قُتِلَ الْإِنسَانُ مَا أَكْفَرَهُ (17)
(80:17) Accursed *8 be man! *9 *10 How stubbornly he denies the Truth.
*8) From here the rebuke turns directly against the disbelievers, who were treating the message of the Truth with scant attention. Before this, from the beginning of the Surah to verse 16, the address though apparently directed to the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace), was actually meant to reprimand the disbelievers, as if to say: "O Prophet, why are you ignoring a seeker after truth and paying all your attention to those who are worthless from your mission's point of view? they do not deserve that a great Prophet like you should present a sublime thing like the Qur'an before them."
*9) At all such places in the Qur'an, "man" does not imply every individual of the human race but the people whose evil traits of character are intended to be censured. At some places the word "tnan" is used because the evil traits are found in most of human beings, and at others for the reason that if the particular people are pin-pointed for censure, it engenders stubbornness. Therefore, admonition is given in general terms so as to be more effective. (For further explanation, see E.N. 65 of Ha Mim As-Sajdah, E.N. 75 of Ash-Shura).
*10) Another meaning also can be: "What caused him to be inclined to kufr?" Or, in other words: "On what strength dces he commit kufr?' Kufr?" hen means denial of the Truth as well as ingratitude for the favours of one's benefactor and also rebellious attitude against one's Creator, Providence and Master.