Surah Ad Dukhan Notes (1-20)

Source: Ibn Kathir

Which was revealed in Makkah

The Qur'an was revealed on Laylatul-Qadr

(1) Ha-Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings].

(2) By the manifest Book (this Quran) that makes things clear,

(3) We sent it (this Quran) down on a blessed night [(i.e. night of Qadr, Surah No: 97) in the month of Ramadan,, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]. 

Allah tells us that He revealed the Magnificent Qur'an on a blessed night, Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Decree), 

as He says elsewhere:

(Verily, We have sent it down in the Night of Al-Qadr) (97:1). This was in the month of Ramadan, as Allah tells us:

(The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an) (2:185). We have already quoted the relevant Hadiths in (the Tafsir of) Surat Al-Baqarah, and there is no need to repeat them here.

(Verily, We are ever warning.) means, telling them what is good for them and what is harmful to them, according to Shari`ah, so that the proof of Allah may be established against His servants.

(4) Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments.

(Therein (that night) is decreed every matter, Hakim.) means, on Laylatul-Qadr, the decrees are transferred from Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz to the (angelic) scribes who write down the decrees of the (coming) year including life span, provision, and what will happen until the end of the year. This was narrated from Ibn `Umar, Mujahid, Abu Malik, Ad-Dahhak and others among the Salaf.

(Hakim) means decided or confirmed, which cannot be changed or altered. 

(5) Amran (i.e. a Command or this Quran or the Decree of every matter) from Us. Verily, We are ever sending (the Messengers),

(As a command from Us.) meaning, everything that happens and is decreed by Allah and the revelation that He sends down -- it all happens by His command, by His leave and with His knowledge.

(Verily, We are ever sending,) means, to mankind, sending Messenger who will recite to them the clear signs of Allah. The need for this was urgent.

(6) (As) a Mercy from your Lord. Verily! He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. 

(7) The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if you (but) have a faith with certainty.

((As) a mercy from your Lord. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them,) means, the One Who sent down the Qur'an is the Lord, Creator and Sovereign of the heavens and the earth and everything in between them.

(if you (but) have a faith with certainty.) 

(8) La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshiped but He). It is He Who gives life and causes death, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers. 

(La ilaha illa Huwa. He gives life and causes death -- your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.) 

This is like the Ayah:

(Say: "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah -- to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. La ilaha illa Huwa. He gives life and causes death...) (7:158)

Alarming the Idolators with News of the Day when the Sky will bring forth a visible Smoke

(9) Nay! They play in doubt.

Allah says, these idolaters are playing about in doubt, i.e., the certain truth has come to them, but they doubt it and do not believe in it. 

Then Allah says, warning and threatening them:

(10) Then wait you for the Day when the sky will bring forth a visible smoke.

(Then wait you for the Day when the sky will bring forth a visible smoke.) It was narrated that Masruq said, "We entered the Masjid -- i.e., the Masjid of Kufah at the gates of Kindah -- and a man was reciting to his companions,

(the Day when the sky will bring forth a visible smoke.) He asked them; `Do you know what that is' That is the smoke that will come on the Day of Resurrection. It will take away the hearing and sight of the hypocrites, but for the believers it will be like having a cold.''' He said, "We came to Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, and told him about that. He was lying down, and he sat up with a start and said, `Allah said to your Prophet

(Say: "No wage do I ask of you for this, nor am I one of the pretenders.'') (38:86). And it is part of knowledge that when a man does not know something, he should say, `Allah knows best.' I will tell you a Hadith about that. When the Quraysh did not respond to Islam and they grew stubborn, the Messenger of Allah invoked Allah against them that they would have years like the years (of drought and famine) of Yusuf. They became so exhausted and hungry that they ate bones and dead meat. They looked at the sky, but they saw nothing but smoke.''' According to another report: "A man would look at the sky and he would see nothing between him and the sky except a smoky haze, because of his exhaustion.''

(Then wait you for the Day when the sky will bring forth a visible smoke.) meaning, clearly visible, such that all people will see it. According to Ibn Mas`ud's interpretation, this was a vision which they saw because of their intense hunger and exhaustion. 

(11) Covering the people, this is a painful torment. 

(Then wait you for the Day when the sky will bring forth a visible smoke, covering the people, this is a painful torment) A man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, "O Messenger of Allah! Pray to Allah to send rain to Mudar, for they are dying. So the Prophet prayed for rain for them, and they got rain.

(Covering mankind,) meaning, it covered them and overwhelmed them. But if it was only an illusion which happened to the idolators of Makkah, Allah would not have said "covering mankind.'' 

(12) (They will say): "Our Lord! Remove the torment from us, really we shall become believers!"

((They will say): "Our Lord! Remove the torment from us, really we shall become believers!'') means, when the disbelievers witness the punishment of Allah, they will ask for it to be taken away from them. 

