سورة الدخان
Surah Ad-Dukhan
The Smoke
Surah Ad-Dukhan (The Smoke) is the 44th surah of the Quran. It has 59 verses and is a Meccan surah. Below is the complete Arabic text with an English translation and transliteration, verse by verse.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
حمٓ﴿١﴾
Hameem
Ḥā, Meem.
وَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ﴿٢﴾
Waalkitabi almubeeni
By the clear Book,
إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ فِي لَيۡلَةࣲ مُّبَٰرَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ﴿٣﴾
Inna anzalnahu fee laylatin mubarakatin inna kunna munthireena
Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind].
فِيهَا يُفۡرَقُ كُلُّ أَمۡرٍ حَكِيمٍ﴿٤﴾
Feeha yufraqu kullu amrin hakeemin
Therein [i.e., on that night] is made distinct every precise matter -
أَمۡرࣰا مِّنۡ عِندِنَآ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرۡسِلِينَ﴿٥﴾
Amran min ʿindina inna kunna mursileena
[Every] matter [proceeding] from Us. Indeed, We were to send [a messenger]
رَحۡمَةࣰ مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ﴿٦﴾
Rahmatan min rabbika innahu huwa alssameeʿu alʿaleemu
As mercy from your Lord. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing,
رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَ مَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ﴿٧﴾
Rabbi alssamawati waalardi wama baynahuma in kuntum mooqineena
Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them, if you would be certain.
لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحۡيِۦ وَ يُمِيتُ ۖ رَبُّكُمۡ وَ رَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ﴿٨﴾
La ilaha illa huwa yuhyee wayumeetu rabbukum warabbu abaikumu alawwaleena
There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death. [He is] your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers.
بَلۡ هُمۡ فِي شَكࣲّ يَلۡعَبُونَ﴿٩﴾
Bal hum fee shakkin yalʿaboona
But they are in doubt, amusing themselves.
فَٱرۡتَقِبۡ يَوۡمَ تَأۡتِي ٱلسَّمَآءُ بِدُخَانࣲ مُّبِينࣲ﴿١٠﴾
Fairtaqib yawma tatee alssamao bidukhanin mubeenin
Then watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke
يَغۡشَى ٱلنَّاسَ ۖ هَٰذَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمࣱ﴿١١﴾
Yaghsha alnnasa hatha ʿathabun aleemun
Covering the people; this is a painful torment.
رَّبَّنَا ٱكۡشِفۡ عَنَّا ٱلۡعَذَابَ إِنَّا مُؤۡمِنُونَ﴿١٢﴾
Rabbana ikshif ʿanna alʿathaba inna muminoona
[They will say], "Our Lord, remove from us the torment; indeed, we are believers."
أَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ وَ قَدۡ جَآءَهُمۡ رَسُولࣱ مُّبِينࣱ﴿١٣﴾
Anna lahumu alththikra waqad jaahum rasoolun mubeenun
How will there be for them a reminder [at that time]? And there had come to them a clear Messenger.
ثُمَّ تَوَلَّوۡاْ عَنۡهُ وَ قَالُواْ مُعَلَّمࣱ مَّجۡنُونٌ﴿١٤﴾
Thumma tawallaw ʿanhu waqaloo muʿallamun majnoonun
Then they turned away from him and said, "[He was] taught [and is] a madman."
إِنَّا كَاشِفُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابِ قَلِيلًا ۚ إِنَّكُمۡ عَآئِدُونَ﴿١٥﴾
Inna kashifoo alʿathabi qaleelan innakum ʿaidoona
Indeed, We will remove the torment for a little. Indeed, you [disbelievers] will return [to disbelief].
يَوۡمَ نَبۡطِشُ ٱلۡبَطۡشَةَ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ إِنَّا مُنتَقِمُونَ﴿١٦﴾
Yawma nabtishu albatshata alkubra inna muntaqimoona
The Day We will strike with the greatest assault, indeed, We will take retribution.
