44. Ad-Dukhan

Ḥā, Meem.1

Ha Mim

M. Ha-Mim. Hameed Owner of all Praise, Majeed Owner of all Glory, states that

By the clear Book,

By the Book that makes things clear

By this Divine Writ that is clear in itself and makes things clear

Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night.1 Indeed, We were to warn [mankind].

surely We sent it down on a blessed night, We have always sent warnings

Behold, We have revealed it on a Blessed Night, for, verily We have always been warning. (Revealed on the Prophet's heart in a Blessed Night in the month of Ramadhan, 610 C.E., and then conveyed to mankind in stages over a period of 23 years. (2)

Therein [i.e., on that night] is made distinct1 every precise matter -

on that night every wise decree is specified

Herein is distinctly presented every Matter of Wisdom

[Every] matter [proceeding] from Us. Indeed, We were to send [a messenger]

by Our own command -- We have been sending messages

A Command from Our Presence, behold, We have always been sending

As mercy from your Lord. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing,

as a mercy from your Lord, He hears all and knows all

A Mercy from your Lord. Behold! He is the Hearer, the Knower

Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them, if you would be certain.

He is the Lord of heaven and earth and all that is between them, if only you would really believe

Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if you could ever attain conviction

There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death. [He is] your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers.

there is no deity save Him: It is He who gives both life and death -- He is your Lord, and the Lord of your forefathers

There is no god but He. He it is Who gives life and gives death; your Lord and the Lord of your earliest ancestors

But they are in doubt, amusing themselves.

yet, they toy with their doubts

Nay, but they are toying with their doubts

Then watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke

Wait, then, for the Day when the sky brings forth plainly visible clouds of smoke

Wait, then, for the Day when the sky will bring forth a pall of visible smoke

Covering the people; this is a painful torment.

That will envelop the people. This will be a painful punishment

Enveloping all mankind, heralding an outcry, "Grievous is this suffering

[They will say], "Our Lord, remove from us the torment; indeed, we are believers."

Then they will say, "Lord, relieve us from this torment, for truly we are now believers in You

O Our Lord! Relieve us of this suffering. Behold, now we are believers (in Your Laws)

How will there be for them a reminder [at that time]? And there had come to them a clear Messenger.

How can they benefit from admonition, seeing that a messenger had already come to them explaining things clearly

How can there be another Reminder for them seeing that a Messenger had already come to them, clearly expounding the Truth? (And this Qur'an is the Eternal Reminder)

Then they turned away from him and said, "[He was] taught [and is] a madman."

Then they turned away from him and said, "He is a madman, taught by others

Whereupon they had turned away from him, and said, "Taught and tutored is he, a man possessed

Indeed, We will remove the torment for a little. Indeed, you [disbelievers] will return [to disbelief].

Were We to ease the torment for a while, you would still revert to denial of the truth

Still, behold, We shall postpone this suffering for a while although you will revert to your old ways

The Day We will strike with the greatest assault, indeed, We will take retribution.

On the Day We inflict the direst scourge upon all sinners, We will certainly exact retribution

On the Day when We shall seize with mighty grasp, verily, We shall indeed dispense Our Requital

And We had already tried before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble messenger [i.e., Moses],

We tried the people of Pharaoh before them: a noble messenger was sent to them

And indeed We put to test before them Pharaoh's nation, for there came unto them an honorable Messenger

[Saying], "Render to me the servants of Allāh.1 Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger,"

saying, "Hand over God's servants to me. I am a trustworthy messenger for you

(He said), "Pay attention to me O Servants of Allah! Verily, I am a Messenger to you worthy of trust. ('Add' = Pay dues, to give in, to listen, to return the trust)

And [saying], "Be not haughty with Allāh. Indeed, I have come to you with clear evidence.

Do not set yourselves above God: I bring you clear authority

Exalt not yourselves against Allah, for, verily, I have come to you with a Clear Authority (Divine Revelation)

And indeed, I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord, lest you stone me.1

I have sought refuge with my Lord and your Lord lest you stone me [to death]

And, behold, it is with my Lord and your Lord that I seek refuge against that you debar me. ('Rajm' = Debar, stone, revile, expel, insult, dismiss, humiliate, curse, deride, mock, ridicule, belittle)

But if you do not believe me, then leave me alone."

If you do not believe in me, at least keep away from me

And if you do not believe in me, then simply leave me alone." (Allow me to take my people with me. Thereupon Pharaoh and his chiefs denied him)

And [finally] he called to his Lord that these were a criminal people.

Then he cried out to his Lord, "These are sinful people

So he cried unto his Lord, "This is an exploitive people." ('Mujrim' = One who thrives on the fruit of others' toil = Exploitive)

[Allāh said], "Then set out with My servants by night. Indeed, you are to be pursued.

God said, "Set out with My servants by night, for you will certainly be pursued

(And his Lord Commanded), "Take away My servants by night. Behold, you will be followed

And leave the sea in stillness.1 Indeed, they are an army to be drowned."

Leave the sea behind you parted; they are a host destined to be drowned

And leave the ebbed, becalmed sea behind, for, verily, they are an army destined to be drowned

How much they left behind of gardens and springs

How many gardens and fountains they left behind them

How many gardens did they leave behind, and water-springs

And crops and noble sites

and cornfields and splendid buildings

And fields of grain, and grand palaces

And comfort wherein they were amused.

and pleasant things in which they delighted

And blessings that they enjoyed

Thus. And We caused to inherit it another people.

