Surah “He Frowned”

as rendered by Aisha Bewley — 42 verses

He frowned and turned away
because the blind man came to him.
But how do you know? Perhaps he would be purified
or reminded, and the reminder benefit him.
As for him who thinks himself self-sufficient,
you give him your complete attention,
but it is not up to you whether or not he is purified.
But as for him who comes to you eagerly
showing fearfulness,
from him you are distracted.
No indeed! Truly it is a reminder,
and whoever wills pays heed to it.
Inscribed on Honoured Pages,
exalted, purified
by the hands of scribes,
noble, virtuous.
Curse man for his ingratitude!
From what thing did He create him?
From a drop of sperm He created him and proportioned him.
Then He eases the way for him.
Then He causes him to die and buries him.
Then, when He wills, He raises him from the dead.
No indeed! He has not done what He ordered him.
Man has only to look at his food.
We pour down plentiful water,
then split the earth into furrows.
Then We make grain grow in it,
and grapes and herbs
and olives and dates
and luxuriant gardens
and orchards and meadows,
for you and your livestock to enjoy.
When the Deafening Blast comes,
the Day a man will flee from his brother
and his mother and his father,
and his wife and his children:
on that Day every man among them will have concerns enough of his own.
That Day some faces will be radiant,
laughing, rejoicing.
That Day some faces will be dust-covered,
overcast with gloom.
Those are the dissolute kafirun.