وَ لَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَ جَآءَهُمۡ رَسُولࣱ كَرِيمٌ﴿١٧﴾
Walaqad fatanna qablahum qawma firʿawna wajaahum rasoolun kareemun
And We had already tried before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble messenger [i.e., Moses],
أَنۡ أَدُّوٓاْ إِلَيَّ عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّي لَكُمۡ رَسُولٌ أَمِينࣱ﴿١٨﴾
An addoo ilayya ʿibada Allahi innee lakum rasoolun ameenun
[Saying], "Render to me the servants of Allāh. Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger,"
وَ أَن لَّا تَعۡلُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّيٓ ءَاتِيكُم بِسُلۡطَٰنࣲ مُّبِينࣲ﴿١٩﴾
Waan la taʿloo ʿala Allahi innee ateekum bisultanin mubeenin
And [saying], "Be not haughty with Allāh. Indeed, I have come to you with clear evidence.
وَ إِنِّي عُذۡتُ بِرَبِّي وَ رَبِّكُمۡ أَن تَرۡجُمُونِ﴿٢٠﴾
Wainnee ʿuthtu birabbee warabbikum an tarjumooni
And indeed, I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord, lest you stone me.
وَ إِن لَّمۡ تُؤۡمِنُواْ لِي فَٱعۡتَزِلُونِ﴿٢١﴾
Wain lam tuminoo lee faiʿtazilooni
But if you do not believe me, then leave me alone."
فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوۡمࣱ مُّجۡرِمُونَ﴿٢٢﴾
Fadaʿa rabbahu anna haolai qawmun mujrimoona
And [finally] he called to his Lord that these were a criminal people.
فَأَسۡرِ بِعِبَادِي لَيۡلًا إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ﴿٢٣﴾
Faasri biʿibadee laylan innakum muttabaʿoona
[Allāh said], "Then set out with My servants by night. Indeed, you are to be pursued.
وَ ٱتۡرُكِ ٱلۡبَحۡرَ رَهۡوًا ۖ إِنَّهُمۡ جُندࣱ مُّغۡرَقُونَ﴿٢٤﴾
Waotruki albahra rahwan innahum jundun mughraqoona
And leave the sea in stillness. Indeed, they are an army to be drowned."
كَمۡ تَرَكُواْ مِن جَنَّٰتࣲ وَ عُيُونࣲ﴿٢٥﴾
Kam tarakoo min jannatin waʿuyoonin
How much they left behind of gardens and springs
وَ زُرُوعࣲ وَ مَقَامࣲ كَرِيمࣲ﴿٢٦﴾
Wazurooʿin wamaqamin kareemin
And crops and noble sites
وَ نَعۡمَةࣲ كَانُواْ فِيهَا فَٰكِهِينَ﴿٢٧﴾
Wanaʿmatin kanoo feeha fakiheena
And comfort wherein they were amused.
كَذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَ أَوۡرَثۡنَٰهَا قَوۡمًا ءَاخَرِينَ﴿٢٨﴾
Kathalika waawrathnaha qawman akhareena
Thus. And We caused to inherit it another people.
فَمَا بَكَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَ مَا كَانُواْ مُنظَرِينَ﴿٢٩﴾
Fama bakat ʿalayhimu alssamao waalardu wama kanoo munthareena
And the heaven and earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved.
وَ لَقَدۡ نَجَّيۡنَا بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ مِنَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡمُهِينِ﴿٣٠﴾
Walaqad najjayna banee israeela mina alʿathabi almuheeni
And We certainly saved the Children of Israel from the humiliating torment -
مِن فِرۡعَوۡنَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَالِيࣰا مِّنَ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ﴿٣١﴾
Min firʿawna innahu kana ʿaliyan mina almusrifeena
From Pharaoh. Indeed, he was a haughty one among the transgressors.
