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:

"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."
"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."
"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.
"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."
"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."

Maududi: English

Ad-Dukhan

Juz 25

سورة الدخان

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

حم ‎﴿١﴾‏ وَالْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ ‎﴿٢﴾‏ إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ ‎﴿٣﴾‏ فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ ‎﴿٤﴾‏ أَمْرًا مِّنْ عِندِنَا ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَ ‎﴿٥﴾‏ رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ‎﴿٦﴾‏ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ ‎﴿٧﴾‏ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ ۖ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ آبَائِكُمُ الْأَوَّلِينَ ‎﴿٨﴾‏ بَلْ هُمْ فِي شَكٍّ يَلْعَبُونَ ‎﴿٩﴾‏ فَارْتَقِبْ يَوْمَ تَأْتِي السَّمَاءُ بِدُخَانٍ مُّبِينٍ ‎﴿١٠﴾‏ يَغْشَى النَّاسَ ۖ هَٰذَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ‎﴿١١﴾‏ رَّبَّنَا اكْشِفْ عَنَّا الْعَذَابَ إِنَّا مُؤْمِنُونَ ‎﴿١٢﴾‏ أَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ الذِّكْرَىٰ وَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّبِينٌ ‎﴿١٣﴾‏ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا مُعَلَّمٌ مَّجْنُونٌ ‎﴿١٤﴾‏ إِنَّا كَاشِفُو الْعَذَابِ قَلِيلًا ۚ إِنَّكُمْ عَائِدُونَ ‎﴿١٥﴾‏ يَوْمَ نَبْطِشُ الْبَطْشَةَ الْكُبْرَىٰ إِنَّا مُنتَقِمُونَ ‎﴿١٦﴾‏ ۞ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَجَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ كَرِيمٌ ‎﴿١٧﴾‏ أَنْ أَدُّوا إِلَيَّ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ ‎﴿١٨﴾‏ ‏ ‏

Ha'. Mim. (1) By the Clear Book. (2) We revealed it on a Blessed Night, for We were intent on warning; (3) (We revealed it on the Night) wherein every matter is wisely determined (4) by Our command. Verily, We were set to send a Messenger (5) as a Mercy from your Lord. Surely He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing, (6) the Lord of the heavens and the earth and of all that is between them: if you would only have sure faith. (7) There is no god but He: He gives life and causes death. He is your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers of yore. (8) (But the fact is, they lack certainty) and frolic about in doubt. (9) So watch for the Day when the sky will come down with a pall of smoke, (10) enveloping people. That will be a grievous scourge. (11) (People will then say): “Our Lord, remove this scourge from us; we shall believe.” (12) But how will they take heed? Such are they that a Messenger came to them clearly expounding the Truth, (13) yet they turned away from him and said: “This is a well-tutored madman.” (14) Yet We will hold the scourge back for a while, (but no sooner than We will do so) you will revert to your old ways. (15) The Day when We shall seize them with a mighty seizing, that will be the Day on which We shall inflict upon you full retribution. (16) Indeed before that We subjected the Pharaonites to the same test. A noble Messenger came to them (17) (and said): “Deliver to me Allah's servants. I am a trustworthy Messenger to you, (18)

Maududi: English

Ad-Dukhan

Juz 25

وَأَن لَّا تَعْلُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّي آتِيكُم بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ ‎﴿١٩﴾‏ وَإِنِّي عُذْتُ بِرَبِّي وَرَبِّكُمْ أَن تَرْجُمُونِ ‎﴿٢٠﴾‏ وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا لِي فَاعْتَزِلُونِ ‎﴿٢١﴾‏ فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ قَوْمٌ مُّجْرِمُونَ ‎﴿٢٢﴾‏ فَأَسْرِ بِعِبَادِي لَيْلًا إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ ‎﴿٢٣﴾‏ وَاتْرُكِ الْبَحْرَ رَهْوًا ۖ إِنَّهُمْ جُندٌ مُّغْرَقُونَ ‎﴿٢٤﴾‏ كَمْ تَرَكُوا مِن جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ ‎﴿٢٥﴾‏ وَزُرُوعٍ وَمَقَامٍ كَرِيمٍ ‎﴿٢٦﴾‏ وَنَعْمَةٍ كَانُوا فِيهَا فَاكِهِينَ ‎﴿٢٧﴾‏ كَذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَأَوْرَثْنَاهَا قَوْمًا آخَرِينَ ‎﴿٢٨﴾‏ فَمَا بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّمَاءُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَا كَانُوا مُنظَرِينَ ‎﴿٢٩﴾‏ وَلَقَدْ نَجَّيْنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ الْمُهِينِ ‎﴿٣٠﴾‏ مِن فِرْعَوْنَ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَالِيًا مِّنَ الْمُسْرِفِينَ ‎﴿٣١﴾‏ وَلَقَدِ اخْتَرْنَاهُمْ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ ‎﴿٣٢﴾‏ وَآتَيْنَاهُم مِّنَ الْآيَاتِ مَا فِيهِ بَلَاءٌ مُّبِينٌ ‎﴿٣٣﴾‏ إِنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ لَيَقُولُونَ ‎﴿٣٤﴾‏ إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا مَوْتَتُنَا الْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُنشَرِينَ ‎﴿٣٥﴾‏ فَأْتُوا بِآبَائِنَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ‎﴿٣٦﴾‏ أَهُمْ خَيْرٌ أَمْ قَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مُجْرِمِينَ ‎﴿٣٧﴾‏ وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَاعِبِينَ ‎﴿٣٨﴾‏ مَا خَلَقْنَاهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ‎﴿٣٩﴾‏ ‏ ‏

