عَبَسَ

وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

١

He frowned and turned ˹his attention˺ away,

˹simply˺ because the blind man came to him ˹interrupting˺.¹

You never know ˹O Prophet˺, perhaps he may be purified,

or he may be mindful, benefitting from the reminder.

As for the one who was indifferent,

you gave him your ˹undivided˺ attention,

even though you are not to blame if he would not be purified.

But as for the one who came to you, eager ˹to learn˺,

being in awe ˹of Allah˺,

you were inattentive to him.

But no! This ˹revelation˺ is truly a reminder.

So let whoever wills be mindful of it.

It is ˹written˺ on pages held in honour—

highly esteemed, purified—

by the hands of angel-scribes,

honourable and virtuous.