وَ لَقَدِ ٱخۡتَرۡنَٰهُمۡ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ﴿٣٢﴾
Walaqadi ikhtarnahum ʿala ʿilmin ʿala alʿalameena
And We certainly chose them by knowledge over [all] the worlds.
وَ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ مَا فِيهِ بَلَٰٓؤࣱاْ مُّبِينٌ﴿٣٣﴾
Waataynahum mina alayati ma feehi balaon mubeenun
And We gave them of signs that in which there was a clear trial.
إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ لَيَقُولُونَ﴿٣٤﴾
Inna haolai layaqooloona
Indeed, these [disbelievers] are saying,
إِنۡ هِيَ إِلَّا مَوۡتَتُنَا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَ مَا نَحۡنُ بِمُنشَرِينَ﴿٣٥﴾
In hiya illa mawtatuna aloola wama nahnu bimunshareena
"There is not but our first death, and we will not be resurrected.
فَأۡتُواْ بِـَٔابَآئِنَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ﴿٣٦﴾
Fatoo biabaina in kuntum sadiqeena
Then bring [back] our forefathers, if you should be truthful."
أَهُمۡ خَيۡرٌ أَمۡ قَوۡمُ تُبَّعࣲ وَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهُمۡ ۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ مُجۡرِمِينَ﴿٣٧﴾
Ahum khayrun am qawmu tubbaʿin waallatheena min qablihim ahlaknahum innahum kanoo mujrimeena
Are they better or the people of Tubbaʿ and those before them? We destroyed them, [for] indeed, they were criminals.
وَ مَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَ مَا بَيۡنَهُمَا لَٰعِبِينَ﴿٣٨﴾
Wama khalaqna alssamawati waalarda wama baynahuma laʿibeena
And We did not create the heavens and earth and that between them in play.
مَا خَلَقۡنَٰهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَ لَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ﴿٣٩﴾
Ma khalaqnahuma illa bialhaqqi walakinna aktharahum la yaʿlamoona
We did not create them except in truth, but most of them do not know.
إِنَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَصۡلِ مِيقَٰتُهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ﴿٤٠﴾
Inna yawma alfasli meeqatuhum ajmaʿeena
Indeed, the Day of Judgement is the appointed time for them all -
يَوۡمَ لَا يُغۡنِي مَوۡلًى عَن مَّوۡلࣰى شَيۡـࣰٔا وَ لَا هُمۡ يُنصَرُونَ﴿٤١﴾
Yawma la yughnee mawlan ʿan mawlan shayan wala hum yunsaroona
The Day when no relation will avail a relation at all, nor will they be helped -
إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ﴿٤٢﴾
Illa man rahima Allahu innahu huwa alʿazeezu alrraheemu
Except those [believers] on whom Allāh has mercy. Indeed, He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.
إِنَّ شَجَرَتَ ٱلزَّقُّومِ﴿٤٣﴾
Inna shajarata alzzaqqoomi
Indeed, the tree of zaqqūm
طَعَامُ ٱلۡأَثِيمِ﴿٤٤﴾
Taʿamu alatheemi
Is food for the sinful.
كَٱلۡمُهۡلِ يَغۡلِي فِي ٱلۡبُطُونِ﴿٤٥﴾
Kaalmuhli yaghlee fee albutooni
Like murky oil, it boils within bellies
كَغَلۡيِ ٱلۡحَمِيمِ﴿٤٦﴾
Kaghalyi alhameemi
Like the boiling of scalding water.
خُذُوهُ فَٱعۡتِلُوهُ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ﴿٤٧﴾
Khuthoohu faiʿtiloohu ila sawai aljaheemi
[It will be commanded], "Seize him and drag him into the midst of the Hellfire,
ثُمَّ صُبُّواْ فَوۡقَ رَأۡسِهِۦ مِنۡ عَذَابِ ٱلۡحَمِيمِ﴿٤٨﴾
Thumma subboo fawqa rasihi min ʿathabi alhameemi
Then pour over his head from the torment of scalding water."
