44. Sūrat Ad-Dukhan · The Smoke
Ḥâ-Mĩm.
Ha. Mim.
Ha. Mim.
Ha-Mim.
Ha-Mim. (Only Allah and the Messenger [blessings and peace be upon him] know the real meaning.
By the clear Book!
By the Scripture that maketh plain
CONSIDER this divine writ, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth!
By this luminous Book.
By this Light-Giving Book
Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night, for We always warn ˹against evil˺.
Lo! We revealed it on a blessed night - Lo! We are ever warning -
Behold, from on high have We bestowed it on a blessed night: for, verily, We have always been warning [man].
Undoubtedly We sent it down in a blessed night; verily We are to warn.
Surely, We have sent it down in a blessed night. Surely, We are the Warner
On that night every matter of wisdom is ordained
Whereon every wise command is made clear
On that [night] was made clear, in wisdom, the distinction between all things [good and evil]
Therein every affair of wisdom is divided.
In this (night) judgment is given on all matters of wisdom (separately)
by a command from Us, for We have always sent ˹messengers˺
As a command from Our presence - Lo! We are ever sending -
at a behest from Ourselves: for, verily, We have always been sending [Our messages of guidance]
A command from Us, Verily, We are to send.
By Our command; surely, it is We Who send
as a mercy from your Lord. He ˹alone˺ is truly the All-Hearing, All-Knowing—
A mercy from thy Lord. Lo! He, even He is the Hearer, the Knower,
in pursuance of thy Sustainer’s grace [unto man]. Verily, He alone is all-hearing, all-knowing,
A mercy from your Lord, undoubtedly, He, Hears, knows.
(It) is mercy from your Lord. Verily, He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing
the Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything in between, if only you had sure faith.
Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if ye would be sure.
the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them - if you could but grasp it with inner certainty!
He Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatsoever is in between if you are convinced.
The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, provided you have faith with certitude
There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. He ˹alone˺ gives life and causes death. ˹He is˺ your Lord, and the Lord of your forefathers.
There is no Allah save Him. He quickeneth and giveth death; your Lord and Lord of your forefathers.
There is no deity save Him: He grants life and deals death: He is your Sustainer as well as the Sustainer of your forebears of old.
None is to be worshipped but He. He gives life and causes death, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.
There is no God but He. He is the One Who gives life and causes death. He is your Lord and the Lord of your fathers (as well)
In fact, they are in doubt, amusing themselves.
Nay, but they play in doubt.
Nay, but they [who lack inner certainty] are but Dying with their doubts.
Nay, but they are in doubt, playing.
Yet they are in doubt, busy playing
Wait then ˹O Prophet˺ for the day ˹when˺ the sky will be veiled in haze, clearly visible,
But watch thou (O Muhammad) for the day when the sky will produce visible smoke
WAIT, THEN, for the Day when the skies shall bring forth a pall of smoke which will make obvious [the approach of the Last Hour],
Therefore, wait you the day when the sky will bring a clear smoke,
So wait for the Day when the sky will cause a clear smoke to appear
overwhelming the people. ˹They will cry,˺ “This is a painful torment.
That will envelop the people. This will be a painful torment.
enveloping all mankind, [and causing the sinners to exclaim:] “Grievous is this suffering!
That it shall cover the people. This is a painful torment.
Which will envelop people (i.e., will encompass everything). That will be a painful torment
Our Lord! Remove ˹this˺ torment from us, ˹and˺ we will certainly believe.”
(Then they will say): Our Lord relieve us of the torment. Lo! we are believers.
O our Sustainer, relieve us of suffering, for, verily, we [now] believe [in Thee]!”
They will say that day, 'O our Lord! Remove from us the torment, We believe'.
(They will then say:) ‘O our Lord! Remove this torment from us. Surely, we believe.
How can they be reminded when a messenger has already come to them, making things clear,
How can there be remembrance for them, when a messenger making plain (the Truth) had already come unto them,
[But] how shall this remembrance avail them [at the Last Hour], seeing that an apostle had previously come unto them, clearly expounding the truth,
Whence they are to accept admonition, whereas there has already come a clear Messenger.
How can their acceptance of the admonition now be (of any use), whereas there came to them a Messenger with a clear exposition
then they turned away from him, saying, “A madman, taught by others!”?
And they had turned away from him and said: One taught (by others), a madman?
whereupon they turned their backs on him and said, “Taught [by others] is he, a madman”?
Then they turned away from him and said, 'He is tutored, madman'.
But they turned their faces from him and (denigrating) they said: ‘(He) is a tutored madman.
Indeed, We will remove ˹that˺ torment for a while, and you ˹Meccans˺ will return ˹to disbelief˺.
Lo! We withdraw the torment a little. Lo! ye return (to disbelief).
