Surah Abasa

Chapter 80 · Verse 17 · Revealed in Makkah

قُتِلَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ مَآ أَكْفَرَهُۥ

Cursed is man; how disbelieving is he.

Translation: Saheeh International

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Mishary Rashid Alafasy

Reflection — Ibn Kathir

The Refutation against Whoever denies Life after Death

Allah rebukes those who deny the Resurrection and the Final Gathering.

قُتِلَ الإِنسَـنُ مَآ أَكْفَرَهُ

Reflection — Maarif ul Quran

بِأَيْدِي سَفَرَ‌ةٍ كِرَ‌امٍ بَرَ‌رَ‌ةٍ (in the hands of those scribes who are honourable, righteous. [ 80:15-16] )

The word safarah, with fathah [=a+a ] on the first two letters, may be the plural of safir which means a 'scribe'. In this case, it would refer to the recording angels, or to the Prophets (علیہم السلام) and those of their aides who write down the revelation. Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ and Mujahid (رح) hold this view.

What does this verse bring up for you today?

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