Surah Ad-Dukhan (الدخان) is a Meccan surah of the Quran with 59 verses. Read, listen and memorize this surah with our interactive tools.
Updated on 07 March 2026 at 4:16 PM
📖 4 min readAmong the innermost aspects of their affairs, so the proof is established against those who oppose us, in accordance with your customs, warning the Quraysh and consoling the Prophet, may God's blessings be upon him, with His statement: {And We have certainly tested} - meaning, We have done, in accordance with Our greatness, the action of the Tester, who is the One who seeks to know the true nature of something by granting power and authority, then sending it. And since it is known that the people of Pharaoh did not span all of time, nor were they the closest people in time to the Quraysh, the preposition 'before' is used without the noun it governs, either due to the absence of a need for it or because their trial was so great due to their own greatness and the extent of their power, making it seem as though it encompassed all of time. Thus, He said: {before them} - meaning, before these Arabs - so that what happened to them may serve as a lesson and a warning to them. And since Pharaoh was among the most powerful of those to whom a messenger had been sent before the Quraysh, due to his armies, wealth, and might, and the messenger who had been sent to him - may God's blessings be upon him - had been given signs that encompassed control over the four elements: water, earth, fire, and air. Whenever a sign came to them, they would say: 'O magician, invoke for us your Lord by that which He has promised you; indeed, we will be guided.'
The dignity that necessitates their exclusion from annihilation, despite their encompassing nature, {إنهم جند مغرقون}, meaning they are fully capable in this description, even though they have the attribute of strength and gathering, which is the station of aid that necessitates loftiness in matters.
And when the context necessarily implies an estimation, then Moses took the servants of God, just as God commanded him, and the family of Pharaoh tormented them, as God informed. So, God opened the sea with His mighty power and held back its water like walls with His overwhelming greatness, and left it in its state after they had crossed it. Then, the servants of Satan followed them with the malice that overflowed from them, and God drowned them with His might, and none of them escaped. God illustrated all of this, saying, on the path of reiteration: {كم تركوا}, meaning those who were previously judged to be drowned, and thus they were drowned, {من جنات}, which are gardens that are in the utmost of what can be of the goodness of the earth, the abundance of trees, the clarity of fruits and plants, and their beauty, which comforts the distressed and conceals worries. And He indicated the generosity of the earth with His words: {وعيون وزروع}, meaning springs and crops, which are less than trees. And since this is not complete without residences and views in the gardens and elsewhere, He said: {ومقام كريم}, meaning a noble station, which is worthy for a human to reside in, because the ultimate goal is in what satisfies him.
And they said, '{وما نحن}' - emphasizing the negation, saying: '{بمنشرين}' - meaning, how can we be among those who are resurrected, as if to say, how can we be brought back to life with the ability to move about voluntarily after death? It is said, 'nashrah' and 'anashrah' - when something is brought back to life. And since they claimed that the claim of resurrection is only valid if they witnessed one of the dead, whom they knew, come back to life after their skin and bones had been torn apart, they caused their denial, addressing the Prophet, peace be upon him, and those who followed him: '{فأتوا}' - meaning, bring back our forefathers, as we know them and are familiar with their intellects, so we will not doubt that it is a resurrection of the dead, and this would be a sign for us of the resurrection. And they emphasized their denial by saying: '{إن كنتم صادقين}' - meaning, if you are truthful. And when they were informed of this greatness, they stubbornly rejected it, because if it were to happen, it would be the clearest proof of the prophethood that necessitates the confirmation of everything the Messenger, peace be upon him, says and the signs he brings. They were not afraid of Allah, despite knowing His power and His destruction of those who came before for rejecting the Messengers, peace be upon them. It is as if they are challenging His ability, in a literal or metaphorical sense, {مما يحيى الله} and {ما تفتح الله}