[Still,] behold, We shall postpone this suffering for a little while, although you are bound to revert [to your evil ways: but]
We let loose the torment for sometime, you will again do the same.
Indeed, We remove the torment a little (but) you will certainly reiterate (the same disbelief)
˹Then˺ on the Day We will deal ˹you˺ the fiercest blow, We will surely inflict punishment.
On the day when We shall seize them with the greater seizure, (then) in truth We shall punish.
on the Day when We shall seize [all sinners] with a most mighty onslaught, We shall, verily, inflict Our retribution [on you as well]!
The day when We will seize the greatest seizing, verily We are to take vengeance.
The Day when We will seize with the Greatest Seizure, (that Day) We shall certainly exact revenge
Indeed, before them We tested Pharaoh’s people: a noble messenger came to them,
And verily We tried before them Pharaoh's folk, when there came unto them a noble messenger,
AND, INDEED, [long] before their time did We try Pharaoh’s people [in the same way]: for there came unto them a noble apostle, [who said:]
And undoubtedly, We tested the people of Firawn before them, and an honourable Messenger came to them.
And in fact, We put to trial the people of Pharaoh (also) before them and the exalted Messenger (Musa [Moses]) came to them
˹proclaiming,˺ “Hand over the servants of Allah to me. I am truly a trustworthy messenger to you.
Saying: Give up to me the slaves of Allah. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you.
“Give in unto me, O God’s bondmen! Verily, I am an apostle [sent] unto you, worthy of trust!
Saying, 'hand over to me the bondmen of Allah. Verily I am a trusted Messenger for you'.
(He said:) ‘Hand over to me the servants of Allah (the Children of Israel). Verily, I am a trusted Messenger for your guidance and leadership
And do not be arrogant with Allah. I have certainly come to you with a compelling proof.
And saying: Be not proud against Allah. Lo! I bring you a clear warrant.
“And exalt not yourselves against God: for, verily, I come unto you with a manifest authority [from Him];
Rise not up against Allah I bring to you a clear authority.
And do not rebel against Allah. I have come to you with the enlightening proof
And indeed, I seek refuge with my Lord and your Lord so you do not stone me ˹to death˺.
And lo! I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord lest ye stone me to death.
and, behold, it is with my Sustainer - and your Sustainer - that I seek refuge against all your endeavours to revile me.
I take refuge of my Lord and your Lord, lest you stone me.
And I have indeed sought the protection of my Lord and your Lord lest you should stone me
˹But˺ if you do not believe me, then let me be.”
And if ye put no faith in me, then let me go.
And if you do not believe me, [at least] stand away from me!”
And if you believe not in me, go you apart from me.
And if you do not believe in me, then keep away from me.
Ultimately, he cried out to his Lord, “These are a wicked people!”
And he cried unto his Lord, (saying): These are guilty folk.
But then, [when they beset him with their enmity,] he called out to his Sustainer, “These are [indeed] people lost in sin!”
Then he called upon his Lord, these are guilty people.
Then he prayed to his Lord: ‘Surely, they are a sinful people.
˹Allah responded,˺ “Leave with My servants at night, for you will surely be pursued.
Then (his Lord commanded): Take away My slaves by night. Lo! ye will be followed,
And [God said]: “Go thou forth with My servants by night, for you will surely be pursued;
We commanded that go forth with My bondmen necessarily, you shall be followed.
(Allah said:) ‘Then set out with My servants by night. You shall certainly be chased
And leave the sea parted, for they are certainly an army bound to drown.”
And leave the sea behind at rest, for lo! they are a drowned host.
and leave the sea becalmed [between thee and Pharaoh’s men]: for, verily, they are a host destined to be drowned!”
And leave you the river open from place to place, undoubtedly the host shall be drowned.
And (after you pass through) leave the river still and split open. Surely, they are an army who will be drowned.
˹Imagine˺ how many gardens and springs the tyrants left behind,
How many were the gardens and the watersprings that they left behind,
[And so they perished: and] how many gardens did they leave behind, and water-runnels,
How many gardens and springs, they left behind.
How many a garden and spring they left behind
as well as ˹various˺ crops and splendid residences,
And the cornlands and the goodly sites
and fields of grain, and noble dwellings,
And cornfields and nice houses.
And green crops and magnificent buildings
and luxuries which they fully enjoyed.
And pleasant things wherein they took delight!
and [all that] life of ease in which they used to delight!
And comforts wherein they were free from care.
And blessings (and comforts) in which they used to luxuriate
So it was. And We awarded it ˹all˺ to another people.
Even so (it was), and We made it an inheritance for other folk;
Thus it was. And [then] We made another people heirs [to what they had left],
We did thus, and We made another people to inherit them.
So it happened! We made another people the inheritors of all that
Neither heaven nor earth wept over them, nor was their fate delayed.