ذُقۡ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡكَرِيمُ﴿٤٩﴾
Thuq innaka anta alʿazeezu alkareemu
[It will be said], "Taste! Indeed, you are the honored, the noble!
إِنَّ هَٰذَا مَا كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَمۡتَرُونَ﴿٥٠﴾
Inna hatha ma kuntum bihi tamtaroona
Indeed, this is what you used to dispute."
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي مَقَامٍ أَمِينࣲ﴿٥١﴾
Inna almuttaqeena fee maqamin ameenin
Indeed, the righteous will be in a secure place:
فِي جَنَّٰتࣲ وَ عُيُونࣲ﴿٥٢﴾
Fee jannatin waʿuyoonin
Within gardens and springs,
يَلۡبَسُونَ مِن سُندُسࣲ وَ إِسۡتَبۡرَقࣲ مُّتَقَٰبِلِينَ﴿٥٣﴾
Yalbasoona min sundusin waistabraqin mutaqabileena
Wearing [garments of] fine silk and brocade, facing each other.
كَذَٰلِكَ وَ زَوَّجۡنَٰهُم بِحُورٍ عِينࣲ﴿٥٤﴾
Kathalika wazawwajnahum bihoorin ʿeenin
Thus. And We will marry them to fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes.
يَدۡعُونَ فِيهَا بِكُلِّ فَٰكِهَةٍ ءَامِنِينَ﴿٥٥﴾
Yadʿoona feeha bikulli fakihatin amineena
They will call therein for every [kind of] fruit - safe and secure.
لَا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا ٱلۡمَوۡتَ إِلَّا ٱلۡمَوۡتَةَ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ ۖ وَ وَقَىٰهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ﴿٥٦﴾
La yathooqoona feeha almawta illa almawtata aloola wawaqahum ʿathaba aljaheemi
They will not taste death therein except the first death, and He will have protected them from the punishment of Hellfire
فَضۡلࣰا مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ﴿٥٧﴾
Fadlan min rabbika thalika huwa alfawzu alʿatheemu
As bounty from your Lord. That is what is the great attainment.
فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرۡنَٰهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ﴿٥٨﴾
Fainnama yassarnahu bilisanika laʿallahum yatathakkaroona
And indeed, We have eased it [i.e., the Qur’ān] in your tongue that they might be reminded.
فَٱرۡتَقِبۡ إِنَّهُم مُّرۡتَقِبُونَ﴿٥٩﴾
Fairtaqib innahum murtaqiboona
So watch, [O Muḥammad]; indeed, they are watching [for your end].
Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration
About this surah
Name
The Surah takes its name from the word dukhan which occurs in verse 10.
Period of Revelation
Its period of revelation also could not be determined from any authentic tradition, but the internal evidence of the subject matter shows that this Surah too was sent down in the same period in which Surah Zukhruf and a few other earlier Surahs had been revealed. However, this Surah was sent down somewhat later. Its historical background is this: When the disbelievers of Makkah became more and more antagonistic in their attitude and conduct, the Holy Prophet prayed: O God, help me with a famine like the famine of Joseph. He thought that when the people would be afflicted with a calamity, they would remember God, their hearts would soften and they would accept the admonition. Allah granted his prayer, and the whole land was overtaken by such a terrible famine that the people were sorely distressed. At last, some of the Quraish chiefs among whom Hadrat Abdullah bin Masud has particularly mentioned the name of Abu Sufyan came to the Holy Prophet and requested him to pray to Allah to deliver his people from the calamity. On this occasion Allah sent down this Surah.
Subject Matter and Topics
The introduction to the address revealed on this occasion for the admonition and warning of the people of Makkah contained some important points, which are as follows:
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"You, O People of Makkah, are wrong in thinking that the Quran is being composed by Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace). This Book by itself bears the clear testimony that it is not the composition of a man but of Allah, Lord of the worlds."
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"You are making a wrong estimate of the worth of this Book. You think it is a calamity that has descended on you, whereas the Hour when Allah, out of sheer mercy, decided to send His Messenger and His Book to you was highly blessed."