and do not exalt yourselves in defiance of Allah. I have come to you with a clear authority (as a Messenger). (19) I have taken refuge with my Lord and your Lord lest you should attack me with stones. (20) But if you do not believe what I say, leave me alone (and desist from laying hands on me).” (21) Then he called upon his Lord: “These are a criminal people.” (22) (He was told): “Set out with My servants by night for you will certainly be pursued. (23) And leave the sea behind you as calm as ever. Surely they are an army that is doomed to be drowned.” (24) How many gardens did they leave behind, and how many fountains (25) and sown fields and splendid mansions, (26) and the life of ease in which they took delight! (27) Thus it was; and We made another people inherit all that. (28) Then neither the sky shed tears over them nor the earth. They were granted no respite. (29) Thus did We deliver the Children of Israel from the humiliating chastisement, (30) from Pharaoh who was most prominent among the prodigals. (31) We knowingly exalted them (i.e., the Children of Israel) above other peoples of the world (32) and bestowed upon them the Signs wherein lay an evident test for them. (33) Indeed these people say: (34) “This is our first and only death, and we shall never be raised again. (35) Bring back to us our fathers if you are truthful.” (36) Are these better or the people of Tubba and those who went before them? We destroyed them for they were a criminal people. (37) It was not in idle sport that We created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them. (38) We did not create them except in Truth. But most of them do not know. (39)

Maududi: English

Ad-Dukhan

Juz 25

إِنَّ يَوْمَ الْفَصْلِ مِيقَاتُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ‎﴿٤٠﴾‏ يَوْمَ لَا يُغْنِي مَوْلًى عَن مَّوْلًى شَيْئًا وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ ‎﴿٤١﴾‏ إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ اللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ ‎﴿٤٢﴾‏ إِنَّ شَجَرَتَ الزَّقُّومِ ‎﴿٤٣﴾‏ طَعَامُ الْأَثِيمِ ‎﴿٤٤﴾‏ كَالْمُهْلِ يَغْلِي فِي الْبُطُونِ ‎﴿٤٥﴾‏ كَغَلْيِ الْحَمِيمِ ‎﴿٤٦﴾‏ خُذُوهُ فَاعْتِلُوهُ إِلَىٰ سَوَاءِ الْجَحِيمِ ‎﴿٤٧﴾‏ ثُمَّ صُبُّوا فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْحَمِيمِ ‎﴿٤٨﴾‏ ذُقْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْكَرِيمُ ‎﴿٤٩﴾‏ إِنَّ هَٰذَا مَا كُنتُم بِهِ تَمْتَرُونَ ‎﴿٥٠﴾‏ إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي مَقَامٍ أَمِينٍ ‎﴿٥١﴾‏ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ ‎﴿٥٢﴾‏ يَلْبَسُونَ مِن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَقَابِلِينَ ‎﴿٥٣﴾‏ كَذَٰلِكَ وَزَوَّجْنَاهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٍ ‎﴿٥٤﴾‏ يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِكُلِّ فَاكِهَةٍ آمِنِينَ ‎﴿٥٥﴾‏ لَا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا الْمَوْتَ إِلَّا الْمَوْتَةَ الْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَوَقَاهُمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ ‎﴿٥٦﴾‏ فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ‎﴿٥٧﴾‏ فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرْنَاهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ‎﴿٥٨﴾‏ فَارْتَقِبْ إِنَّهُم مُّرْتَقِبُونَ ‎﴿٥٩﴾‏ ‏ ‏

The Day of Final Decision is the appointed time for all; (40) the Day when a friend shall be of no avail to his friend nor shall they be helped, (41) except those to whom Allah shows mercy. He is the Most Mighty, the Most Compassionate. (42) The tree of al-Zaqqum (43) shall be the food of the sinful. (44) Like dregs of oil, it will boil in their bellies (45) like boiling water. (46) “Seize him and drag him to the middle of the Blazing Fire, (47) then pour boiling water over his head as chastisement. (48) Taste this, you are a person mighty and noble! (49) This is what you used to doubt.” (50) Verily the God-fearing shall be in a secure place (51) amidst gardens and springs. (52) Attired in silk and brocade, they shall be arrayed face to face. (53) Thus shall it be: and We shall espouse them to fair, wide-eyed maidens. (54) While resting in security, they shall call for all kinds of fruit. (55) They shall not taste death except the death in this world. And Allah will save them from the chastisement of Hell (56) as a favour from your Lord. That is the great triumph. (57) (O Prophet), We have made this Book easy in your tongue so that they may take heed. (58) Wait, then; they too are waiting. (59)

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