English - Chapter 44 - Ad-Dukhan

Ha. Mim

We sent it down on a night full of blessings; surely We have ever been warning (humankind since their creation)

In that night every affair is identified and made distinct for wise purposes

As a command issued from Our Presence; surely We have ever been sending Messengers (from among the angels and human beings to convey Our decrees and guide)

As a mercy from your Lord – surely He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing –

The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if you would but seek certainty (about the Messenger and the Book he brings)

There is no deity but He, giving life and causing to die; your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers

Yet (they do not desire certainty; instead) they are in an irrecoverable doubt, lost in the playthings of the worldly life

Then watch (O Messenger) for the day when the sky will bring forth a visible smoke

Which will engulf the people, (causing them to exclaim): "This is a painful punishment

Our Lord! Remove this punishment from us, for now we are true believers

How is a reminder possible for them (such that their profession of faith could be true), seeing that there has come to them a Messenger making the truth clear (and embodying it in every element of his life and character)

But they turn away from him and say (of him): "One taught by others, a madman

We will hold back the punishment for a little (while), but you will turn back (to your former ways of unbelief, whose outcome is a punishment everlasting) –

On the day when We will seize with the mightiest grasp. We will indeed take retribution

Before them, assuredly We tried the people of the Pharaoh, when there came to them a noble Messenger

Saying: "Deliver to me the servants of God! I am a trustworthy Messenger sent to you (by God)

And do not exalt yourself in proud defiance against God (by disobeying His order and so rejecting my Messengership). Surely I have come to you with an evident authority

I have sought refuge in my Lord, Who is surely also your Lord, from your stoning me to death

If you will not believe in me, then keep away from me (let me go)

Then he called upon his Lord: "These are indeed a guilty people committed to accumulating sin

Then (his Lord commanded him): "Set forth with My servants by night. You are sure to be pursued

And now leave the sea in quiet (as it was when it divided for you), for they are a host destined to be drowned

How many were the gardens and springs that they left behind

And cornfields, and excellent dwellings, and elevated, honored situations

And other comforts of life, in which they used to take delight

Just so! And We made another people heirs (to the bounties they enjoyed)

And neither the heaven nor the earth shed tears over them, nor were they given a respite (when the punishment became due on them)

And indeed We delivered the Children of Israel from the humiliating persecutions

Of the Pharaoh. He was indeed a haughty tyrant committing excesses

And with knowledge (deliberately and for a purpose known to Us) We chose them (the Children of Israel) over all other peoples (in their time)

And (as a favor) We granted them many signs (miracles), in which there was a manifest trial

Yet these (Makkan polytheist) people say with emphasis

There is nothing beyond our first death, and we will not be raised again

If you are truthful (in claiming that the dead will be raised to a new life), then bring back our forefathers

What? Are they better (in wealth and power), or were the people of Tubba‘ and the others (that We destroyed) before them? We destroyed them, for they were disbelieving criminals committed to accumulating sins

We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in play and fun

We have created them only with truth (for meaningful purposes, and on solid foundations of truth), but most people do not know

Surely the Day of Judgment and Distinction (between the truth and falsehood and the righteous and the sinful) is the time appointed for them all

The Day when no guardian will be of any avail to one supported and protected, and none will be helped

Save those on whom God will have mercy. Surely He is the All-Glorious with irresistible might (Whose punishment no one can escape), the All-Compassionate (especially toward His believing servants)

(Here is) the tree of Zaqqum

The food of him addicted to sinning

Like molten brass; it will boil in their bellies

Like the boiling of hot water

(O angels of Hell!) Take him (the sinful one) and drag him into the midst of the Blazing Flame

Then pour over his head boiling water as punishment

Taste! (Only in your own judgment) were you mighty, honorable, and noble

And this (what you are suffering now) is that which you used to doubt

Whereas the God-revering, pious ones will be in a position absolutely secure (from any evil)

Amid gardens and springs (of Paradise)

Dressed in fine silk and silk brocade, (seated) face to face

Just so it will be. And We will assign for them maidens pure, most beautiful of eye

There they call for every kind of fruit in security (from any harm)

They will not taste death therein, except the first death (of leaving the world); and He has preserved them from the punishment of the Blazing Flame

As a grace from your Lord. That is the supreme triumph

So (to enable you for that triumph) We have made this Qur’an easy to understand by revealing it in your tongue, so that they may remember and be mindful (and order their lives according to it)

Then wait (O Messenger, and watch (how they react and how they fare); they too are waiting (to see how your mission will fare)