Such was their end, and what had been theirs We gave to other people to inherit

Thus it was! And We made another people heirs

And the heaven and earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved.

Neither heaven nor earth wept for them, nor were they allowed any respite

And neither the sky nor the earth wept over them, nor were they reprieved again

And We certainly saved the Children of Israel from the humiliating torment -

We saved the Children of Israel from their humiliating torment

And, indeed, We delivered the Children of Israel from the humiliating suffering (of bondage)

From Pharaoh. Indeed, he was a haughty one among the transgressors.

at the hands of Pharaoh: he was a tyrant who exceeded all bounds

From Pharaoh, for he glorified himself to the extent of wasting his own "Self

And We certainly chose them by knowledge over [all] the worlds.

We knowingly chose them above all other people

And, indeed, We chose them among the contemporary nations because of the Knowledge (of Revelation)

And We gave them of signs that in which there was a clear trial.

and showed them signs in which there was a clear test

And We gave them Signs in which there was a manifest trial

Indeed, these [disbelievers] are saying,

Yet those who deny the truth say

Behold, now, these people say

"There is not but our first death, and we will not be resurrected.

there is nothing beyond our first death; we shall not be raised again

There is nothing but our first death, and we shall not be raised again

Then bring [back] our forefathers, if you should be truthful."

So bring our fathers [back], if what you say is true

So then, bring back our forefathers if you are men of truth

Are they better or the people of Tubbaʿ1 and those before them? We destroyed them, [for] indeed, they were criminals.

Are they better than the people of Tubba' and those who came before them? We destroyed them, because they were guilty of sin

Are they, then, by any means better than the nation of Tubba and those before them? (Yet) We annihilated them for their violation of human rights

And We did not create the heavens and earth and that between them in play.

We did not idly create the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them

For, We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, merely as idle sport

We did not create them except in truth, but most of them do not know.

We did not create them save with a purpose, yet most people have no knowledge of this

None of this have We created without Purpose. But most of them are not aware of this fact. (They fail to realize that the human 'Self' lives on after death and must be recompensed in the Hereafter)

Indeed, the Day of Judgement is the appointed time for them all -

Truly, the Day of Decision is the appointed time for all of them

Verily, the Day of Decision is appointed for them all

The Day when no relation1 will avail a relation at all, nor will they be helped -

the Day when no friend shall be of the least avail to another, nor shall any be helped

The Day, when no friend shall be of avail to his friend, and none shall be helped

Except those [believers] on whom Allāh has mercy. Indeed, He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.

save those to whom God shows mercy. Surely, He is the Mighty, the Merciful One

Except those who made themselves worthy of Allah's Mercy. For, verily, He, He alone is the Mighty, the Merciful

Indeed, the tree of zaqqūm

Surely the fruit of the Zaqqum tree

Verily, the tree of bitter deeds

Is food for the sinful.

shall be food for the sinners

Will be the food of him who plunged down his and other's capacities. (17:6)

Like murky oil, it boils within bellies

like the dregs of oil, it shall boil in their bellies

Like molten brass will it boil in the belly

Like the boiling of scalding water.

like the boiling of hot water

As the boiling, burning despair

[It will be commanded], "Seize him and drag him into the midst of the Hellfire,

[A voice will cry], "Seize him and drag him into the midst of Hell

Take him and drag him into the midst of hell. (That is what the unending greed does)

Then pour over his head from the torment of scalding water."

Then pour boiling water over his head as punishment

Then pour upon his head the boiling anguish

[It will be said], "Taste! Indeed, you are the honored, the noble!1

Taste this; you who considered yourself the mighty, the honourable

Taste! Behold, you considered yourself so mighty, so noble. (But the Law of Requital is absolutely just)

Indeed, this is what you used to dispute."

This is what you doubted

Behold, this is the very thing you doubted (and hence, trampled Divine Values)

Indeed, the righteous will be in a secure place:

But those mindful of God will be in a safe place

Verily, those who walked aright, will find themselves in a secure state

Within gardens and springs,

among gardens and springs

Amid gardens and water springs

Wearing [garments of] fine silk and brocade, facing each other.

dressed in fine silk and in rich brocade, and they will face each other

Dressed in fine silk and in rich brocade, in a company affectionate they will be

Thus. And We will marry them to fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes.

so it will be. We shall wed them to maidens with large, dark eyes

Thus shall it be. And We shall pair them with virtuous companions of beautiful vision

They will call therein for every [kind of] fruit - safe and secure.

They will call therein for every kind of fruit, in peace and security

In that Paradise they shall claim all the delicious fruits of their deeds in blissful contentment

They will not taste death therein except the first death, and He will have protected them from the punishment of Hellfire

They will not taste death therein, save the first death. God will save them from the torment of Hell

True immortality! They taste not death again after the first death. Thus will He save them from getting stuck at the Insurmountable Barrier. (

As bounty from your Lord. That is what is the great attainment.

as an act of grace. That will be the supreme triumph

A Bounty from your Lord! That is the Supreme Triumph

And indeed, We have eased it [i.e., the Qur’ān] in your tongue that they might be reminded.

We have made this Quran easy to understand, in your own language, so that they may take heed

Thus, then, (O Prophet) We have made this Qur'an easy to understand, in your own human language, so that people might take it to their minds and hearts

So watch, [O Muḥammad]; indeed, they are watching [for your end].

Wait then; they too are waiting

So wait you and watch. Behold, they too have to wait