Al Dukhan

1 Ha Mim!

1 In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Ha.-Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'an and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings].

2 I swear by the Book that makes manifest (the truth).

2 By the manifest Book (this Qur'an) that makes things clear.

3 Surely We revealed it on a blessed night surely We are ever warning - -

3 We sent it (this Qur'an) down on a blessed night [(i.e. night of Al-Qadr, Surah No. 97) in the month of Ramadan - the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship].

4 Therein every wise affair is made distinct,

4 Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments.

5 A command from Us; surely We are the senders (of apostles),

5 As a Command (or this Qur'an or the Decree of every matter) from Us. Verily, We are ever sending (the Messengers),

6 A mercy from your Lord, surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing,

6 (As) a Mercy from your Lord. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

7 The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, if you would be sure.

7 The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if you (but) have a faith with certainty.

8 There is no god but He; He gives life and causes death, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore.

8 La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). It is He Who gives life and causes death - your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.

9 Nay, they are in doubt, they sport.

9 Nay! They play about in doubt.

10 Therefore keep waiting for the day when the heaven shall bring an evident smoke,

10 Then wait you for the Day when the sky will bring forth a visible smoke,

11 That shall overtake men; this is a painful punishment.

11 Covering the people: this is a painful torment.

12 Our Lord! remove from us the punishment; surely we are believers.

12 (They will say): "Our Lord! Remove the torment from us, really we shall become believers!"

13 How shall they be reminded, and there came to them an Apostle making clear (the truth),

13 How can there be for them an admonition (at the time when the torment has reached them), when a Messenger explaining things clearly has already come to them.

14 Yet they turned their backs on him and said: One taught (by others), a madman.

14 Then they had turned away from him (Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) and said: (He is) one taught (by a human being), a madman!"

15 Surely We will remove the punishment a little, (but) you will surely return (to evil).

15 Verily, We shall remove the torment for a while. Verily you will revert (to disbelief).

16 On the day when We will seize (them) with the most violent seizing; surely We will inflict retribution.

16 On the Day when We shall seize you with the greatest seizure (punishment). Verily, We will exact retribution.

17 And certainly We tried before them the people of Firon, and there came to them a noble apostle,

17 And indeed We tried before them Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) people, when there came to them a noble Messenger [i.e. Musa (Moses) عليه السلام],

18 Saying: Deliver to me the servants of Allah, surely I am a faithful apostle to you,

18 Saying: "Deliver to me the slaves of Allah (i.e. the Children of Israel). Verily, I am to you a Messenger worthy of all trust.

19 And that do not exalt yourselves against Allah, surely I will bring to you a clear authority:

19 "And exalt not yourselves against Allah. Truly, I have come to you with a manifest authority.

20 And surely I take refuge with my Lord and your Lord that you should stone me to death:

20 "And truly, I seek refuge with my Lord and your Lord, lest you should stone me (or call me a sorcerer or kill me).

21 And if you do not believe in me, then leave me alone.

21 "But if you believe me not, then keep away from me and leave me alone."

22 Then he called upon his Lord: These are a guilty people.

22 (But they were aggressive), so he [Musa (Moses)] called upon his Lord (saying): "These are indeed the people who are Mujrimun (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, criminals)."

23 So go forth with My servants by night; surely you will be pursued:

23 (Allah said): "Depart you with My slaves by night. Surely, you will be pursued.

24 And leave the sea intervening; surely they are a host that shall be drowned.

24 "And leave the sea as it is (quiet and divided). Verily, they are a host to be drowned."

25 How many of the gardens and fountains have they left!

25 How many of gardens and springs that they [Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) people] left behind,

26 And cornfields and noble places!

26 And green crops (fields) and goodly places,

27 And goodly things wherein they rejoiced;

27 And comforts of life wherein they used to take delight!

28 Thus (it was), and We gave them as a heritage to another people.

28 Thus (it was)! And We made other people inherit them (i.e. We made the Children of Israel to inherit the kingdom of Egypt).

