Surah ‘Abasa — Part 1

Ayahs 1–9 · word-by-word grammatical analysis Read the bilingual lesson for Surah ‘Abasa — Part 1 and test your understanding with a focused quiz.

Lesson

1. Surah ‘Abasa · Ayah 1

عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ Sentence structure Two coordinated perfect verbs share the same understood subject: he frowned and turned away. Ayah summary On this occasion, the Prophet ﷺ frowned and turned away when a blind seeker of guidance approached him. عَبَسَ — He frowned Grammar: third-person masculine singular perfect verb. وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ — and turned away Grammar: وَ is a conjunction. form V third-person masculine singular perfect verb; it functions as the coordinated element.

2. Surah ‘Abasa · Ayah 2

أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ Sentence structure The clause introduced by أَن gives the reason through an understood causal connection. جَآءَ is the verb, its attached pronoun the fronted object, and ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ the subject; recognized analyses differ over the precise attachment of the clause. Ayah summary This happened when the blind Companion came to him. أَن — Because Grammar: أَن is a masdari particle; the following clause is interpreted as a verbal noun. جَآءَهُ — came to him Grammar: A third-person masculine singular perfect verb. Attached هُ is its fronted object; the complete clause is the complement of masdari أَن. ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ — the blind man Grammar: ٱلْ is the definite article. nominative noun functioning as the subject.

3. Surah ‘Abasa · Ayah 3

وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ Sentence structure The interrogative clause asks what could make you know. لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ is the hoped-for possibility: perhaps he might purify himself. Ayah summary Perhaps he would have purified and improved himself through the teaching. وَمَا — But what Grammar: وَ is a resumption particle. مَا is an interrogative. يُدْرِيكَ — would make you know Grammar: form IV third-person masculine singular imperfect verb; it functions as the predicate. Attached كَ is a second-person masculine singular pronoun functioning as the object. لَعَلَّهُۥ — that he might Grammar: لَعَلَّ is a particle resembling a verb and conveys hope or expectation. Attached هُۥ is its noun. يَزَّكَّىٰٓ — purify himself Grammar: form V third-person masculine singular imperfect verb; it functions as the predicate of laʿalla.

4. Surah ‘Abasa · Ayah 4

أَوْ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰٓ Sentence structure أَوْ coordinates a second possibility. يَذَّكَّرُ is followed by a causal result: the reminder would benefit him. Ayah summary Or he might have remembered the reminder and benefited from it. أَوْ — Or Grammar: أَوْ is a conjunction. يَذَّكَّرُ — be reminded Grammar: form V third-person masculine singular imperfect verb. فَتَنفَعَهُ — so would benefit him Grammar: فَ is a causal particle. third-person feminine singular imperfect verb in the subjunctive mood. Attached هُ is a third-person masculine singular pronoun functioning as the object. ٱلذِّكْرَىٰٓ — the reminder Grammar: ٱل is the definite article. nominative noun functioning as the subject.

5. Surah ‘Abasa · Ayah 5

أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰ Sentence structure أَمَّا opens the first side of a detailed division. مَن is a relative pronoun serving as the subject, and ٱسْتَغْنَىٰ is its relative clause; the predicate continues in ayah 6. Ayah summary On the other side was one who considered himself independent of the truth. أَمَّا — As for Grammar: أَمَّا is a particle of detailed division. مَنِ — (him) who Grammar: A relative pronoun serving as the subject; its final kasrah avoids two adjacent sukūns. ٱسْتَغْنَىٰ — considers himself free from need Grammar: A form X, third-person masculine singular perfect verb with an understood subject; its clause is the relative clause of مَنِ.

6. Surah ‘Abasa · Ayah 6

فَأَنتَ لَهُۥ تَصَدَّىٰ Sentence structure This is the response to the preceding division. أَنتَ is the subject, تَصَدَّىٰ its verbal predicate, and لَهُۥ is linked to the verb. Ayah summary The Prophet ﷺ was giving close attention to guiding him. فَأَنتَ — So you Grammar: فَ marks the answer to أَمَّا. أَنتَ is a detached pronoun functioning as the subject of the nominal sentence. لَهُۥ — to him Grammar: لَ is a preposition. هُۥ is a pronoun functioning as the genitive complement. تَصَدَّىٰ — give attention Grammar: form V second-person masculine singular imperfect verb; it functions as the predicate.

