585 Page Notes

Surah Abasa

Page 585 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 585 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 585 of the Quran contains the vast majority of Surah 'Abasa (He Frowned, Chapter 80), encompassing verses 1 through 40.

This page begins with one of the most famous and deeply moving corrections in Islamic history—where Allah gently admonishes the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ regarding his treatment of a blind companion. It then details the pristine nature of the divine scriptures, calls humanity to look at the miraculous engineering of their own creation and food cycle, and finishes with a vivid description of the psychological terror on the Day of Judgment.

The prophetic Sunnah and classical Asbab al-Nuzul (reasons for revelation) provide extensive context and authoritative narratives for these 40 verses.

1. Verses 1–10: The Incident of the Blind Companion

"He frowned and turned away, because there came to him the blind man..." (Quran 80:1-2)

The opening ten verses serve as a foundational lesson in Islamic ethics, shifting the metrics of human worth away from wealth and social status toward spiritual sincerity. The Sunnah explicitly names the individual involved and documents the setting.

The Occasion of Revelation

The Mother of the Believers, Aisha, recorded the exact historical event that prompted these verses:

Narrated Aisha: "The verses: 'He frowned and turned away' were revealed concerning Ibn Umm Maktum, the blind man. He came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and started saying, 'O Messenger of Allah, guide me.'

At that moment, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was engaged with one of the prominent pagan leaders of the Quraysh, trying to invite him to Islam. The Prophet ﷺ turned away from Ibn Umm Maktum, faced the other man, and said, 'Do you see any problem with what I am saying?' The chief replied, 'No.' It was precisely regarding this interaction that the verses were sent down." (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3329 / Mustadrak al-Hakim — Graded Sahih)

The Prophet’s Lifelong Honor of Ibn Umm Maktum

Because of this divine correction, the Prophet ﷺ held Ibn Umm Maktum in the highest lifelong regard. Whenever the Prophet ﷺ saw him thereafter, he would playfully spread his cloak for him and say, "Welcome to the man for whom my Lord admonished me!"

Furthermore, the Sunnah shows that despite his blindness, Ibn Umm Maktum was elevated to a position of profound leadership:

• He was appointed by the Prophet ﷺ as one of the official Muezzins (callers to prayer) of Medina alongside Bilal ibn Rabah (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 619).
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• The Prophet ﷺ appointed him as the interim governor and leader of Medina to lead the public prayers during several military expeditions when the Prophet had to leave the city (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 2931).
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2. Verses 11–16: The Angelic Scribes

"In the hands of messengers (Safarah), noble and dutiful." (Quran 80:15-16)

Regarding the preserved tablets of the Quran and the Safarah (the angelic ambassadors or scribes who transfer it), the Prophet ﷺ used this verse to set a benchmark of reward for those who memorize and master the Quran.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "The one who recites the Quran and is completely proficient in it will be in the company of the noble, dutiful scribes (the angels). And the one who recites the Quran and stumbles or struggles through it, finding it difficult, will receive a double reward." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4937 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 798)

3. Verses 17–22: The Micro-Development of Man

"From a sperm-drop He created him and destined for him... then He causes him to die and extends to him a grave." (Quran 80:19-21)

Verses 19 through 22 challenge human arrogance by tracking human life back to a microscopic drop (Nutfah) and mapping it all the way to decomposition in a grave.

The Tailbone Formula

The Sunnah bridges the gap between the grave (verse 21) and ultimate resurrection (verse 22) by explaining exactly how human reconstruction will take place from a physical element.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "All of the sons of Adam will be consumed and decay into the earth, except for the coccyx (the tailbone). From it, man was originally created, and from it, he will be completely reconstructed and compiled on the Day of Resurrection." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4814 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2955)

4. Verses 33–40: The Deafening Blast and Flight from Kin

"But when there comes the Deafening Blast... That Day a man will flee from his brother, and his mother and his father, and his wife and his children." (Quran 80:33-36)

Page 583 closes with a terrifying description of the psychological collapse of human relationships when facing the final accounting.

Why Mankind Flees from Family

The Sunnah provides the raw emotional explanation behind verses 34–36. Humans will not flee out of hatred, but out of absolute, consuming panic that their closest relatives will demand their good deeds to save themselves.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Mankind will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection barefoot, naked, and uncircumcised." Aisha asked in shock: "O Messenger of Allah! Men and women together, looking at one another?" The Prophet ﷺ replied using the exact meaning of verse 37: "O Aisha, the matter will be far too severe for them to even care about looking at one another." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6527 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2859)

Summary of Reference Sources

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• The Incident of Ibn Umm Maktum (Verses 1-10): Jami` at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 3329) and Sunan Abi Dawud (Hadith 2931).

• The Companionship of Scribes (Verses 15-16): Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 4937) and Sahih Muslim (Hadith 798).

• Decomposition and Tailbone Assembly (Verses 19-22): Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 4814).

• The Naked Gathering and Panic (Verses 33-37): Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 6527) and Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2859).