Surah Abasa 80:40
سُورَةُ عَبَسَ · Meccan · Verse 40 of 42
وَوُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَيْهَا غَبَرَةٌۭ
Translation
but some faces will be dust-stained
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
In Surah Abasa, Allah presents a profound contrast of faces on the Day of Judgment. After describing faces bright with joy and laughter, the Quran shifts to a different scene, one of solemn warning. In verse 40, Allah says: "وَوُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَيْهَا غَبَرَةٌۭ" (And [other] faces, that Day, will have dust upon them).
Faces of Disquiet
This verse describes the faces of the people destined for Hellfire. It is Allah Himself who speaks, delivering a clear and dire warning. The immediate situation is a stark depiction of judgment, contrasting the blessed with the wretched.
The Weight of "Ghabarah"
The specific word chosen here, `غَبَرَةٌ` (ghabarah), is deeply evocative. It translates as "dust" or "fine earth." Unlike a mere description of dirt, `ghabarah` carries connotations of humiliation, degradation, and the weariness of struggle. As Ibn Ashur explains, it suggests faces "covered with dust as an insult, and from the effect of stumbling or falls," painting a picture of those who are downtrodden and without honor.
The indefinite form of `وُجُوهٌ` (wujuh - faces), indicated by the tanween, emphasizes that these are a *distinct category* of faces, clearly separated from the radiant ones described earlier. This linguistic choice underscores the definitive division of humanity on that momentous Day.
The Atmosphere of That Day
The phrase `يَوْمَئِذٍ` (yawma'idhin - on that Day) is repeated in these verses, firmly anchoring these descriptions to the Day of Judgment. This repetition serves to intensify the gravity and inescapable reality of that terrifying time. It reminds us that these vivid images are not distant metaphors but a concrete reality awaiting everyone.
Though `ghabarah` primarily means dust, scholars like al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi highlight how it combines with `قَتَرَةٌ` (qatarah - darkness or smoke, mentioned in the next verse) to create an especially dreadful image. This isn't just a physical appearance, but a reflection of inner turmoil. Ibn Ashur notes that `qatarah` specifically implies a "darkness like smoke that covers the face from distress and grief." The pairing of dust and a smoky darkness suggests a complete absence of light, both outward and inward, representing the profound misery and disgrace of those who rejected faith. Just as they accumulated disbelief and transgression in their lives, their faces on that Day will be marked by the dusty darkness of their actions.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Abasa 80:40 is discussed in 4 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Abasa 80:40 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.