This is like the Ayat:

(If you could but see when they will be held over the (Hell) Fire! They will say: "Would that we were but sent back (to the world)! Then we would not deny the Ayat of our Lord, and we would be of the believers!'') (6:27)

(13) How can there be for them an admonition (at the time when the torment has reached them), when a Messenger explaining things clearly has already come to them.

(How can there be for them an admonition, when a Messenger explaining things clearly has already come to them. Then they had turned away from him and said: "(He is) one taught, a madman!'') meaning, `what further admonition do they need when We have sent them a Messenger with a clear Message and warning Yet despite that, they turned away from him, opposed him and rejected him, and they said: (He is) one taught (by a human being), a madman.' 

This is like the Ayah:

(On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance (then) avail him) (89:23) 

(14) Then they had turned away from him (Messenger Muhammad SAW) and said: "One (Muhammad SAW) taught (by a human being), a madman!"

(15) Verily, We shall remove the torment for a while. Verily! You will revert.

(Verily, We shall remove the torment for a while. Verily, you will revert.) Ibn Mas`ud said, "Do you think that the torment will be removed for them on the Day of Resurrection When they were granted ease, they reverted to their former state. 

(Verily, We shall remove the torment for a while. Verily, you will revert.) means, `if We were to remove the torment from you for a while, and send you back to the world, you would go back to your former state of disbelief and denial.'

 This is like the Ayat:

(And though We had mercy on them and removed the distress which is on them, still they would obstinately persist in their transgression, wandering blindly.) (23:75)

(But if they were returned (to the world), they would certainly revert to that which they were forbidden. And indeed they are liars) (6:28)

The Meaning of the "Great Batshah''

(16) On the Day when We shall seize you with the greatest grasp. Verily, We will exact retribution.

(On the Day when We shall strike you with the Great Batshah. Verily, We will exact retribution.)'' He said, "This means the day of Badr.'' Ibn Mas`ud said, "Five things have come to pass: the smoke, the (defeat of the) Romans, the (splitting of the) moon, the Batshah, and the torment.'' This Hadith was narrated in the Two Sahihs. 

According to the Hadith of Abu Sarihah, Hudhayfah bin Asid Al-Ghifari, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allah looked out upon us from a room while we were discussing the Hour. He said:

(The Hour will not come until you see ten signs. The rising of the sun from the west; the smoke; the beast; the emergence of Ya'juj and Ma'juj; the appearance of `Isa bin Maryam; the Dajjal; three cases of the earth collapsing -- one in the east, one in the west, and one in the Arabian Peninsula; and a fire which will emerge from the bottom of Aden and will drive the people -- or gather the people -- stopping with them when they stop to sleep at night or rest during the day.)'' This was recorded only by Muslim in his Sahih

(On the Day when We shall strike you with the great Batshah. Verily, We will exact retribution.) Ibn Mas`ud interpreted this to mean the day of Badr. This is also the view of a group who agreed with Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, about the meaning of the smoke, as discussed above. It was also narrated from Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, in a report related to him from Al-`Awfi and from Ubayy bin Ka`b, may Allah be pleased with him. This is possible, but the apparent meaning is that it refers to the Day of Resurrection, although the day of Badr was also a day of vengeance. 

The Story of Musa and Fir`awn, and how the Children of Israel were saved

(17) And indeed We tried before them Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) people, when there came to them a noble Messenger [i.e. Musa (Moses) ],

Allah tells us, `before these idolators, We tested the people of Fir`awn, the copts of Egypt.'

(when there came to them a noble Messenger.) means, Musa, peace be upon him, the one to whom Allah spoke.

(18) Saying: "Restore to me the slaves of Allah (i.e. the Children of Israel). Verily! I am to you a Messenger worthy of all trust, 

(Deliver to me the servants of Allah.) This is like the Ayah:

(So let the Children of Israel go with us, and torment them not; indeed, we have come with a sign from your Lord! And peace will be upon him who follows the guidance!'') (20:47)

(Verily, I am to you a Messenger worthy of all trust.) means, `what I convey to you is trustworthy.'

(19) "And exalt not (yourselves) against Allah. Truly, I have come to you with a manifest authority.

(And exalt not yourselves against Allah.) means, `and do not be too arrogant to follow His signs. Accept His proof and believe in His evidence.' This is like the Ayah:

(Verily, those who scorn My worship they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!) (40:60)

(Truly, I have come to you with a manifest authority.) means, with clear and obvious proof. This refers to the clear signs and definitive evidence with which Allah sent him.

(20) "And truly, I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord, lest you stone me (or call me a sorcerer or kill me).

(And truly, I seek refuge with my Lord and your Lord, lest you should stone me.) Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and Abu Salih said, "This refers to a verbal assault, which means insults.'' Qatadah said, "Meaning `stoning' in the literal sense, so that the meaning is: `I seek refuge with Allah, Who created me and you, from your making any harmful words or actions reach me.'''