And the heaven and the earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved.
and neither sky nor earth shed tears over them, nor were they allowed a respite.
And the heavens and the earth did not shed tears for them, nor were they given respite.
Then neither the heaven nor the earth wept over them, nor were they given respite
And We certainly delivered the Children of Israel from the humiliating torment
And We delivered the Children of Israel from the shameful doom;
And, indeed, We delivered the children of Israel from the shameful suffering
And undoubtedly, We delivered the children of Israel from the abasing torment.
And verily, We delivered the Children of Israel from a humiliating suffering
of Pharaoh. He was truly a tyrant, a transgressor.
(We delivered them) from Pharaoh. Lo! he was a tyrant of the wanton ones.
[inflicted on them] by Pharaoh, seeing that he was truly outstanding among those who waste their own selves;
From Firawn, he was surely haughty and of the extravagant.
From Pharaoh. Indeed, he was of the most rebellious transgressors
And indeed, We chose the Israelites knowingly above the others.
And We chose them, purposely, above (all) creatures.
and indeed, We chose them knowingly above all other people,
And undoubtedly, We chose them knowingly from among the people of that time
And surely, We chose them (the Children of Israel) above (their contemporary civilizations of) the world on the basis of knowledge
And We showed them signs in which there was a clear test.
And We gave them portents wherein was a clear trial.
and gave them such signs [of Our grace] as would clearly presage a test.
And We bestowed them the signs wherein there was clear reward.
And We bestowed upon them signs containing an obvious favour (and a clear trial)
Indeed, these ˹Meccans˺ say,
Lo! these, forsooth, are saying:
[Now,] behold, these [people] say indeed:
These men do say,
Surely, they say
“There is nothing beyond our first death, and we will never be resurrected.
There is naught but our first death, and we shall not be raised again.
“That [which is ahead of us] is but our first [and only] death, and we shall not be raised to life again.
'That is not but our first death and we shall not be raised?
‘There is nothing after our first death and we shall not be raised up (again)
Bring ˹back˺ our forefathers, if what you say is true.”
Bring back our fathers, if ye speak the truth!
So then, bring forth our forefathers [as witnesses], if what you claim is true!”
Bring back then, our fathers if you are truthful.
So bring back our ancestors (alive) if you are truthful.
Are they superior to the people of Tubba’ and those before them? We destroyed them ˹all˺, ˹for˺ they were truly wicked.
Are they better, or the folk of Tubb'a and those before them? We destroyed them, for surely they were guilty.
Are they, then, better than the people of Tubba and those before them, whom We destroyed because they were truly lost in [the same] sin?
Are they better or the people of Tubba and those before them whom We destroyed? Verily they were culprits.
Well, are they better or the people of Tubba‘ (the people of As‘ad Abu Kurib al-Himyari, the King of Yemen) and those who were before them? We destroyed (all of) them. Surely, they were people given to evildoing
We did not create the heavens and the earth and everything in between for sport.
And We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, in play.
For [thus it is:] We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in mere idle play:
And We made not the heavens and the earth and whatsoever is in between them in play.
And We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them merely in sport
We only created them for a purpose, but most of these ˹pagans˺ do not know.
We created them not save with truth; but most of them know not.
none of this have We created without [an inner] truth: but most of them understand it not.
We made not them but with truth, but most of them know not.
We have created them both with (the purpose and reason) of truth. But most of them do not know
Surely the Day of ˹Final˺ Decision is the time appointed for all—
Assuredly the Day of Decision is the term for all of them,
VERILY, the Day of Distinction [between the true and the false] is the term appointed for all of them:
Undoubtedly, the Day of Judgement is the term appointed for all of them.
Surely, the Day of Judgment is the appointed time for all of them
the Day no kith or kin will be of benefit to another whatsoever, nor will they be helped,
A day when friend can in naught avail friend, nor can they be helped,
the Day when no friend shall be of the least avail to his friend, and when none shall be succoured
The day when a friend shall not avail a friend at all and nor they shall be helped.
The Day when a friend shall not avail a friend at all, nor will they be helped
except those shown mercy by Allah. He is truly the Almighty, Most Merciful.
Save him on whom Allah hath mercy. Lo! He is the Mighty, the Merciful.
save those upon whom God will have bestowed His grace and mercy: for, verily, He alone is almighty, a dispenser of grace.
Save those on whom Allah has mercy. Undoubtedly He is the Honourable, the Merciful.
Except those to whom Allah has shown mercy. (They will intercede for one another.) Surely, He is Almighty, Ever-Merciful
Surely ˹the fruit of˺ the tree of Zaqqûm
Lo! the tree of Zaqqum,
Verily, [in the life to come] the tree of deadly fruit
Verily the tree of Zaqqqum (Cactus)
Indeed, the tree bearing thorny fruit
will be the food of the evildoer.
