44. Surah Ad-Dukhan
سورة الدخان
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
ḥā mīm
By the Clear Writ!
We sent it down on a blessed night — We are warning —
Wherein is separated every wise command
By command from Us — We are sending —
As mercy from thy Lord; He is the Hearing, the Knowing,
Lord of the Heavens and the Earth and what is between them, if you are certain.
There is no god save He; He gives life and He gives death; your Lord, and the Lord of your fathers of old.
The truth is, they are in doubt, playing.
So watch thou for the day the sky will bring obvious smoke
Covering mankind: “This is a painful punishment!
“Our Lord: remove Thou from us the punishment; we are believers!”
How should they have the reminder when a clear messenger has come to them,
Then they turned away from him and said: “One taught and possessed”?
We, indeed, remove the punishment a little; you, indeed, revert.
The day We seize with the greatest seizing We will take retribution!
And We had subjected the people of Pharaoh before them to means of denial, and there came to them a noble messenger:
“Deliver up to me the servants of God; I am to you a trustworthy messenger.”
And: “Exalt not yourselves against God; I bring you a clear authority.”
And: “I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord lest you stone me.”
And: “If you believe me not, then stay away from me.”
And he called to his Lord that these were a people of lawbreakers.
“Then travel thou with My servants by night: — you will be followed.
“And leave thou the sea tranquil: — they are a force to be drowned.”
How many were the gardens and springs they left
And cornlands and noble station
And prosperity wherein they found gladness!
Thus! And We gave it as an inheritance to another people.
And the heaven and the earth wept not for them, nor were they granted respite,
And We delivered the children of Israel from the humiliating punishment,
From Pharaoh: — he was a high one among the committers of excess.
And We chose them, according to knowledge, above all mankind,
And We gave them among proofs that wherein was a clear trial.
These say:
“There is only our former death, and we will not be raised.
“So bring us our fathers, if you be truthful.”
Are they better, or the people of Tubbaʿ? And those before them we destroyed: — they were lawbreakers.
And We created not the heavens and the earth and what is between them in play.
We created them not but in truth, but most of them know not.
The Day of Decision will be their appointed time all together,
The day a friend can in nothing avail a friend; nor will they be helped,
Save he on whom God has mercy; He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.
The Tree of Zaqqūm
Is the food of the sinful,
Like molten brass, it boils in the bellies
Like the boiling of scalding water:
“Take him, and drag him into the midst of Hell,
“Then pour over his head from the punishment of scalding water!”
“Taste thou — thou art the exalted in might, the noble!
“This is that whereof you doubted.”
Those of prudent fear will be in a secure station
Among gardens and springs,
Clothed in finest silk and brocade, facing one another.
Thus! And We will marry them to pure, lustrous-eyed maidens.
They will call therein for every fruit in safety.
They will not taste therein of death save the former death, and He will protect them from the punishment of Hell
As favour from thy Lord. That is the Great Achievement.
And We have made it easy in thy tongue, that they might take heed.
Then watch thou — they are watching.