Revealed in the late Makkan period, Surah Ad-Dukhan (The Smoke) opens by commemorating the Blessed Night (Laylat-ul-Qadr) in which the Quran was revealed as a mercy from God. It warns the disbelievers of Makkah who mock the message that a day will come when the sky will bring a visible, suffocating smoke as a painful torment. The chapter recounts the drowning of Pharaoh and the downfall of his empire to show that worldly strength cannot avert divine justice. It vividly contrasts the torment of the tree of Zaqqum in Hell with the security and peace of the righteous in Paradise.
Transliteration
Hameem
Translation
Ha, Meem
These two disjointed letters ('Ha-Mim') are Huruf Muqatta'at, whose true divine meaning rests with Allah alone. This marks the fifth chapter of the seven Hawamim.
Transliteration
Waalkitabi almubeeni
Translation
By the Enlightening Scripture
God swears by the illuminating scripture that plainly clarifies the path of salvation.
Transliteration
Inna anzalnahu fee laylatin mubarakatin inna kunna munthireena
Translation
We have revealed it on a Blessed Night—We have warned
Points to the profound historical origin of the Quran—sent down from the Preserved Tablet to the lowest heaven during Laylatul-Qadr (The Blessed Night of Destiny) in Ramadan.
Transliteration
Feeha yufraqu kullu amrin hakeemin
Translation
In it is distinguished every wise command
Transliteration
Amran min AAindina inna kunna mursileena
Translation
A decree from Us. We have been sending messages
Transliteration
Rahmatan min rabbika innahu huwa alssameeAAu alAAaleemu
Translation
As mercy from your Lord. He is the Hearer, the Knower
Transliteration
Rabbi alssamawati waalardi wama baynahuma in kuntum mooqineena
Translation
Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, if you know for sure
Transliteration
La ilaha illa huwa yuhyee wayumeetu rabbukum warabbu abaikumu alawwaleena
Translation
There is no god but He. He gives life and causes death—your Lord and Lord of your ancestors of old
Transliteration
Bal hum fee shakkin yalAAaboona
Translation
Yet they play around in doubt
Transliteration
Fairtaqib yawma tatee alssamao bidukhanin mubeenin
Translation
So watch out for the Day when the sky produces a visible smoke
The title of the Surah: 'Ad-Dukhan' (The Smoke). According to Ibn Mas'ud, when the Quraysh boycotted the Prophet ﷺ, a severe famine struck Mecca causing starving people to see a misty smoke between earth and sky. Many classical and modern commentators also interpret this as an Hereafter cosmic smoke that will envelop the earth prior to the Last Day.
Transliteration
Yaghsha alnnasa hatha AAathabun aleemun
Translation
Enveloping mankind; this is a painful punishment
Transliteration
Rabbana ikshif AAanna alAAathaba inna muminoona
Translation
“Our Lord, lift the torment from us, we are believers.”
During the desperate famine in Mecca, pagan leaders begged the Prophet ﷺ to pray for rain, swearing that if the drought was lifted, they would embrace faith.
Transliteration
Anna lahumu alththikra waqad jaahum rasoolun mubeenun
Translation
But how can they be reminded? An enlightening messenger has already come to them
Transliteration
Thumma tawallaw AAanhu waqaloo muAAallamun majnoonun
Translation
But they turned away from him, and said, “Educated, but crazy!”
Transliteration
Inna kashifoo alAAathabi qaleelan innakum AAaidoona
Translation
We will ease the punishment a little, but you will revert
God lifted the famine, but as soon as prosperity and relief returned, the Quraysh immediately relapsed into their stubborn disbelief and plotting.
Transliteration
Yawma nabtishu albatshata alkubra inna muntaqimoona
Translation
The Day when We launch the Great Assault—We will avenge
Refers to 'The Great Assault' ('Al-Batshat al-Kubra'): identified by the companion Ibn Mas'ud as the Battle of Badr, where the arrogant Meccan chieftains suffered a crushing and unexpected defeat.
Transliteration
Walaqad fatanna qablahum qawma firAAawna wajaahum rasoolun kareemun
Translation
Before them We tested the people of Pharaoh; a noble messenger came to them
Transliteration
An addoo ilayya AAibada Allahi innee lakum rasoolun ameenun
Translation
Saying, “Hand over God’s servants to me. I am an honest messenger to you.”
Transliteration
Waan la taAAloo AAala Allahi innee ateekum bisultanin mubeenin
Translation
And, “Do not exalt yourselves above God. I come to you with clear authority
Transliteration
Wainnee AAuthtu birabbee warabbikum an tarjumooni
Translation
I have taken refuge in my Lord and your Lord, lest you stone me
Transliteration
Wain lam tuminoo lee faiAAtazilooni
Translation
But if you do not believe in me, keep away from me.”
Transliteration
FadaAAa rabbahu anna haolai qawmun mujrimoona
Translation
He appealed to his Lord: “These are a sinful people.”
Transliteration
Faasri biAAibadee laylan innakum muttabaAAoona
Translation
“Set out with My servants by night—you will be followed
Transliteration
Waotruki albahra rahwan innahum jundun mughraqoona
Translation
And cross the sea quickly; they are an army to be drowned.”
