The Smoke

In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

bis'mi l-lahi l-raḥmāni l-raḥīm

H. M.

حمٓ

hha-meem

And this enlightening scripture.

وَٱلْكِتَٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ

wal-kitābi l-mubīn

We have sent it down in a blessed night, for we are to warn.

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَٰرَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ

innā anzalnāhu fī laylatin mubārakatin innā kunnā mundhirīn

In it (the scripture), every matter of wisdom is clarified.

فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ

fīhā yuf'raqu kullu amrin ḥakīmi

It is a predetermined command from us that we send messengers.

أَمْرًا مِّنْ عِندِنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَ

amran min ʿindinā innā kunnā mur'silīn

This is a mercy from your Lord. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.

رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

raḥmatan min rabbika innahu huwa l-samīʿu l-ʿalīm

Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them. If only you could be certain!

رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ

rabbi l-samāwāti wal-arḍi wamā baynahumā in kuntum mūqinīn

There is no other god beside Him. He controls life and death; your Lord and the Lord of your ancestors.

لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

lā ilāha illā huwa yuḥ'yī wayumītu rabbukum warabbu ābāikumu l-awalīn

Indeed, they are doubtful, heedless.

بَلْ هُمْ فِى شَكٍّ يَلْعَبُونَ

bal hum fī shakkin yalʿabūn

Therefore, watch for the day when the sky brings a profound smoke.

فَٱرْتَقِبْ يَوْمَ تَأْتِى ٱلسَّمَآءُ بِدُخَانٍ مُّبِينٍ

fa-ir'taqib yawma tatī l-samāu bidukhānin mubīni

It will envelop the people; this is a painful retribution.

يَغْشَى ٱلنَّاسَ هَٰذَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

yaghshā l-nāsa hādhā ʿadhābun alīmu

"Our Lord, relieve this retribution for us; we are believers."

رَّبَّنَا ٱكْشِفْ عَنَّا ٱلْعَذَابَ إِنَّا مُؤْمِنُونَ

rabbanā ik'shif ʿannā l-ʿadhāba innā mu'minūn

Now that it is too late, they remember! An enlightening messenger had come to them.

أَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ وَقَدْ جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّبِينٌ

annā lahumu l-dhik'rā waqad jāahum rasūlun mubīnu

But they turned away from him, saying, "Well educated, but crazy!"

ثُمَّ تَوَلَّوْا۟ عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا۟ مُعَلَّمٌ مَّجْنُونٌ

thumma tawallaw ʿanhu waqālū muʿallamun majnūnu

We will relieve the retribution for awhile; you will soon revert.

إِنَّا كَاشِفُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابِ قَلِيلًا إِنَّكُمْ عَآئِدُونَ

innā kāshifū l-ʿadhābi qalīlan innakum ʿāidūn

The day we strike the big stroke, we will avenge.

يَوْمَ نَبْطِشُ ٱلْبَطْشَةَ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ إِنَّا مُنتَقِمُونَ

yawma nabṭishu l-baṭshata l-kub'rā innā muntaqimūn

We have tested before them the people of Pharaoh; an honorable messenger went to them.

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَجَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ كَرِيمٌ

walaqad fatannā qablahum qawma fir'ʿawna wajāahum rasūlun karīmu

Proclaiming: "Listen to me, servants of GOD. I am an honest messenger to you."

أَنْ أَدُّوٓا۟ إِلَىَّ عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ

an addū ilayya ʿibāda l-lahi innī lakum rasūlun amīnu

And, "Do not transgress against GOD. I bring to you powerful proofs.

وَأَن لَّا تَعْلُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِنِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم بِسُلْطَٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ

wa-an lā taʿlū ʿalā l-lahi innī ātīkum bisul'ṭānin mubīni

"I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord, if you oppose me.

وَإِنِّى عُذْتُ بِرَبِّى وَرَبِّكُمْ أَن تَرْجُمُونِ

wa-innī ʿudh'tu birabbī warabbikum an tarjumūn

"If you do not wish to believe, then simply leave me alone."

وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ لِى فَٱعْتَزِلُونِ

wa-in lam tu'minū lī fa-iʿ'tazilūn

Subsequently, he implored his Lord: "These are wicked people."

فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوْمٌ مُّجْرِمُونَ

fadaʿā rabbahu anna hāulāi qawmun muj'rimūn

(GOD said,) "Travel with My servants during the night; you will be pursued.

فَأَسْرِ بِعِبَادِى لَيْلًا إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ

fa-asri biʿibādī laylan innakum muttabaʿūn

"Cross the sea quickly; their troops will be drowned."

وَٱتْرُكِ ٱلْبَحْرَ رَهْوًا إِنَّهُمْ جُندٌ مُّغْرَقُونَ

wa-ut'ruki l-baḥra rahwan innahum jundun mugh'raqūn

Thus, they left behind many gardens and springs.

كَمْ تَرَكُوا۟ مِن جَنَّٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ

kam tarakū min jannātin waʿuyūni

Crops and a luxurious life.

وَزُرُوعٍ وَمَقَامٍ كَرِيمٍ

wazurūʿin wamaqāmin karīmi

Blessings that they enjoyed.

وَنَعْمَةٍ كَانُوا۟ فِيهَا فَٰكِهِينَ

wanaʿmatin kānū fīhā fākihīn

All these we caused to be inherited by other people.

كَذَٰلِكَ وَأَوْرَثْنَٰهَا قَوْمًا ءَاخَرِينَ

kadhālika wa-awrathnāhā qawman ākharīn

Neither the heaven, nor the earth wept over them, and they were not respited.