He said, resuming: '{ما خلنقاهما}' - that is, the heavens and the earth, along with everything between them - '{إلا بالحق}' - that is, with justice, judging between those within them. Thus, whoever acts with falsehood will be punished, and whoever acts with truth will be rewarded. This clearly demonstrates the extent of Our perfection, as We have indicated to the people of perfection in this world through the creation of the two, which is in accordance with the truth. This is what necessitates Our attributes, which are necessary for the Resurrection, to establish the truth and nullify falsehood in a manner that is obvious to all. However, most of creation do not know this due to its grandeur and the fact that they do not consider the evidence, even though it is clear and self-evident. '{ولكن أكثرهم}' - that is, most of those among whom you live, who say: '{إن هي إلا موتتنا الأولى}' - and similarly, those who follow their lead - '{لا يعلمون}' - that is, they do not know that We created creation for the sake of establishing the truth. Therefore, they dare to commit sins and corrupt the earth, neither hoping for reward nor fearing punishment. If they were to recall what We have instilled in their intellects, they would come to know clearly that it is the truth, which has no equal, just as their rulers take office in order to establish justice among their subjects, and they condition their rule on justice, affirming to themselves that they will not exceed its bounds. And as if it were said: 'We'
The two descriptions here, 'in a position' {في مقام}, refer to a place of residence where one does not desire to change from that state, and 'trustworthy' {أمين}, meaning the owner feels secure in it from all that they do not like. Since one description after another is a strong encouragement for the thing being described, He replaced 'position' {مقام} with 'in gardens' {في جنات}, meaning orchards that surpass the mind's ability to comprehend their description, and 'springs' {وعيون}, similarly, to the point where the eyes are satisfied with them. After hinting at the description of what is prepared for the inner self in terms of the pleasure of sight and the clothing of food and drink, He followed it with the clothing of the outer self and what is prepared for those who are close, saying: 'They will wear' {يلبسون}. After describing what has been prepared for them in terms of clothing in Paradise, He indicated the great abundance by saying: 'of fine silk' {من سندس}, which is the thinnest type of silk, made into various forms, and added another type, saying: 'and brocade' {وإستبرق}, which is thicker and made into linings, named for its intense shine. Since the description of the hypocrites, with what they have in terms of preoccupation that distracts each of them from themselves and others, had previously been mentioned in the chapter of Az-Zukhruf in the verse of the friends, indicating that they are turning their backs, He described their opposites with what they have in terms of openness and gathering, saying: 'facing each other' {متقابلين}, meaning none of them turns their back on another, neither physically nor metaphorically, and He wanted each of them to face the other, looking at them.
Due to its miraculous nature, containing the oneness of God and prophethood, among other things that have been previously mentioned to you and clarified for you, they were unable to oppose any part of it, and thus they remembered what they had neglected, namely, that God is mighty in destroying the arrogant, and wise in establishing signs through His prophets and supporting them with miracles. And that the great among them would not tolerate anyone questioning their grandeur or abandoning those who are subject to their rule, allowing some to wrong others without providing support to the oppressed or taking the hand of the wrongdoer, so that the righteous and the wrongdoer are not equal. When they recalled this, along with their knowledge of the King's power, grandeur, and wisdom, they knew with certainty that there must be a resurrection to distinguish between the righteous and the corrupt, and to judge all servants. This led to the statement: {fārtiqab}, meaning, wait for what I have promised you, which will lead to their remembrance and guidance. Since they appeared to be hardened and obstinate, claiming that they did not care about anything in the Quran or any other sign that would come to them, and did not consider any of it a miracle, God informed us about their inner fear and anticipation of all the threats, confirming that their hardness was only a facade, and said: {innahum}, and added the word that indicates permanence and continuity, saying: {murtiqabūn}, meaning that their self-imposed vigilance and mental exertion in this regard is constant and never leaves them, for it has penetrated their hearts and filled their chests. The end of the surah has thus corresponded to its beginning, and to the intended meaning of its entirety, both in general and in detail, with the mention of the Book and the anticipation of various punishments. And God is the guide to what is right, He is the noble and generous one.
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حمٓ ﴿١﴾
Ha, Meem.
وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ ﴿٢﴾
By the clear Book,
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةٍۢ مُّبَـٰرَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ ﴿٣﴾
Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind].
فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ ﴿٤﴾
On that night is made distinct every precise matter -
أَمْرًۭا مِّنْ عِندِنَآ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَ ﴿٥﴾
[Every] matter [proceeding] from Us. Indeed, We were to send [a messenger]
رَحْمَةًۭ مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ﴿٦﴾
As mercy from your Lord. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ ﴿٧﴾
Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them, if you would be certain.
لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿٨﴾
There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death. [He is] your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers.
بَلْ هُمْ فِى شَكٍّۢ يَلْعَبُونَ ﴿٩﴾
But they are in doubt, amusing themselves.
فَٱرْتَقِبْ يَوْمَ تَأْتِى ٱلسَّمَآءُ بِدُخَانٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ ﴿١٠﴾
Then watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke.
يَغْشَى ٱلنَّاسَ ۖ هَـٰذَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ ﴿١١﴾
Covering the people; this is a painful torment.
رَّبَّنَا ٱكْشِفْ عَنَّا ٱلْعَذَابَ إِنَّا مُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٢﴾
[They will say], "Our Lord, remove from us the torment; indeed, we are believers."
أَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ وَقَدْ جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ ﴿١٣﴾
How will there be for them a reminder [at that time]? And there had come to them a clear Messenger.
ثُمَّ تَوَلَّوْا۟ عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا۟ مُعَلَّمٌۭ مَّجْنُونٌ ﴿١٤﴾
Then they turned away from him and said, "[He was] taught [and is] a madman."
إِنَّا كَاشِفُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابِ قَلِيلًا ۚ إِنَّكُمْ عَآئِدُونَ ﴿١٥﴾
Indeed, We will remove the torment for a little. Indeed, you [disbelievers] will return [to disbelief].
يَوْمَ نَبْطِشُ ٱلْبَطْشَةَ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ إِنَّا مُنتَقِمُونَ ﴿١٦﴾
The Day We will strike with the greatest assault, indeed, We will take retribution.
۞ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَجَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌۭ كَرِيمٌ ﴿١٧﴾
And We had already tried before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble messenger,
أَنْ أَدُّوٓا۟ إِلَىَّ عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌۭ ﴿١٨﴾
[Saying], "Render to me the servants of Allah. Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger,"
وَأَن لَّا تَعْلُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم بِسُلْطَـٰنٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ ﴿١٩﴾
And [saying], "Be not haughty with Allah. Indeed, I have come to you with clear authority.
وَإِنِّى عُذْتُ بِرَبِّى وَرَبِّكُمْ أَن تَرْجُمُونِ ﴿٢٠﴾
And indeed, I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord, lest you stone me.
وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ لِى فَٱعْتَزِلُونِ ﴿٢١﴾
But if you do not believe me, then leave me alone."
فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوْمٌۭ مُّجْرِمُونَ ﴿٢٢﴾
And [finally] he called to his Lord that these were a criminal people.
فَأَسْرِ بِعِبَادِى لَيْلًا إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾
[Allah said], "Then set out with My servants by night. Indeed, you are to be pursued.
وَٱتْرُكِ ٱلْبَحْرَ رَهْوًا ۖ إِنَّهُمْ جُندٌۭ مُّغْرَقُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾
And leave the sea in stillness. Indeed, they are an army to be drowned."
كَمْ تَرَكُوا۟ مِن جَنَّـٰتٍۢ وَعُيُونٍۢ ﴿٢٥﴾
How much they left behind of gardens and springs
وَزُرُوعٍۢ وَمَقَامٍۢ كَرِيمٍۢ ﴿٢٦﴾
And crops and noble sites
وَنَعْمَةٍۢ كَانُوا۟ فِيهَا فَـٰكِهِينَ ﴿٢٧﴾
And comfort wherein they were amused.
كَذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَأَوْرَثْنَـٰهَا قَوْمًا ءَاخَرِينَ ﴿٢٨﴾
Thus. And We caused to inherit it another people.
فَمَا بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنظَرِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾
And the heaven and earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved.
