The Haze
Ad-Dukhân
الدُّخَان
LEARNING POINTS
The Quran was revealed on the blessed night of Lailat-ul-Qadr.
Just like the people of Pharaoh, the Makkan idol-worshippers made promises to Allah in difficult times but quickly broke them when things got better.
Those who accept the truth will be rewarded in Jannah, and those who deny it will be punished in Hell.
WORDS OF WISDOM
Someone may ask, 'The Quran was sent down on the blessed night of Lailat-ul-Qadr, why do scholars say it was revealed over a period of 23 years?' It's important to note that the revelation started on Lailat-ul-Qadr in Ramadan and continued for 23 years. Many verses and surahs came down to provide answers to questions or deal with issues facing the Muslim community. {Recorded by Imam Al-Qurțubi}
THE QURAN AS A MERCY
1Ha-Mim. 2By the clear Book! 3Surely We sent it down on a blessed night because We always warn 'against evil'. 4On that night every wise matter is 'perfectly' set 5by a command from Us. We have always sent 'messengers' 6as a mercy from your Lord. He 'alone' truly hears and knows 'everything' 7the Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything in between, if only you had sure faith. 8There is no god 'that deserves worship' except Him. He 'alone' gives life and causes death. 'He is' your Lord, and the Lord of your fathers.
حمٓ 1وَٱلۡكِتَٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ 2إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ فِي لَيۡلَةٖ مُّبَٰرَكَةٍۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ 3فِيهَا يُفۡرَقُ كُلُّ أَمۡرٍ حَكِيمٍ 4أَمۡرٗا مِّنۡ عِندِنَآۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرۡسِلِينَ 5رَحۡمَةٗ مِّن رَّبِّكَۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ 6رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ 7لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحۡيِۦ وَيُمِيتُۖ رَبُّكُمۡ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ8
BACKGROUND STORY
For years, the idol-worshippers rejected Islam and abused the early Muslims in Makkah, so the Prophet prayed against them. Then there was no rain for a long time and the people of Makkah started to starve. Some of them ate dry bones and dead animals. They would look to the hazy sky for signs of rain with dizzy eyes caused by heat and starvation. Finally, they begged the Prophet to pray for them and promised to accept Islam and let the believers practice their faith freely. When he prayed, rain came down and things got better for the idol-worshippers. However, they quickly broke their promise and started to abuse the Muslims again. {Recorded by Imam Al-Bukhari & Imam Al-Qurtubi}
According to authentic sayings from the Prophet , one of the major signs of Judgment Day is the horrible Smoke that will cover everything. Some scholars say that this Smoke is what is meant in verses 10-11 below. However, verse 15 proves that it is different, simply because once major signs arrive, no second chances will be given.
MAKKANS IN TROUBLE
9In fact, they are in doubt, enjoying themselves. 10Watch 'O Prophet' for 'the day when' the sky will be clearly hazy, 11overwhelming the people. 'They will cry,' 'This is a painful punishment.' 12Our Lord! Remove 'this' punishment from us, 'and' we will certainly believe!' 13How can they be reminded when a messenger has already come to them, making things clear, 14then they turned away from him, saying, 'A crazy man, taught by others!'? 15Surely We will remove 'this' punishment for a while, and 'you Makkans' will go back to disbelief.' 16But on the Day We will crush you with the biggest blow you will see Our real punishment.
