سورة عبس
Surah Name: Al-Abasa Meaning: He Frowned
It so happened that while some chieftains of Makkah were being addressed by the Holy Prophet-SW, Hadhrat Ibn Umm-e-Maktum–RAU arrived to seek explanation of an Ayah. Being blind he did not know that the Holy Prophet-SW was busy and insisted on an answer. Expression of displeasure appeared on the countenance of the Holy Prophet-SW who turned away thinking that the question could have been deferred to avoid interruption in his-SW engagement.
Remote Gain not to be Preferred over Sure Gain
Allah-SWT intervened that the Holy Prophet-SW was not right in his-SW Ijtehad. He-SWT corrected him-SW by explaining that the Companion–RAU was to surely gain from his-SW answer, whereas the chances of the infidels embracing Islam and giving up hostilities were remote by comparison. A remote possibility should not be pursued at the cost of something certain. Allaah-SWT said that the intruder was blind and had asked the question to benefit and might well have been purified by his-SW answer or in the least been blessed with much Zikr.
First is of the righteous who may be blessed with Tazkiah. The second is that of a seeker who may be rewarded with much Zikr and thus put on the right-track. One of the two results was sure had the Holy Prophet-SW paid attention to Ibn-e-Makhtum's–RAU question, whereas on the other hand were persons not interested in guidance and the Islamic Code of Life.
(1) Nothing must be done to appease the infidels that may hurt the believers in any way. The Holy Prophet-SW did care for reformation of the infidel chieftains; else their denial was of least consequence to him-SW, as he-SW had fulfilled his-SW duty by conveying Allah-SWT's Message to them. Yet Allaah-SWT advised him-SW not to turn away from the believer who had come to him-SW sincerely seeking Allaah-SWT with a deep-hearted love for Him-SWT . Din is nothing but an admonition; it is up to people to accept or reject it. And whoever accepts will certainly benefit from it. All this is scribed on the Sacred Pages placed at an exalted place by Him-SWT wherefrom the pious and pure angels-AS carry it to the Prophets-AS.
(2) The use of word Mutahharah here means that a person in need of mandatory bath (like after copulation etc.), a menstruating woman or a person without ablution must not touch the Quran. Moreover, it alludes to the Companions–RAU who scribed the Quran, and the righteous scholars who follow them in time that all of them must be purified through much Zikr.
Man has indeed earned devastation by taking to disbelief. If he was incapable of discerning spiritual realities, he should have heeded to the material evidences scattered all around him. He ought to have contemplated how he was created from a droplet, obtained from atoms gathered from diverse places. How from this seed he was fashioned into an exquisite creature with numerous faculties and qualities! And then, how life was made easier for him by giving him abundant provisions and the sense to exploit them, from his birth to death! Even death was a blessing when his limbs had flagged and his body weakened. If allowed to survive in the mortal world till the Day of Judgement, his existence would have been extremely painful. So he was given death and not left to decay like animals, was wrapped in cloth and buried with dignity. And it is mandatory to bury the dead. Then whenever He-SWT wants, He-SWT will resurrect him to face accountability.
Islamic System must be followed Practically
Rather than being grateful for His-SWT innumerable blessings, man refused to follow the Code of Life Allaah-SWT chose for him. He ought to have pondered over what he eats and how Allaah-SWT has arranged to feed each and every one of His-SWT creation. He-SWT fills the clouds with water and carries these to various lands for rainfall so that the earth grows grains, vegetables, grapes, olives, dates and countless varieties of fruits which serve both as food as well as medicine. And also greenery as food for their cattle. Remember that the Day is approaching fast when the immense Roar will shatter the hearts. When man will run from the very wealth and the progeny for whom he had disobeyed Allaah-SWT.He will abandon all relationships; brothers, wives and sons, and will be desperate to save his own skin.
Yet there will be people on that Day whose faces will radiate with happiness and they will be all smiles. And there will be people whose faces will ashen, their darkness increasing by the moment. These will be the infidels and sinners. Here infidelity means perversion of belief and the sinfulness stands for practical deviation from Islam.
