44
44. Ad-Dukhan - The Drought
| 1 | HA MIM. |
| 2 | The perspicuous Book is witness |
| 3 | (That) We sent it down one night of blessing -- so that We could warn -- |
| 4 | On which all affairs are sorted out and decided |
| 5 | As commands from Us. It is indeed We who send (messengers), |
| 6 | A mercy from your Lord. Verily He is all-hearing and all-knowing, |
| 7 | The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them, if you really do believe. |
| 8 | There is no god other than He, who gives you life and death, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of old. |
| 9 | Yet they are lost in doubt and play. |
| 10 | So watch for the day when the sky begins to emit clear smoke, |
| 11 | Which would envelope mankind. That would be a grievous affliction. |
| 12 | "O Lord, take away this torment from us," (they will pray); "we have come to believe." |
| 13 | How can a warning benefit them? The Apostle who explained all things clearly had come to them, |
| 14 | But they turned away from him, and said: "He is well-instructed, (but) possessed." |
| 15 | If We remove the torment a little, you revert back (to misdeeds). |
| 16 | The day that We shall seize them with a grievous hold, We will indeed castigate them. |
| 17 | We had tried the people of Pharaoh before them. A respected prophet had come to them (saying): |
| 18 | "Deliver the creatures of God to me. I am the trusted messenger sent to you. |
| 19 | Do not think yourselves to be above God: I have come to you with clear authority. |
| 20 | I have taken refuge in my Lord and your Lord against your stoning me to death. |
| 21 | If you do not believe in me, leave me alone." |
| 22 | Then he called to his Lord: "These are a sinful people." |
| 23 | "Journey by night with My devotees," (it was said); "you will certainly be pursued. |
| 24 | (Cross and) leave the sea undisturbed. The (pursuing) hosts will surely be drowned," |
| 25 | How many gardens and fountains did they leave behind, |
| 26 | And fields and stately mansions, |
| 27 | And the comfort they enjoyed. |
| 28 | Thus it was; and We passed them on to another people. |
| 29 | Neither did the heavens weep for them, nor the earth, nor were they granted respite. |
| 30 | So We saved the children of Israel from degrading suffering |
| 31 | They (had experienced) under the Pharaoh. He was certainly a tyrant, guilty of excess. |
| 32 | And We exalted them over the other people knowingly, |
| 33 | And sent them tokens to bring out the best in them. |
| 34 | Even then they say: |
| 35 | "There is no dying for us but once; and we shall not be raised again. |
| 36 | So bring our ancestors back, if you are truthful." |
| 37 | Are they better than the people of Tubba, and those who had lived before them, whom We destroyed as they were sinners? |
| 38 | We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them, out of play. |
| 39 | We created them with definite purpose; but most of them do not understand. |
| 40 | The Day of Judgement is your promised day of meeting, |
| 41 | The day when friend will help no friend in the least, nor will they be helped, |
| 42 | Apart from those to whom God is kind. He is all-mighty and all-merciful. |
| 43 | The tree of Zaqqum will indeed be |
| 44 | The food of sinners. |
| 45 | It is like pitch. It will fume in the belly |
| 46 | As does boiling water. |
| 47 | "Seize him and drag him into the depths of Hell," (it will be said), |
| 48 | "Then pour over his head the torment of scalding water." |
| 49 | "Taste it," (they will be told). "You were indeed the mighty and noble! |
| 50 | This is certainly what you had denied." |
| 51 | Surely those who fear and follow the straight path will be in a place of peace and security |
| 52 | In the midst of gardens and of springs, |
| 53 | Dressed in brocade and shot silk, facing one another. |
| 54 | Just like that. We shall pair them with companions with large black eyes. |
| 55 | They will call for every kind of fruit with satisfaction. |
| 56 | There they will not know any death apart from the first death they had died, and will be kept safe from the torment of Hell |
| 57 | By the beneficence of your Lord. This will be the great success. |
| 58 | Therefore We have made this (Qur'an) easy in your tongue. They may haply take a warning. |
| 59 | So you wait. They are also waiting. |