Adapted from Tafsir Ibn Ashur

Themes and purpose:

This Makkan surah opens with a core lesson in prophetic ethics, correcting the Prophet (ﷺ) for turning away briefly from a sincere, blind believer. Its purpose is to affirm that spiritual sincerity is the only true measure of worth, prove the certainty of the Resurrection through the creation of man and vegetation, and warn the arrogant wealthy elite of Makkah of the impending final reckoning.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan by consensus. 

Context: The surah was revealed when the Prophet (ﷺ) was busy addressing a leader in the Quraysh tribe to convince him of Islam, and he was interrupted by his blind Companion ʿAbdullāh ibn Umm Maktūm.

Chronology: It is the 24th surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Najm and before al-Qadr.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah is known mainly as "Sūrat ʿAbasa" (He Frowned), based on its opening word. It has also been called "Sūrat al-Aʿmā" (The Blind Man) in reference to ayah 2, and with the name of that man: "Sūrat Ibn Umm Maktūm". Other names are "Sūrat al-Safarāh" (The Scribes) [15] and "Sūrat al-Ṣākhkhah" (The Deafening Blast) [33].

Ayah Count: 42 ayahs (Madinah/Makkah/Kūfah), 41 (Baṣrah), or 40 (Shām).

Surah Overview:

• Teaching the Prophet (ﷺ) the ethical principle of balancing priorities and focusing attention on the sincere seeker rather than the arrogant denier. [1-10]
• Affirming the honor and high status of the Quran and those who believe in it. [11-16]
• Proving the Resurrection by citing the creation of man (from a drop of fluid) and the revival of dead earth (vegetation). Reminding people of Allah’s grace in their creation and sustenance as a call to gratitude. [17-32]
• The Final Scene: Describing the terrifying upheaval of the Day of Judgment, where man will flee from his closest kin, and detailing the fate of the righteous and the wicked. [33-42]