Luxuriant orchards
Fruit and fodders
Provisions for you and for your cattle! (v. 24-32)
When the Deafening Blast arrives
People will run away from their own brothers
Mothers and fathers
Spouses and children
Grossly consumed in their own affairs
Totally oblivious to others (v. 33-37)
Some faces on that Day beaming
Full of joy and pleasure!
Other faces will be dusty
Dark, grief stricken
Those are the deniers, wicked! (v. 38-42)