29 So the heaven and the earth did not weep for them, nor were they respited.

29 And the heavens and the earth wept not for them, nor were they given a respite.

30 And certainly We delivered the children of Israel from the abasing chastisement,

30 And indeed We saved the Children of Israel from the humiliating torment:

31 From Firon; surely he was haughty, (and) one of the extravagant.

31 From Fir'aun (Pharaoh); verily he was arrogant and was of the Musrifun (those who transgress beyond bound in spending and other things and commit great sins).

32 And certainly We chose them, having knowledge, above the nations.

32 And We chose them (the Children of Israel) above the 'Alamin (mankind and jinn) [during the time of Musa (Moses)] with knowledge,

33 And We gave them of the communications wherein was clear blessing.

33 And granted them signs in which there was a plain trial.

34 Most surely these do say:

34 Verily, these (Quraish) people are saying:

35 There is naught but our first death and we shall not be raised again.

35 "There is nothing but our first death, and we shall not be resurrected.

36 So bring our fathers (back), if you are truthful.

36 "Then bring back our forefathers, if you speak the truth!"

37 Are they better or the people of Tubba and those before them? We destroyed them, for surely they were guilty.

37 Are they better or the people of Tubba' and those before them? We destroyed them because they were indeed Mujrimun (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, criminals).

38 And We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them in sport.

38 And We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, for mere play.

39 We did not create them both but with the truth, but most of them do not know.

39 We created them not except with truth (i.e. to examine and test those who are obedient and those who are disobedient and then reward the obedient ones and punish the disobedient ones), but most of them know not.

40 Surely the day of separation is their appointed term, of all of them

40 Verily, the Day of Judgement (when Allah will judge between the creatures) is the time appointed for all of them -

41 The day on which a friend shall not avail (his) friend aught, nor shall they be helped,

41 The Day when a Maula (a near relative) cannot avail a Maula (a near relative) in aught, and no help can they receive,

42 Save those on whom Allah shall have mercy; surely He is the Mighty the Merciful.

42 Except him on whom Allah has Mercy. Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful.

43 Surely the tree of the Zaqqum,

43 Verily, the tree of Zaqqum

44 Is the food of the sinful

44 Will be the food of the sinners.

45 Like dregs of oil; it shall boil in (their) bellies,

45 Like boiling oil, it will boil in the bellies,

46 Like the boiling of hot water.

46 Like the boiling of scalding water.

47 Seize him, then drag him down into the middle of the hell;

47 (It will be said) "Seize him and drag him into the midst of blazing Fire,

48 Then pour above his head of the torment of the boiling water:

48 "Then pour over his head the torment of boiling water.

49 Taste; you forsooth are the mighty, the honorable:

49 "Taste you (this)! Verily, you were (pretending to be) the mighty, the generous!

50 Surely this is what you disputed about.

50 "Verily, this is that whereof you used to doubt!"

51 Surely those who guard (against evil) are in a secure place,

51 Verily, the Muttaqun (the pious. See V.2:2), will be in place of Security (Paradise).

52 In gardens and springs;

52 Among Gardens and Springs,

53 They shall wear of fine and thick silk, (sitting) face to face;

53 Dressed in fine silk and (also) in thick silk, facing each other,

54 Thus (shall it be), and We will wed them with Houris pure, beautiful ones.

54 So (it will be). And We shall marry them to Hur (fair female) with wide, lovely eyes.

55 They shall call therein for every fruit in security;

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

56 They shall not taste therein death except the first death, and He will save them from the punishment of the hell,

56 They will never taste death therein except the first death (of this world), and He will save them from the torment of the blazing Fire,

57 A grace from your Lord; this is the great achievement.

57 As a Bounty from your Lord! That will be the supreme success!

58 So have We made it easy in your tongue that they may be mindful.

58 Certainly, We have made this (Qur'an) easy in your tongue, in order that they may remember.

59 Therefore wait; surely they are waiting.

59 Wait then (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم); verily, they (too) are waiting.