44.The Evident Smoke

Ha-Mim.

By the Book that makes things clear;-

We sent it down during a Blessed Night:for We (ever) wish to warn (against Evil).

In the (Night) is made distinct everyaffair of wisdom,

By command, from Our Presence. For We(ever) send (revelations),

As Mercy from thy Lord: for He hears andknows (all things);

The Lord of the heavens and the earthand all between them, if ye (but) have an assured faith.

There is no god but He: It is He Whogives life and gives death,- The Lord and Cherisher to you and your earliestancestors.

Yet they play about in doubt.

Then watch thou for the Day that the skywill bring forth a kind of smoke (or mist) plainly visible,

Enveloping the people: this will be aPenalty Grievous.

(They will say:) “Our Lord! remove thePenalty from us, for we do really believe!”

How shall the message be (effectual) forthem, seeing that an Messenger explaining things clearly has (already) cometo them,-

Yet they turn away from him and say:”Tutored (by others), a man possessed!”

We shall indeed remove the Penalty for awhile, (but) truly ye will revert (to your ways).

One day We shall seize you with a mightyonslaught: We will indeed (then) exact Retribution!

We did, before them, try the people ofPharaoh: there came to them an apostle most honourable,

Saying: “Restore to me the Servants ofAllah. I am to you an apostle worthy of all trust;

“And be not arrogant as against Allah.for I come to you with authority manifest.

“For me, I have sought safety with myLord and your Lord, against your injuring me.

“If ye believe me not, at least keepyourselves away from me.”

(But they were aggressive:) then hecried to his Lord: “These are indeed a people given to sin.”

(The reply came:) “March forth with MyServants by night: for ye are sure to be pursued.

“And leave the sea as a furrow(divided): for they are a host (destined) to be drowned.”

How many were the gardens and springsthey left behind,

And corn-fields and noble buildings,

And wealth (and conveniences of life),wherein they had taken such delight!

Thus (was their end)! And We made otherpeople inherit (those things)!

And neither heaven nor earth shed a tearover them: nor were they given a respite (again).

We did deliver aforetime the Children ofIsrael from humiliating Punishment,

Inflicted by Pharaoh, for he wasarrogant (even) among inordinate transgressors.

And We chose them aforetime above thenations, knowingly,

And granted them Signs in which therewas a manifest trial

As to these (Quraish), they sayforsooth:

“There is nothing beyond our firstdeath, and we shall not be raised again.

“Then bring (back) our forefathers, ifwhat ye say is true!”

What! Are they better than the people ofTubba and those who were before them? We destroyed them because they wereguilty of sin.

We created not the heavens, the earth,and all between them, merely in (idle) sport:

We created them not except for justends: but most of them do not understand.

Verily the Day of sorting out is thetime appointed for all of them,-

The Day when no protector can avail hisclient in aught, and no help can they receive,

Except such as receive Allah.s Mercy:for He is Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.

Verily the tree of Zaqqum

Will be the food of the Sinful,-

Like molten brass; it will boil in theirinsides.

Like the boiling of scalding water.

(A voice will cry: “Seize ye him anddrag him into the midst of the Blazing Fire!

“Then pour over his head the Penalty ofBoiling Water,

“Taste thou (this)! Truly wast thoumighty, full of honour!

“Truly this is what ye used to doubt!”

As to the Righteous (they will be) in aposition of Security,

Among Gardens and Springs;

Dressed in fine silk and in richbrocade, they will face each other;

So; and We shall join them to Companionswith beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes.

There can they call for every kind offruit in peace and security;

Nor will they there taste Death, exceptthe first death; and He will preserve them from the Penalty of the BlazingFire,-

As a Bounty from thy Lord! that will bethe supreme achievement!

Verily, We have made this (Qur’an) easy,in thy tongue, in order that they may give heed.

So wait thou and watch; for they (too)are waiting.