فَمَا بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنظَرِينَ

famā bakat ʿalayhimu l-samāu wal-arḍu wamā kānū munẓarīn

Meanwhile, we saved the Children of Israel from the humiliating persecution.

وَلَقَدْ نَجَّيْنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ مِنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْمُهِينِ

walaqad najjaynā banī is'rāīla mina l-ʿadhābi l-muhīn

From Pharaoh; he was a tyrant.

مِن فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَالِيًا مِّنَ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ

min fir'ʿawna innahu kāna ʿāliyan mina l-mus'rifīn

We have chosen them from among all the people, knowingly.

وَلَقَدِ ٱخْتَرْنَٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عَلَى ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

walaqadi ikh'tarnāhum ʿalā ʿil'min ʿalā l-ʿālamīn

We showed them so many proofs, which constituted a great test.

وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ مَا فِيهِ بَلَٰٓؤٌا۟ مُّبِينٌ

waātaynāhum mina l-āyāti mā fīhi balāon mubīnu

The present generations say,

إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ لَيَقُولُونَ

inna hāulāi layaqūlūn

"We only die the first death; we will never be resurrected!

إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّا مَوْتَتُنَا ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُنشَرِينَ

in hiya illā mawtatunā l-ūlā wamā naḥnu bimunsharīn

"Bring back our forefathers, if you are truthful."

فَأْتُوا۟ بِـَٔابَآئِنَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

fatū biābāinā in kuntum ṣādiqīn

Are they better than the people of Tubba' and others before them? We annihilated them for their crimes.

أَهُمْ خَيْرٌ أَمْ قَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ أَهْلَكْنَٰهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ

ahum khayrun am qawmu tubbaʿin wa-alladhīna min qablihim ahlaknāhum innahum kānū muj'rimīn

We did not create the heavens and the earth, and everything between them, just to play.

وَمَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَٰعِبِينَ

wamā khalaqnā l-samāwāti wal-arḍa wamā baynahumā lāʿibīn

We created them for a specific purpose, but most of them do not know.

مَا خَلَقْنَٰهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

mā khalaqnāhumā illā bil-ḥaqi walākinna aktharahum lā yaʿlamūn

The Day of Decision awaits them all.

إِنَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْفَصْلِ مِيقَٰتُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

inna yawma l-faṣli mīqātuhum ajmaʿīn

That is the day when no friend can help his friend in any way; no one can be helped.

يَوْمَ لَا يُغْنِى مَوْلًى عَن مَّوْلًى شَيْـًٔا وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ

yawma lā yugh'nī mawlan ʿan mawlan shayan walā hum yunṣarūn

Only those who attain mercy from GOD. He is the Almighty, Most Merciful.

إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ٱللَّهُ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

illā man raḥima l-lahu innahu huwa l-ʿazīzu l-raḥīm

Surely, the tree of bitterness—

إِنَّ شَجَرَتَ ٱلزَّقُّومِ

inna shajarata l-zaqūm

will provide the food for the sinful.

طَعَامُ ٱلْأَثِيمِ

ṭaʿāmu l-athīm

Like lye, it will boil in the stomachs.

كَٱلْمُهْلِ يَغْلِى فِى ٱلْبُطُونِ

kal-muh'li yaghlī fī l-buṭūn

Like the boiling of hellish drinks.

كَغَلْىِ ٱلْحَمِيمِ

kaghalyi l-ḥamīm

Take him and throw him into the center of Hell.

خُذُوهُ فَٱعْتِلُوهُ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

khudhūhu fa-iʿ'tilūhu ilā sawāi l-jaḥīm

Then pour upon his head the retribution of the Inferno.

ثُمَّ صُبُّوا۟ فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِۦ مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱلْحَمِيمِ

thumma ṣubbū fawqa rasihi min ʿadhābi l-ḥamīm

"Taste this; you were so powerful, so honorable."

ذُقْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْكَرِيمُ

dhuq innaka anta l-ʿazīzu l-karīm

This is what you used to doubt.

إِنَّ هَٰذَا مَا كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَمْتَرُونَ

inna hādhā mā kuntum bihi tamtarūn

The righteous will be in a secure position.

إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى مَقَامٍ أَمِينٍ

inna l-mutaqīna fī maqāmin amīni

Enjoying gardens and springs.

فِى جَنَّٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ

fī jannātin waʿuyūni

Wearing velvet and satin; close to each other.

يَلْبَسُونَ مِن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَقَٰبِلِينَ

yalbasūna min sundusin wa-is'tabraqin mutaqābilīn

We grant them wonderful spouses.

كَذَٰلِكَ وَزَوَّجْنَٰهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٍ

kadhālika wazawwajnāhum biḥūrin ʿīni

They enjoy in it all kinds of fruits, in perfect peace.

يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِكُلِّ فَٰكِهَةٍ ءَامِنِينَ

yadʿūna fīhā bikulli fākihatin āminīn

They do not taste death therein— beyond the first death—and He has spared them the retribution of Hell.

لَا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا ٱلْمَوْتَ إِلَّا ٱلْمَوْتَةَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَوَقَىٰهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

lā yadhūqūna fīhā l-mawta illā l-mawtata l-ūlā wawaqāhum ʿadhāba l-jaḥīm

Such is the blessing from your Lord. Such is the great triumph.

فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكَ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

faḍlan min rabbika dhālika huwa l-fawzu l-ʿaẓīm

We have thus clarified it in your language, that they may take heed.

فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرْنَٰهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

fa-innamā yassarnāhu bilisānika laʿallahum yatadhakkarūn

Therefore, wait; they too will have to wait.

فَٱرْتَقِبْ إِنَّهُم مُّرْتَقِبُونَ

fa-ir'taqib innahum mur'taqibūn