Smoke (Al-Dukhaan)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Ha-Meem. (Alphabets of the Arabic language – Allah, and to whomever He reveals, know their precise meanings.) 1 By the luminious Book. 2 that We have revealed the Quran on a blessed night to warn mankind. 3 Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments. 4 by Our command. Verily, We were set to send a Messenger 5 as a mercy from thy Lord (surely He is the All-hearing, the All-knowing) 6 the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them - if you could but grasp it with inner certainty! 7 There is no god except He. He revives and causes to die. (He is) your Lord and the Lord of your fathers, the ancients. 8 Nay, but they [who lack inner certainty] are but dying with their doubts. 9 So watch for the Day when the sky will come down with a pall of smoke, 10 Enveloping the people: this will be a Penalty Grievous. 11 (People will then say): “Our Lord, remove this scourge from us; we shall believe.” 12 How can there be remembrance for them, when a messenger making plain (the Truth) had already come unto them, 13 And they had turned away from him and said: One taught (by others), a madman? 14 Surely We will remove the punishment a little, (but) you will surely return (to evil). 15 The Day We will strike with the greatest assault, indeed, We will take retribution. 16 ۞ We did, before them, try the people of Pharaoh: there came to them a messenger most honourable, 17 Saying: "Restore to me the Servants of Allah: I am to you an messenger worthy of all trust; 18 Do not consider yourselves above God. I shall show you a manifest authority (in support of my truthfulness). 19 I have taken refuge with my Lord and your Lord lest you should attack me with stones. 20 And if you do not believe me, [at least] stand away from me!" 21 Then he cried out to his Lord, "These are sinful people." 22 "Journey by night with My devotees," (it was said); "you will certainly be pursued. 23 And leave the sea behind at rest, for lo! they are a drowned host. 24 [And so they perished: and] how many gardens did they leave behind, and water-runnels, 25 And fields and stately mansions, 26 And the delights which they had been enjoying! 27 Such was their end, and what had been theirs We gave to other people to inherit. 28 Neither heaven nor earth wept for them, nor were they respited; 29