Smoke (Al-Dukhaan)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Ha Mim. 1 CONSIDER this divine writ, clear in itself and clearly showing the truth! 2 that We sent down during a Blessed Night. We are ever warning. 3 Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments. 4 at a behest from Ourselves: for, verily, We have always been sending [Our messages of guidance] 5 A mercy from thy Lord. Verily He! He is the Hearer, the Knower. 6 Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them, if you would be certain. 7 There is no god but He; He gives life and causes death, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore. 8 Nay, but they play in doubt. 9 So be on the watch for a day when heaven shall bring a manifest smoke 10 That shall overtake men; this is a painful punishment. 11 Our Lord! remove from us the punishment; surely we are believers. 12 [But] how shall this remembrance avail them [at the Last Hour,] seeing that an apostle had previously come unto them, clearly expounding the truth, 13 Whereas they had then turned away from him and said, “He is a madman, tutored!”? 14 We are removing the punishment a little, but you revert. 15 The Day We will strike with the greatest assault, indeed, We will take retribution. 16 ۞ Indeed before that We subjected the Pharaonites to the same test. A noble Messenger came to them 17 Saying: restore to me the bondmen of Allah, verily I am unto you an apostle trusted. 18 Do not set yourselves above God: I bring you clear authority. 19 And indeed, I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord, lest you stone me. 20 "If ye believe me not, at least keep yourselves away from me." 21 Then he called upon his Lord: these are a people guilty. 22 (The reply came:) "March forth with My Servants by night: for ye are sure to be pursued. 23 "And leave the sea as it is (quiet and divided). Verily, They are a host to be drowned." 24 How many were the gardens, springs, 25 and sown fields, fine sitting places, 26 And wealth (and conveniences of life), wherein they had taken such delight! 27 Such was their end, and what had been theirs We gave to other people to inherit. 28 And the heavens and the earth wept not over them, nor were they respited. 29