The food of the sinner!
will be the food of the sinful:
Is the food of the sinners.
Will be the food of the major sinners
Like molten metal, it will boil in the bellies
Like molten brass, it seetheth in their bellies
like molten lead will it boil in the belly,
Like molten copper bubbles in the bellies.
It will boil in the bellies like molten copper
like the boiling of hot water.
As the seething of boiling water.
like the boiling of burning despair.
As boiling water bubbles.
Like the seething of simmering water
˹It will be said,˺ “Seize them and drag them into the depths of the Hellfire.
(And it will be said): Take him and drag him to the midst of hell,
[And the word will be spoken:] “Seize him, [O you forces of hell,] and drag him into the midst of the blazing fire:
Seize him and drag him forcibly towards the center of the blazing fire.
(It will be commanded:) ‘Seize him and drag him forcefully to the midst of Hell
Then pour over their heads the torment of boiling water.”
Then pour upon his head the torment of boiling water.
then pour over his head the anguish of burning despair!
'Then pour over his head the torment of boiling water.'
Then torment him by pouring boiling water over his head
˹The wicked will be told,˺ “Taste this. You mighty, noble one!
(Saying): Taste! Lo! thou wast forsooth the mighty, the noble!
Taste it - thou who [on earth] hast considered thyself so mighty, so noble!
Taste it, Yes, certainly you are the Honourable, the benignant.
Taste it! Yes, you it is, the respectable and venerable (in your notion and claim)
This is truly what you ˹all˺ used to doubt.”
Lo! this is that whereof ye used to doubt.
This is the very thing which you [deniers of the truth] were wont to call in question!”
Undoubtedly, it is in which you were doubting
Certainly, this is the very Hell you used to doubt.
Indeed, the righteous will be in a secure place,
Lo! those who kept their duty will be in a place secured.
[As against this -] verily, the God-conscious will find themselves in a state secure,
Undoubtedly, the God fearing is in a place of security.
Assuredly, the Godfearing will be in a place of calm and peace
amid Gardens and springs,
Amid gardens and watersprings,
amid gardens and springs,
In the gardens and springs.
Amid gardens and springs
dressed in fine silk and rich brocade, facing one another.
Attired in silk and silk embroidery, facing one another.
wearing [garments] of silk and brocade, facing one another [in love].
They shall wear fine silk and brocade facing one another.
Dressed in fine silk and heavy brocade, facing one another
So it will be. And We will pair them to maidens with gorgeous eyes.
Even so (it will be). And We shall wed them unto fair ones with wide, lovely eyes.
Thus shall it be. And We shall pair them with companions pure, most beautiful of eye.
Thus it is, and We got them married to black and bright large eyed maidens.
So will it happen! And We shall marry them to fair maidens having lovely wide eyes
There they will call for every fruit in serenity.
They call therein for every fruit in safety.
In that [paradise] they shall [rightfully] claim all the fruits [of their past deeds], resting in security;
They will ask for therein every kind of fruit in peace and security.
(Sitting) there, they will call calmly for every kind of fruit
There they will never taste death, beyond the first death. And He will protect them from the punishment of the Hellfire—
They taste not death therein, save the first death. And He hath saved them from the doom of hell,
and neither shall they taste death there after having passed through their erstwhile death. Thus will He have preserved them from all suffering through the blazing fire-
They will not taste death therein, other than the first death, and Allah saved them from the torment of the fire.
There (in Paradise) they will not taste death except the first death (which would have passed). And Allah will save them from the torment of Hell
as ˹an act of˺ grace from your Lord. That is ˹truly˺ the ultimate triumph.
A bounty from thy Lord. That is the supreme triumph.
an act of thy Sustainer’s favour: and that, that will be the triumph supreme!
By the grace of your Lord. This is the supreme victory.
It is a bounty of your Lord (i.e., your Lord will bestow through your mediation alone). That is but a great success
Indeed, We have made this ˹Quran˺ easy in your own language ˹O Prophet˺ so perhaps they will be mindful.
And We have made (this Scripture) easy in thy language only that they may heed.
THUS, THEN, [O Prophet,] have We made this [divine writ] easy to understand, in thine own [human] tongue, so that men might take it to heart.
And We have made this Quran easy in your tongue so that they may understand.
So We have made this (Qur’an) easy in your own tongue so that they may take advice
Wait then! They too are certainly waiting.
Wait then (O Muhammad). Lo! they (too) are waiting.
So wait thou [for what the future will bring]: behold, they, too, are waiting.
So, wait you. they too are waiting
So wait. Certainly, they (too) are waiting. (You will see Our revenge and their evil end, and they will see your glory and My favours to the believers through your mediation.