Transliteration
Kam tarakoo min jannatin waAAuyoonin
Translation
How many gardens and fountains did they leave behind
Transliteration
WazurooAAin wamaqamin kareemin
Translation
And plantations, and splendid buildings
Transliteration
WanaAAmatin kanoo feeha fakiheena
Translation
And comforts they used to enjoy
Transliteration
Kathalika waawrathnaha qawman akhareena
Translation
So it was; and We passed it on to another people
Transliteration
Fama bakat AAalayhimu alssamao waalardu wama kanoo munthareena
Translation
Neither heaven nor earth wept over them, nor were they reprieved
A poignant epitaph for tyrants: when Pharaoh and his armies drowned, 'neither the heaven nor the earth wept for them.' The Prophet ﷺ explained that when a righteous believer passes away, the place where they prostrated on earth and the heavenly gate through which their deeds ascended weep for their loss; but for arrogant oppressors, creation rejoices at their demise.
Transliteration
Walaqad najjayna banee israeela mina alAAathabi almuheeni
Translation
And We delivered the Children of Israel from the humiliating persecution
Transliteration
Min firAAawna innahu kana AAaliyan mina almusrifeena
Translation
From Pharaoh. He was a transgressing tyrant
Transliteration
Walaqadi ikhtarnahum AAala AAilmin AAala alAAalameena
Translation
And We chose them knowingly over all other people
Transliteration
Waataynahum mina alayati ma feehi balaon mubeenun
Translation
And We gave them many signs, in which was an obvious test
Transliteration
Inna haolai layaqooloona
Translation
These people say
Transliteration
In hiya illa mawtatuna aloola wama nahnu bimunshareena
Translation
“There is nothing but our first death, and we will not be resurrected
Transliteration
Fatoo biabaina in kuntum sadiqeena
Translation
Bring back our ancestors, if you are truthful.”
Transliteration
Ahum khayrun am qawmu tubbaAAin waallatheena min qablihim ahlaknahum innahum kanoo mujrimeena
Translation
Are they better, or the people of Tubba and those before them? We annihilated them. They were evildoers
Transliteration
Wama khalaqna alssamawati waalarda wama baynahuma laAAibeena
Translation
We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them to play
Transliteration
Ma khalaqnahuma illa bialhaqqi walakinna aktharahum la yaAAlamoona
Translation
We created them only for a specific purpose, but most of them do not know
Transliteration
Inna yawma alfasli meeqatuhum ajmaAAeena
Translation
The Day of Sorting Out is the appointed time for them all
Transliteration
Yawma la yughnee mawlan AAan mawlan shayan wala hum yunsaroona
Translation
The Day when no friend will avail a friend in any way, and they will not be helped
Transliteration
Illa man rahima Allahu innahu huwa alAAazeezu alrraheemu
Translation
Except for him upon whom God has mercy. He is the Mighty, the Merciful
Transliteration
Inna shajarata alzzaqqoomi
Translation
The Tree of Bitterness
Describes the punishment of the Tree of Zaqqum: its agonizing fruit churns inside the stomachs of the damned like molten metal and boiling water.
Transliteration
TaAAamu alatheemi
Translation
The food of the sinner
Transliteration
Kaalmuhli yaghlee fee albutooni
Translation
Like molten lead; boiling inside the bellies
Transliteration
Kaghalyi alhameemi
Translation
Like the boiling of seething water
Transliteration
Khuthoohu faiAAtiloohu ila sawai aljaheemi
Translation
Seize him and drag him into the midst of Hell
Transliteration
Thumma subboo fawqa rasihi min AAathabi alhameemi
Translation
Then pour over his head the suffering of the Inferno
Transliteration
Thuq innaka anta alAAazeezu alkareemu
Translation
Taste! You who were powerful and noble
Transliteration
Inna hatha ma kuntum bihi tamtaroona
Translation
This is what you used to doubt
Transliteration
Inna almuttaqeena fee maqamin ameenin
Translation
As for the righteous, they will be in a secure place
Transliteration
Fee jannatin waAAuyoonin
Translation
Amidst gardens and springs
Transliteration
Yalbasoona min sundusin waistabraqin mutaqabileena
Translation
Dressed in silk and brocade, facing one another
Transliteration
Kathalika wazawwajnahum bihoorin AAeenin
Translation
So it is, and We will wed them to lovely companions
Describes the honorable rewards of Paradise: pure garments of silk and companionship with 'Hur 'In'—pure, magnificent heavenly companions endowed with wide, beautiful eyes.
Transliteration
YadAAoona feeha bikulli fakihatin amineena
Translation
They will call therein for every kind of fruit, in peace and security
Transliteration
La yathooqoona feeha almawta illa almawtata aloola wawaqahum AAathaba aljaheemi
Translation
Therein they will not taste death, beyond the first death; and He will protect them from the torment of Hell
Transliteration
Fadlan min rabbika thalika huwa alfawzu alAAatheemu
Translation
A favor from your Lord. That is the supreme salvation
Transliteration
Fainnama yassarnahu bilisanika laAAallahum yatathakkaroona
Translation
We made it easy in your language, so that they may remember
Transliteration
Fairtaqib innahum murtaqiboona
Translation
So wait and watch. They too are waiting and watching