The surah starts with the words “In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”. It is eighty-two verses long and is one of the Meccan surahs, meaning it was revealed in Mecca as opposed to Medina. The surah is named after verse thirty-eight, which mentions the story of the Prophet Muhammad being ignored by a wealthy man.
The surah covers a variety of topics, including divine guidance, the Day of Judgment, and Paradise. It is one of the shorter surahs in the Quran and is considered to be one of the easier ones to understand.
In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate “He frowned and turned away” (80:1). This is how God describes the Prophet Muhammad’s reaction when a blind man came to him begging for help.
The Prophet was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he didn’t even notice the man, let alone offer him any assistance. When God reproached him for his behaviour, the Prophet was deeply ashamed and immediately sought to make amends. He went to the man’s home and personally attended to his needs.
This story is related in Surah Abasa, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion and kindness. We should never turn away from those in need, regardless of how busy or preoccupied we may be. May God grant us all the strength to be compassionate and caring towards others.