Tafsir of Abasa 80:33

"Then when the Deafening Blast comes"

It is said: sakka (he listened intently) to his speech, similar to asakha (he listened to him). The Blast is described as "the Deafening" (al-sakhkha) metaphorically, because people will be stunned by it.

"On that day, a man shall flee from his brother"

He flees from them because he is preoccupied with his own plight, and because he knows they cannot avail him anything. He begins with the brother, then the parents, because they are closer to him; then the spouse and children, because they are closer and more beloved. It is as if he said: "He flees from his brother, nay, from his parents, nay, from his spouse and children."

It is also said: He flees from them out of fear that they will demand their rights from him. The brother will say: "You did not console me with your wealth." The parents: "You fell short in your duty to us." The spouse: "You fed me forbidden things and did such-and-such." The children: "You did not teach us nor guide us."

It is also said: The first to flee from his brother is Abel; from his parents, Abraham; from his spouse, Noah and Lot; and from his son, Noah.

"For every man among them that day will have a matter to occupy him"

Meaning: enough to keep him preoccupied. It is also recited as ya‘nihi (to concern him).

"Some faces that day will be bright"

Radiant and beaming, from the phrase "the morning has asfara" (when it shines). Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: "From the standing in night prayer," based on the Hadith: "Whoever prays much at night, his face will be handsome by day." Al-Dahhak said: "From the traces of Wudu (ablution)." It is also said: "From the length of time they were covered in dust in the path of Allah."

"And other faces that day will have dust upon them"

Dust covering them.

"Covered with darkness"

Like smoke. There is nothing more hideous than the combination of dust and blackness on a face, as one sees in the faces of the Zanj (people of East Africa) when they are covered in dust. It is as if Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, combines dust with the blackness of their faces, just as they combined wickedness with disbelief.

From the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him):

"Whoever recites Surah 'Abasa wa Tawalla will come on the Day of Resurrection with his face laughing and rejoicing."