Smoke (Al-Dukhaan)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
Ha-Meem. (Alphabets of the Arabic language – Allah, and to whomever He reveals, know their precise meanings.) 1 I swear by the Book that makes manifest (the truth). 2 Lo! We revealed it on a blessed night - Lo! We are ever warning - 3 (We revealed it on the Night) wherein every matter is wisely determined 4 A command from Us; surely We are the senders (of apostles), 5 as a Mercy from your Lord. Surely He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing, 6 The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them; if you people believe. 7 There is no god but He; He gives life and causes death, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore. 8 (But the fact is, they lack certainty) and frolic about in doubt. 9 WAIT, THEN, for the Day when the skies shall bring forth a pall of smoke which will make obvious [the approach of the Last Hour,] 10 enveloping people. That will be a grievous scourge. 11 Our Lord! remove from us the punishment; surely we are believers. 12 How can there be remembrance for them, when a messenger making plain (the Truth) had already come unto them, 13 and they turned away, saying, "He is a trained and insane person". 14 Were We to ease the torment for a while, you would still revert to denial of the truth. 15 The day when We will seize with the greatest seizure – We will indeed take revenge. 16 ۞ And indeed We tried before them Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) people, when there came to them a noble Messenger [i.e. Musa (Moses)], 17 saying, 'Deliver to me God's servants; I am for you a faithful Messenger, 18 And that do not exalt yourselves against Allah, surely I will bring to you a clear authority: 19 And lo! I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord lest ye stone me to death. 20 "If ye believe me not, at least keep yourselves away from me." 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 (Cross and) leave the sea undisturbed. The (pursuing) hosts will surely be drowned," 24 How many were the gardens and springs they left behind, 25 and fields of grain, and noble dwellings, 26 And the delights which they had been enjoying! 27 Thus it was. And [then] We made another people heirs [to what they had left,] 28 And the heaven and earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved. 29