44.
Sura Dukhan (or Smoke or Mist)
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
By the Scriputre which makes matters clear. We sent it down during a
blessed night to warn against evil whereupon every wise command is made
clear from Our presence for We ever send revelations. This is a Mercy from
your Lord: For He hears and knows all things. He is the Lord of the heavens
and the earth and everything between them, if you but have an assured faith.
There is no god but He. It is He Who gives life and gives death, the Lord and
Cherisher to you and your earliest ancestors. Yet, they (the Quraish) play about
with it, and expressed doubts about it, whereas the Preacher was most earnest
about it, with all his heart and soul in it, as he loved his people and wished to
save them from their wickedness and folly. Then watch (O Muhammad) for
the Day that the sky will bring forth a kind of smoke (or mist) which will be
very clearly visible to everyone. It will bring grevious penalty to the
unbelievers. They will say: Our Lord remove the penalty from us, for we do
really believe! How can there be remembrance for them, when a Messenger
making plain the truth had already come to them. But they have turned away
from him considering him as a man who is possessed (madman). We withdraw
the torment for a while but they will return to their old ways. On the Day when
We shall seize them with the greater seizure, in truth We shall punish. Before
them We tried the people of Pharaoh when there came to them a noble
Messenger. Saying: Give up to me the slaves (Egyptians and Israelites) of
God. I am a faithful Messenger to you. Be not proud against God. I bring you
a clear warrant and I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord lest you
stone me to death. Further, if you put no faith in me, then let me go. The
Messenger (Moses) cried to his Lord saying that they were guilty folk. Then
his Lord Commanded him to take away His slaves by night. You will be
followed. The sea will be divided. You march forward, and they will be
drowned. How many gardens, beautiful springs, corn-fields, grand buildings,
wealth and other conveniences and delights of life they left behind! Thus this
was their end. Other people were made to inherit all that which they left
behind. Neither heaven nor earth shed a tear over their destruction.
We delivered the Children of Israel from humiliating, doom and saved
them from the tyranty of Pharaoh. We purposely chose them above all
creatures and gave them portends wherein was a clear trial. As to these
(Quraish), they say: There is nothing beyond the first death, and there is no
question of being raised again. Then bring to life our forefather if what you
say is true! What! Are they better than the people of Tubba and those who
were before them? We destroyed them because they were guilty of sin. We
have not created the heavens and the earth and all between them merely as a
sport. These creations are for the just ends but, most of them do not know that.
Indeed, the Day of Sorting Out is the time appointed for all of them – a Day
when friend can in naught avail friend, nor can they be helped. Except those
on whom God has Mercy. For He is Exalted in Might, Most Merciful. For the
sinful, the food for them to eat shall be the tree of Zaqqum. Like molten brass
and seething of boiling water, it will boil in their insides. They will be said:
Size them and drag them to the midst of Hell. They pour over his head the
Penalty of Boiling Water. They will be told: You were mighty and powerful on
earth, now taste this, as you used to doubt this. This is the reality before you.
As to the righteous, they shall be among the Gardens and the Springs having
total security from their Lord. Facing each other, dressed in fine silk and in
rich brocade, joining them shall be companions with beautiful, big and
lustrous eyes. There shall be every kind of fruit waiting for their call. No death
shall come to them and no Fire of Hell shall be near to them. All this will be a
bounty from their Lord – a Supreme Triumph. And We have made this
Scripture easy in your own language only that they may heed. Wait then (O
Muhammad). Lo! They too are waiting.
