Ad-Dukhan 44:17
The Smoke · Juz 25 · Page 496
۞ وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَجَآءَهُمۡ رَسُولٞ كَرِيمٌ ١٧
And We had already tried before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble messenger [i.e., Moses],
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Tazkirul Quran
Brief · Short modern reflections on each passage.
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Commentary on 44:17–20
The call for Truth is, in fact, a manifestation of God’s power in the shape of reasoning. In this way, God announces Himself through human beings, while He Himself remains unseen. The divine call, therefore, becomes a trial for its addressees. The truth seekers acknowledge it and bow down before it, while those who are enamoured of appearances consider it unimportant and ignore it. But after rejecting the call to accept the Truth, man cannot avoid facing the consequences. During the lifetime of the Prophet, these ruinous consequences became apparent in this world itself, just as had happened in the case of the Pharaoh of Egypt. Where there was no immediate evidence of such divine retribution, the deniers had to face the consequences of their actions after death.
Page 496
سورة الدخان
Ad-Dukhan
The Smoke · Meccan · 59 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
44:1
حمٓ ١
Ḥā, Meem.1
1 translator’s note
- See footnote to 2:1. ↩
44:2
وَٱلۡكِتَٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ ٢
By the clear Book,
44:3
إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ فِي لَيۡلَةٖ مُّبَٰرَكَةٍۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ ٣
Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night.1 Indeed, We were to warn [mankind].
1 translator’s note
- The Night of Decree (Qadr). See Sūrah al-Qadr. ↩
44:4
فِيهَا يُفۡرَقُ كُلُّ أَمۡرٍ حَكِيمٍ ٤
Therein [i.e., on that night] is made distinct1 every precise matter -
1 translator’s note
- Or "is separated" or "apportioned," from what is inscribed in the Preserved Slate. The angels record and descend with whatever Allāh has decreed for the coming year. ↩
44:5
أَمۡرٗا مِّنۡ عِندِنَآۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرۡسِلِينَ ٥
[Every] matter [proceeding] from Us. Indeed, We were to send [a messenger]
44:6
رَحۡمَةٗ مِّن رَّبِّكَۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٦
As mercy from your Lord. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing,
44:7
رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ ٧
Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them, if you would be certain.
44:8
لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحۡيِۦ وَيُمِيتُۖ رَبُّكُمۡ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ٨
There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death. [He is] your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers.
44:9
بَلۡ هُمۡ فِي شَكّٖ يَلۡعَبُونَ ٩
But they are in doubt, amusing themselves.
44:10
فَٱرۡتَقِبۡ يَوۡمَ تَأۡتِي ٱلسَّمَآءُ بِدُخَانٖ مُّبِينٖ ١٠
Then watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke
44:11
يَغۡشَى ٱلنَّاسَۖ هَٰذَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٞ ١١
Covering the people; this is a painful torment.
44:12
رَّبَّنَا ٱكۡشِفۡ عَنَّا ٱلۡعَذَابَ إِنَّا مُؤۡمِنُونَ ١٢
[They will say], "Our Lord, remove from us the torment; indeed, we are believers."
44:13
أَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ وَقَدۡ جَآءَهُمۡ رَسُولٞ مُّبِينٞ ١٣
How will there be for them a reminder [at that time]? And there had come to them a clear Messenger.
44:14
ثُمَّ تَوَلَّوۡاْ عَنۡهُ وَقَالُواْ مُعَلَّمٞ مَّجۡنُونٌ ١٤
Then they turned away from him and said, "[He was] taught [and is] a madman."
44:15
إِنَّا كَاشِفُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابِ قَلِيلًاۚ إِنَّكُمۡ عَآئِدُونَ ١٥
Indeed, We will remove the torment for a little. Indeed, you [disbelievers] will return [to disbelief].
44:16
يَوۡمَ نَبۡطِشُ ٱلۡبَطۡشَةَ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ إِنَّا مُنتَقِمُونَ ١٦
The Day We will strike with the greatest assault, indeed, We will take retribution.
44:17
۞ وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَجَآءَهُمۡ رَسُولٞ كَرِيمٌ ١٧
And We had already tried before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble messenger [i.e., Moses],
44:18
أَنۡ أَدُّوٓاْ إِلَيَّ عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنِّي لَكُمۡ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٞ ١٨
[Saying], "Render to me the servants of Allāh.1 Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger,"
1 translator’s note
- i.e., the Children of Israel. ↩