Surah 'Abasa — Verse 17

Word Meanings:

• Qutila al-insān – "May man be destroyed/cursed." This is a supplication of condemnation, not a statement of an actual event. It means: May Allah curse him and bring him low.
• Mā akfarah – An expression of wonder and astonishment at the extreme ingratitude and disbelief of man. The "mā" here is for amazement, meaning: How great is his disbelief!

Explanation of the Verse:

In this powerful verse, Allah expresses His profound displeasure and condemnation of the ungrateful human being who rejects His blessings and refuses to acknowledge His Lordship. The phrase "May man be destroyed" is a curse upon the disbeliever who persists in his denial of Allah despite all the clear signs and countless favors bestowed upon him.

The verse then poses a rhetorical question filled with wonder: "What makes him so deeply ungrateful?" This is an expression of astonishment at how a person can be so blind to the overwhelming evidence of Allah's power, mercy, and generosity. How can he look at himself, at his own creation, at the world around him, and still refuse to believe? How can he bite the hand that feeds him, so to speak, by rejecting the very Creator who brought him into existence from nothing?

The amazement here is not because Allah is surprised—He knows all things—but rather to shake the reader into reflection. It is as if Allah is saying: Look at this creature! He was nothing, then he was created from a humble drop of fluid, then he was shaped and formed through stages, and yet he dares to be arrogant and ungrateful toward his Maker.

This verse serves as a wake-up call for every human being. It invites us to pause and consider: Who are we to turn away from Allah? We were weak and helpless, and He gave us strength. We were ignorant, and He gave us knowledge. We were dead in our mother's wombs, and He gave us life. And after all of that, He will also give us death, and then He will raise us again for judgment. So how can we repay such immense kindness with disbelief and disobedience?

The beauty of this verse lies in its ability to stir the conscience. When a person truly understands the meaning of this divine rebuke, it softens the heart and drives him toward gratitude and humility. It reminds us that our very existence is a gift, and the appropriate response to such a gift is not arrogance, but submission, thankfulness, and worship of the One who gave us everything.

Dear reader, let this verse be a mirror for your soul. Reflect on your own life: the breath you take, the heartbeat you never control, the food that reaches your table, the loved ones around you—all of these are from Allah's endless mercy. Do not be among those who receive these gifts and then turn away. Instead, be among the grateful ones who recognize their Lord, submit to His will, and live a life that pleases Him. For the One who created you from nothing is more than worthy of your love, your obedience, and your devotion.