Smoke (Al-Dukhaan)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Ha Mim! 1 The perspicuous Book is witness 2 We sent it (this Quran) down on a blessed night [(i.e. night of Qadr, Surah No: 97) in the month of Ramadan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]. 3 therein every wise bidding 4 by Our own command -- We have been sending messages, 5 A mercy from thy Lord. Lo! He, even He is the Hearer, the Knower, 6 the Lord of the heavens and the earth and of all that is between them: if you would only have sure faith. 7 There is no god other than He, who gives you life and death, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of old. 8 In fact, the unbelievers have doubts because of excessive involvement in worldly affairs. 9 Then watch thou for the Day that the sky will bring forth a kind of smoke (or mist) plainly visible, 10 Which will envelop the people; this is a painful punishment. 11 (They will say): "Our Lord! Remove the torment from us, really we shall become believers!" 12 How could this punishment bring them to their senses when a Messenger evidently had come to them, 13 whereupon they turned their backs on him and said, "Taught [by others] is he, a madman"? 14 'Behold, We are removing the chastisement a little; behold, you revert!' 15 But on that Day We will assault them most mightily, and then We shall revenge! 16 ۞ We had tried the people of Pharaoh before them. A respected prophet had come to them (saying): 17 Saying: "Restore to me the slaves of Allah (i.e. the Children of Israel). Verily! I am to you a Messenger worthy of all trust, 18 "And exalt not yourselves against God: for, verily, I come unto you with a manifest authority [from Him]; 19 And lo! I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord lest ye stone me to death. 20 But if you do not believe me, then leave me alone." 21 (But they were aggressive), so he [Musa (Moses)] called upon his Lord (saying): "These are indeed the people who are Mujrimun (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, criminals, etc.)." 22 (His Lord answered): 'Set out with My worshipers in the night, for you will surely be followed. 23 and leave the sea becalmed [between thee and Pharaoh's men]: for, verily, they are a host destined to be drowned!" 24 How many were the gardens and the watersprings that they left behind, 25 corn-fields, gracious mansions, 26 and [all that] life of ease in which they used to delight! 27 Thus it was; and We made another people inherit all that. 28 Neither heaven nor earth wept for them, nor were they allowed any respite. 29