Juz 30: An-Nabaʾ to An-Nās
Section 4 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
4. Surah 'Abasa: The Prophet's Interaction with Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum
Surah 'Abasa, the 80th chapter of the Quran, opens with a direct divine comment regarding an incident involving the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The title "'Abasa" means "He frowned," referring to the Prophet's momentary reaction when approached by a blind companion while engaged with some tribal leaders of Quraysh.
عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ
“He frowned and turned away,”
أَن جَاءَهُ الْأَعْمَىٰ
“Because there came to him a blind man.”
This remarkable opening presents one of the most powerful proofs of the Quran's divine origin. The verses gently reprove the Prophet (peace be upon him) for momentarily giving preference to the tribal chiefs of Quraysh over Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum, a blind companion who had approached him seeking knowledge. The Prophet was engaged in giving dawah (invitation to Islam) to these influential leaders, hoping for their acceptance of Islam, when Abdullah, unaware of this sensitive situation due to his blindness, interrupted with questions.
The fact that these verses of mild reproach were preserved in the Quran, rather than being concealed or omitted, demonstrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not author the Quran himself. Had it been his own composition, he might naturally have excluded this incident. Instead, the divine revelation continues with a gentle reminder:
وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُ يَزَّكَّىٰ
“And what would make you know that he might purify himself,”
أَوْ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ الذِّكْرَىٰ
“Or receive admonition, and the admonition might benefit him?”
After this incident, the Prophet (peace be upon him) always honored Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum, often greeting him with the words, "Welcome to the one about whom my Lord admonished me." The Prophet would frequently make him governor of Madinah during his absences, demonstrating the profound impact of this divine guidance on his conduct.
The surah then transitions to address broader themes, reminding humans of Allah's power and bounties. It criticizes those who, despite receiving countless blessings, become ungrateful and arrogant, forgetting their dependence on their Creator. The surah reminds us that despite Allah's countless favors, humans can become tyrannical when they forget their Lord.
Towards the conclusion, Surah 'Abasa vividly depicts scenes from the Day of Judgment, emphasizing that on that momentous day, every person will be preoccupied with their own affairs:
لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ شَأْنٌ يُغْنِيهِ
“For each one of them, on that day, there will be a situation sufficient to make him careless of others.”
The surah describes how on that Day, some faces will be radiant with joy while others will be covered with dust and darkness. Even the closest relatives – brothers, mothers, fathers, and spouses – will flee from one another due to overwhelming concern for their own fates.
Through this powerful narrative, Surah 'Abasa delivers profound lessons about priorities in dawah, human accountability, and the solitary nature of each person's standing before Allah on the Day of Judgment.