بَلۡ هُمۡ فِي شَكّٖ يَلۡعَبُونَ 9فَٱرۡتَقِبۡ يَوۡمَ تَأۡتِي ٱلسَّمَآءُ بِدُخَانٖ مُّبِينٖ 10يَغۡشَى ٱلنَّاسَۖ هَٰذَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٞ 11رَّبَّنَا ٱكۡشِفۡ عَنَّا ٱلۡعَذَابَ إِنَّا مُؤۡمِنُونَ 12أَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ وَقَدۡ جَآءَهُمۡ رَسُولٞ مُّبِينٞ 13ثُمَّ تَوَلَّوۡاْ عَنۡهُ وَقَالُواْ مُعَلَّمٞ مَّجۡنُونٌ 14إِنَّا كَاشِفُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابِ قَلِيلًاۚ إِنَّكُمۡ عَآئِدُونَ 15يَوۡمَ نَبۡطِشُ ٱلۡبَطۡشَةَ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ إِنَّا مُنتَقِمُونَ16
SIDE STORY
As we saw in 79:24, Pharaoh claimed to be God when he said, 'I am your lord, the most high!' He was very arrogant, so Allah destroyed him. The ancient Egyptians believed that when Pharaoh died, he would go up into heaven as a star. Now, we need to understand that the ancient Egyptian language had died many centuries before the Quran was revealed, so nobody could read it anymore. However, in 1822 a French scholar, named Champollion, was able to understand the code of that language after the discovery of the Rosetta Stone. Since that time, scholars have been able to understand ancient Egyptian writings. One funeral text describing Pharaoh's death reads: 'The sky cries for you, the earth cries for you, when you go up into heaven as a star.' This is very interesting because for over a thousand years since the revelation of the Quran, nobody knew the actual meaning of verse 29 below, which talks about the death of Pharaoh and his soldiers. It says: The heaven and the earth did not cry for their death. The Quran unlocks secrets of ancient Egypt: (https://bit.ly/3EyZ4ey). Website visited on September 20, 2021.
THE EXAMPLE OF PHARAOH'S PEOPLE
17Surely before them We tested Pharaoh's people: a noble messenger came to them, 18declaring, 'Hand over the servants of Allah to me.' I am really a trusted messenger sent to you. 19And do not be arrogant with Allah. I have certainly come to you with a clear proof. 20And surely I seek protection in my Lord and your Lord so 'you do not stone me to death'. 21But if you do not believe me, then let me be.' 22Finally, he cried out to his Lord, 'These are a wicked people!' 23'Allah responded, 'Leave with My servants at night; you will surely be followed. 24And leave the sea split, because this army is definitely going to drown.' 25'Imagine' how many gardens and springs the wicked left behind, 26as well as 'many' farms, and lovely homes, 27and the fancy life they fully enjoyed. 28So it was. And We gave all this to other people. 29The heaven and the earth did not cry for their death, and their end was not delayed. 30And We certainly saved the Children of Isra'il from the humiliating punishment: 31from Pharaoh. He was truly an abuser who went too far in evil. 32And certainly, We intentionally chose them above the others. 33And We showed them signs in which there was a clear test.
وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَجَآءَهُمۡ رَسُولٞ كَرِيمٌ 17أَنۡ أَدُّوٓاْ إِلَيَّ عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنِّي لَكُمۡ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٞ 18وَأَن لَّا تَعۡلُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۖ إِنِّيٓ ءَاتِيكُم بِسُلۡطَٰنٖ مُّبِينٖ 19وَإِنِّي عُذۡتُ بِرَبِّي وَرَبِّكُمۡ أَن تَرۡجُمُونِ 20وَإِن لَّمۡ تُؤۡمِنُواْ لِي فَٱعۡتَزِلُونِ 21فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوۡمٞ مُّجۡرِمُونَ 22فَأَسۡرِ بِعِبَادِي لَيۡلًا إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ 23وَٱتۡرُكِ ٱلۡبَحۡرَ رَهۡوًاۖ إِنَّهُمۡ جُندٞ مُّغۡرَقُونَ 24كَمۡ تَرَكُواْ مِن جَنَّٰتٖ وَعُيُونٖ 25وَزُرُوعٖ وَمَقَامٖ كَرِيمٖ 26وَنَعۡمَةٖ كَانُواْ فِيهَا فَٰكِهِينَ 27كَذَٰلِكَۖ وَأَوۡرَثۡنَٰهَا قَوۡمًا ءَاخَرِينَ 28فَمَا بَكَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُنظَرِينَ 29وَلَقَدۡ نَجَّيۡنَا بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ مِنَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡمُهِينِ 30مِن فِرۡعَوۡنَۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَالِيٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ 31وَلَقَدِ ٱخۡتَرۡنَٰهُمۡ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ 32وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ مَا فِيهِ بَلَٰٓؤٞاْ مُّبِينٌ33
WARNING TO THE DENIERS OF LIFE AFTER DEATH
34Now, these 'Makkans' argue, 35'There is nothing beyond our first death, and we will never come back to life. 36Bring back our fathers, if what you say is true.' 37Are they stronger or the people of Tubba'' and those before them? We destroyed them all-they were truly wicked. 38We did not create the heavens and the earth and everything in between for fun. 39We only created them for a purpose, but most of these 'idol-worshippers' do not know. 40Surely the Day of 'Final Decision is the time set for all- 41the Day close relatives will not benefit each other in any way and they will not be helped, 42except those who receive Allah's mercy. He is truly the Almighty, Most Merciful. 43¹ Tubba' Al-Himiari was a good, ancient Yemeni king. His people disbelieved in Allah and were destroyed, although they were much stronger than the people of Makkah.
إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ لَيَقُولُونَ 34إِنۡ هِيَ إِلَّا مَوۡتَتُنَا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمُنشَرِينَ 35فَأۡتُواْ بَِٔابَآئِنَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ 36أَهُمۡ خَيۡرٌ أَمۡ قَوۡمُ تُبَّعٖ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهُمۡۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ مُجۡرِمِينَ 37وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا لَٰعِبِينَ 38مَا خَلَقۡنَٰهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ 39إِنَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَصۡلِ مِيقَٰتُهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ 40يَوۡمَ لَا يُغۡنِي مَوۡلًى عَن مَّوۡلٗى شَيۡٔٗا وَلَا هُمۡ يُنصَرُونَ 41إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ٱللَّهُۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 42إِنَّ شَجَرَتَ ٱلزَّقُّومِ43
BACKGROUND STORY
One day, the Prophet met Abu Jahl (a big enemy of Islam), and told him, 'Allah has ordered me to warn you.' Abu Jahl replied arrogantly, 'What are you talking about? You and your Lord cannot do anything to me. I'm the important, mighty one!' Wicked people like Abu Jahl will be so hungry in the Fire that they will have to eat from Zaqqum (an evil tree that grows from the depths of Hell). He will be told, 'Taste this. You important, mighty one!' (Recorded by Imam Ibn Kathir & Imam Al-Qurtubi)
TREE FROM HELL
43Surely 'the fruit of' the tree of Zaqqum 44will be the food of the sinful. 45Like melted metal, it will boil in the bellies 46like the boiling of hot water. 47'It will be said, 'Take them and drag them into the depths of Hell. 48Then pour over their heads the punishment of boiling water.' 49'The wicked will be told,' 'Taste this. You important, mighty one! 50This is truly what 'you all' used to doubt.'
إِنَّ شَجَرَتَ ٱلزَّقُّومِ 43طَعَامُ ٱلۡأَثِيمِ 44كَٱلۡمُهۡلِ يَغۡلِي فِي ٱلۡبُطُونِ 45كَغَلۡيِ ٱلۡحَمِيمِ 46خُذُوهُ فَٱعۡتِلُوهُ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ 47ثُمَّ صُبُّواْ فَوۡقَ رَأۡسِهِۦ مِنۡ عَذَابِ ٱلۡحَمِيمِ 48ذُقۡ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡكَرِيمُ 49إِنَّ هَٰذَا مَا كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَمۡتَرُونَ50
JOYS OF JANNAH
51Surely the faithful will be in a secure place, 52in the middle of Gardens and springs, 53dressed in fine and rich silk, facing each other. 54So it will be. And We will pair them with heavenly wives with beautiful eyes. 55There they will call for every fruit in peace. 56There they will never taste death, beyond the first death. And He will protect them from the punishment of Hell- 57all as a blessing from your Lord. That is 'truly' the biggest success.
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي مَقَامٍ أَمِينٖ 51فِي جَنَّٰتٖ وَعُيُونٖ 52يَلۡبَسُونَ مِن سُندُسٖ وَإِسۡتَبۡرَقٖ مُّتَقَٰبِلِينَ 53كَذَٰلِكَ وَزَوَّجۡنَٰهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٖ 54يَدۡعُونَ فِيهَا بِكُلِّ فَٰكِهَةٍ ءَامِنِينَ 55لَا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا ٱلۡمَوۡتَ إِلَّا ٱلۡمَوۡتَةَ ٱلۡأُولَىٰۖ وَوَقَىٰهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ 56فَضۡلٗا مِّن رَّبِّكَۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ57
THE QURAN MADE EASY
58Surely We have made this 'Quran' easy in your own language 'O Prophet' so maybe they will keep it in mind. 59Watch then! They too are certainly watching.
فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرۡنَٰهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ 58فَٱرۡتَقِبۡ إِنَّهُم مُّرۡتَقِبُونَ59