أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰ 5
Translations
As for he who thinks himself without need,
Transliteration
Amma man istaghna
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the wealthy person who considered himself self-sufficient and thus turned away from the message of Islam. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse addresses those who rejected faith due to their material abundance, believing they had no need for divine guidance. The ayah sets the stage for Allah's judgment upon such individuals, contrasting them with those who seek knowledge and purification despite their poverty.
Revelation Context
Surah 'Abasa was revealed in response to the Prophet ﷺ frowning at Ibn Umm Maktum, a blind companion, who interrupted him while he was speaking with the Meccan chiefs. This ayah is part of the broader context rebuking the Prophet's prioritization of the wealthy disbelievers over the faithful poor, emphasizing Allah's different treatment of those based on their spiritual state rather than material status.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari from Abu Hurairah regarding the Prophet's instruction to 'teach the people' without distinction of status reflects the principle that knowledge and faith are not contingent upon wealth. Additionally, the hadith about Ibn Umm Maktum in Tirmidhi documents the specific incident of revelation context for this surah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Wealth and material self-sufficiency can become spiritual obstacles if they breed arrogance and indifference to divine truth; true richness lies in spiritual humility and openness to guidance, regardless of one's economic status.