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"You are foolishly involved in the misunderstanding that you will fight this Messenger and this Book and will win, whereas the fact is that the Messenger has been raised and the Book sent down in that particular Hour when Allah decides the destinies, and Allah's decisions are not so weak that they may be changed to a person's liking, nor are they based on ignorance and folly that there may be the likelihood of a mistake or error or weakness in them. They are rather the firm and unalterable decisions of the Ruler of the Universe, Who is All Hearing, All Knowing and All Wise. Therefore, they cannot be treated lightly.
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"You yourselves acknowledge that Allah alone is the Master and Lord of the earth and heavens and of everything in the Universe and also admit that life and death are only in His power, yet you insist on making others your deities, for which the only argument you offer is that that had been the practice since the time of your forefathers, whereas if a person has the conviction that Allah alone is the Master, Sustainer and Giver of life and death, he can never entertain the doubt that there can be other gods also beside Him, who can be worthy of worship. If your forefathers had committed this folly, there is no reason why you also should continue committing it blindly. As a matter of fact, their Lord too was only One God, Who is your Lord, and they also should have worshiped only Him, Whom you should worship."
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"The only demand of Allah's Providence and Mercifulness is not this that He should feed you, but also this that He should arrange guidance for you. For this very guidance He has sent His Messenger and His Book."
After this introduction, the question of the famine that was raging in Makkah has been discussed. As already mentioned, this famine had occurred on the Holy Prophet's prayer, and he had prayed for it so that when the calamity befell it would break the stubbornness of the disbelievers and then they would listen to the rebuke. It looked as if this expectation was being fulfilled to some extent, for some of the most stubborn enemies of the Truth, on account of the severities of the famine, had cried out: "O Lord, avert this torment from us and we will believe." At this, on the one hand, the Holy Prophet has been foretold :"These people will not learn any lesson from such calamities. When they have turned away from the Messenger, whose life, character, works and speech clearly show that he is Allah's true Messenger, how will a mere famine help remove their disbelief?" On the other, the unbelievers have been addressed, so as to say : "You lie when you say that you will believe as soon as the torment is removed from you. We shall just remove it to see how sincere you are in your promise. There is a graver disaster about to fall upon you. You need a much more crushing blow :minor misfortunes cannot set you right."
In this very connection, a reference has been made a little below to Pharaoh and his people, implying that those people also had met with precisely the same trial as the chiefs of the disbelieving Quraish are now afflicted. To them also a similar noble and honorable Messenger had come; they also had seen those express pointers and signs which clearly showed that he had been appointed by Allah; they also had gone on witnessing one sign after the other but they did not give up their stubbornness, till at last they made up their mind to put an end to the Messenger's life, and they met their doom, which has since become an object lesson for the people for ever.
After this the theme of the Hereafter has been taken up, which the disbelievers of Makkah vehemently denied. They said: "We have never seen anyone rising back to life after death. Raise our forefathers back to life if you are true in your claim about the life hereafter." In response to this, two arguments for the Hereafter have been presented briefly (1) That the denial of this creed has always proved destructive for the morals; and (2) that the universe is not a plaything of a thoughtless deity, but it is a wise system and no work of wisdom is ever vain or useless. Then the disbelievers demand to bring their forefathers back to life has been answered, thus : "This cannot be done every day to meet the demand of the individuals, but Allah has appointed a time when He will resurrect all mankind simultaneously and will subject them to accountability in His Court. If one has to protect oneself there, one should think about it here. For no one will be able to save himself there by his own power, nor by the power of any one else."
In connection with this Court of Allah, mention has been made of the fate of those who will be declared as culprits and of the rewards of those who will be declared as successful. The discourse has been concluded with this warning: "This Quran has been revealed in simple language in your own tongue so that you may understand it; yet if you do not understand it and insist on seeing your evil end, you may wait; Our Prophet too is waiting. Whatever is to happen, will happen at its own appointed time."
Source: Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Quran