Sura 44: Smoke (Al-Dukhan)
Number of verses in sura: 59
Order of revelation: 64
[44:0] In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
[44:1] H. M.
[44:2] And this enlightening scripture.
[44:3] We have sent it down in a blessed night, for we are to warn.
[44:4] In it (the scripture), every matter of wisdom is clarified.
[44:5] It is a predetermined command from us that we send messengers.
[44:6] This is a mercy from your Lord. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.
[44:7] Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them. If only you could be certain!
[44:8] There is no other god beside Him. He controls life and death; your Lord and the Lord of your ancestors.
[44:9] Indeed, they are doubtful, heedless.
The Smoke: A Major Prophecy*
[44:10] Therefore, watch for the day when the sky brings a profound smoke.*
*44:10 Only two signs are yet to be fulfilled, this smoke and Gog and Magog (Appendix 25).
[44:11] It will envelope the people; this is a painful retribution.
[44:12] “Our Lord, relieve this retribution for us; we are believers.”
God’s Messenger of the Covenant*
[44:13] Now that it is too late, they remember! An enlightening messenger had come to them.*
*44:13 The sum of sura and verse numbers (44+13) is 57, 19×3, and this Quranic code was proclaimed by God’s Messenger of the Covenant (Appendices 1, 2, & 26).
[44:14] But they turned away from him, saying, “Well educated, but crazy!”
[44:15] We will relieve the retribution for awhile; you will soon revert.
[44:16] The day we strike the big stroke, we will avenge.
[44:17] We have tested before them the people of Pharaoh; an honorable messenger went to them.
[44:18] Proclaiming: “Listen to me, servants of GOD. I am an honest messenger to you.”
[44:19] And, “Do not transgress against GOD. I bring to you powerful proofs.
[44:20] “I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord, if you oppose me.
[44:21] “If you do not wish to believe, then simply leave me alone.”
[44:22] Subsequently, he implored his Lord: “These are wicked people.”
[44:23] (God said,) “Travel with My servants during the night; you will be pursued.
[44:24] “Cross the sea quickly; their troops will be drowned.”
[44:25] Thus, they left behind many gardens and springs.
[44:26] Crops and a luxurious life.
[44:27] Blessings that they enjoyed.
[44:28] All these we caused to be inherited by other people.
[44:29] Neither the heaven, nor the earth wept over them, and they were not respited.
[44:30] Meanwhile, we saved the Children of Israel from the humiliating persecution.
[44:31] From Pharaoh; he was a tyrant.
[44:32] We have chosen them from among all the people, knowingly.
[44:33] We showed them so many proofs, which constituted a great test.
Expect The Same Consequences
[44:34] The present generations say,
[44:35] “We only die the first death; we will never be resurrected!
[44:36] “Bring back our forefathers, if you are truthful.”
[44:37] Are they better than the people of Tubba` and others before them? We annihilated them for their crimes.
[44:38] We did not create the heavens and the earth, and everything between them, just to play.
[44:39] We created them for a specific purpose, but most of them do not know.
[44:40] The Day of Decision awaits them all.
[44:41] That is the day when no friend can help his friend in any way; no one can be helped.
[44:42] Only those who attain mercy from GOD. He is the Almighty, Most Merciful.
The Disbelievers
[44:43] Surely, the tree of bitterness –
[44:44] will provide the food for the sinful.
[44:45] Like lye, it will boil in the stomachs.
[44:46] Like the boiling of hellish drinks.
[44:47] Take him and throw him into the center of Hell.
[44:48] Then pour upon his head the retribution of the Inferno.
[44:49] “Taste this; you were so powerful, so honorable.”
[44:50] This is what you used to doubt.
The Righteous
[44:51] The righteous will be in a secure position.
[44:52] Enjoying gardens and springs.
[44:53] Wearing velvet and satin; close to each other.
[44:54] We grant them wonderful spouses.
[44:55] They enjoy in it all kinds of fruits, in perfect peace.
The Righteous Do Not Really Die*
[44:56] They do not taste death therein – beyond the first death* – and He has spared them the retribution of Hell.
*44:56 As detailed in Appendix 17, the righteous do not really die; they move on directly to the same Paradise where Adam and Eve once lived. Compare this statement with the disbelievers’ statement in 40:11.
[44:57] Such is the blessing from your Lord. Such is the great triumph.
[44:58] We have thus clarified it in your language, that they may take heed.
[44:59] Therefore, wait; they too will have to wait.