7. Surah ‘Abasa · Ayah 7

وَمَا عَلَيْكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ Sentence structure The negative nominal clause states that responsibility is not upon you. أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ is the subordinated clause: that he does not purify himself. Ayah summary The Prophet ﷺ was not responsible if that person refused to reform himself. وَمَا — And not Grammar: وَ is resumptive. مَا is a non-governing negative particle. عَلَيْكَ — upon you Grammar: عَلَيْ is a preposition functioning as the linked complement. Attached كَ is a second-person masculine singular pronoun functioning as the genitive complement. أَلَّا — that not Grammar: أَلَّا is formed from masdari/subjunctive أَنْ and non-governing negative لَا. يَزَّكَّىٰ — he purifies himself Grammar: A form V third-person masculine singular imperfect verb in the subjunctive mood under أَنْ; لَا negates it without governing it. The complete clause is the complement of masdari أَنْ.

8. Surah ‘Abasa · Ayah 8

وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسْعَىٰ Sentence structure أَمَّا opens the second side. مَن is a relative pronoun serving as the subject, جَآءَكَ its relative clause, and يَسْعَىٰ a circumstantial clause describing how he came. Ayah summary Meanwhile, the sincere seeker of guidance came eagerly to the Prophet ﷺ. وَأَمَّا — But as for Grammar: وَ is a conjunction. أَمَّا is a particle of detailed division. مَن — (he) who Grammar: A relative pronoun serving as the subject of the detailed construction. جَآءَكَ — came to you Grammar: A third-person masculine singular perfect verb with an understood subject; attached كَ is the object, and the clause is the relative clause of مَن. يَسْعَىٰ — striving Grammar: third-person masculine singular imperfect verb; it functions as the circumstantial clause.

9. Surah ‘Abasa · Ayah 9

وَهُوَ يَخْشَىٰ Sentence structure The circumstantial wāw introduces a nominal clause: هُوَ is the subject and يَخْشَىٰ its verbal predicate. Ayah summary He feared Allah and sincerely sought instruction. وَهُوَ — While he Grammar: وَ is the circumstantial wāw. هُوَ is a detached pronoun functioning as the subject; the complete nominal clause is circumstantial. يَخْشَىٰ — fears Grammar: third-person masculine singular imperfect verb; it functions as the predicate.

Practice questions

Question 1

عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ ۝١ How is وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ related to عَبَسَ?

  • A coordinated perfect verb
  • Coordinated accusative nouns
  • Coordinated genitive nouns
  • Imperative verbs

Question 2

أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ ۝٢ What is ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ with جَآءَ?

  • Direct object
  • Subject
  • Predicate
  • Adjective

Question 3

وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ ۝٣ What is attached هُ in لَعَلَّهُۥ?

  • Predicate of laʿalla
  • Subject
  • Noun of laʿalla
  • Direct object

Question 4

أَوْ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰٓ ۝٤ What makes فَتَنفَعَهُ subjunctive?

  • The particle lam
  • The passive voice
  • The imperative form
  • An omitted an after the causal fāʾ

Question 5

أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰ ۝٥ What is the primary role of مَنِ after أَمَّا?

  • Subject of the nominal sentence
  • Predicate
  • Direct object
  • Circumstantial accusative

Question 6

فَأَنتَ لَهُۥ تَصَدَّىٰ ۝٦ What is أَنتَ in this nominal sentence?

  • Predicate
  • Subject of the nominal sentence
  • Direct object
  • Circumstantial accusative

Question 7

وَمَا عَلَيْكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ ۝٧ Which particles form أَلَّا?

  • in plus lā
  • an plus lam
  • an plus lā
  • alif plus illā

Question 8

وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسْعَىٰ ۝٨ What is the role of يَسْعَىٰ?

  • Relative clause
  • Predicate clause
  • Adjectival clause
  • Circumstantial clause

Question 9

وَهُوَ يَخْشَىٰ ۝٩ What does the initial وَ in وَهُوَ introduce?

  • Circumstantial clause
  • Relative clause
  • Predicate clause
  • Adjectival clause

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