وَلَقَدْ نَجَّيْنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ مِنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْمُهِينِ ﴿٣٠﴾
And We certainly saved the Children of Israel from the humiliating torment -
مِن فِرْعَوْنَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَالِيًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ ﴿٣١﴾
From Pharaoh. Indeed, he was a haughty one among the transgressors.
وَلَقَدِ ٱخْتَرْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿٣٢﴾
And We certainly chose them by knowledge over [all] the worlds.
وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ مَا فِيهِ بَلَـٰٓؤٌۭا۟ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٣٣﴾
And We gave them of signs that in which there was a clear trial.
إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ لَيَقُولُونَ ﴿٣٤﴾
Indeed, these [disbelievers] are saying,
إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّا مَوْتَتُنَا ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُنشَرِينَ ﴿٣٥﴾
"There is not but our first death, and we will not be resurrected.
فَأْتُوا۟ بِـَٔابَآئِنَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ ﴿٣٦﴾
Then bring [back] our forefathers, if you should be truthful."
أَهُمْ خَيْرٌ أَمْ قَوْمُ تُبَّعٍۢ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ ﴿٣٧﴾
Are they better or the people of Tubba' and those before them? We destroyed them, [for] indeed, they were criminals.
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَـٰعِبِينَ ﴿٣٨﴾
And We did not create the heavens and earth and that between them in play.
مَا خَلَقْنَـٰهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣٩﴾
We did not create them except in truth, but most of them do not know.
إِنَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْفَصْلِ مِيقَـٰتُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٤٠﴾
Indeed, the Day of Judgement is the appointed time for them all -
يَوْمَ لَا يُغْنِى مَوْلًى عَن مَّوْلًۭى شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ ﴿٤١﴾
The Day when no relation will avail a relation at all, nor will they be helped -
إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿٤٢﴾
Except those [believers] on whom Allah has mercy. Indeed, He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.
إِنَّ شَجَرَتَ ٱلزَّقُّومِ ﴿٤٣﴾
Indeed, the tree of zaqqum
طَعَامُ ٱلْأَثِيمِ ﴿٤٤﴾
Is food for the sinful.
كَٱلْمُهْلِ يَغْلِى فِى ٱلْبُطُونِ ﴿٤٥﴾
Like murky oil, it boils within bellies
كَغَلْىِ ٱلْحَمِيمِ ﴿٤٦﴾
Like the boiling of scalding water.
خُذُوهُ فَٱعْتِلُوهُ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ ﴿٤٧﴾
[It will be commanded], "Seize him and drag him into the midst of the Hellfire,
ثُمَّ صُبُّوا۟ فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِۦ مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱلْحَمِيمِ ﴿٤٨﴾
Then pour over his head from the torment of scalding water."
ذُقْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْكَرِيمُ ﴿٤٩﴾
[It will be said], "Taste! Indeed, you are the honored, the noble!
إِنَّ هَـٰذَا مَا كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَمْتَرُونَ ﴿٥٠﴾
Indeed, this is what you used to dispute."
إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى مَقَامٍ أَمِينٍۢ ﴿٥١﴾
Indeed, the righteous will be in a secure place;
فِى جَنَّـٰتٍۢ وَعُيُونٍۢ ﴿٥٢﴾
Within gardens and springs,
يَلْبَسُونَ مِن سُندُسٍۢ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍۢ مُّتَقَـٰبِلِينَ ﴿٥٣﴾
Wearing [garments of] fine silk and brocade, facing each other.
كَذَٰلِكَ وَزَوَّجْنَـٰهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٍۢ ﴿٥٤﴾
Thus. And We will marry them to fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes.
يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِكُلِّ فَـٰكِهَةٍ ءَامِنِينَ ﴿٥٥﴾
They will call therein for every [kind of] fruit - safe and secure.
لَا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا ٱلْمَوْتَ إِلَّا ٱلْمَوْتَةَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَوَقَىٰهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْجَحِيمِ ﴿٥٦﴾
They will not taste death therein except the first death, and He will have protected them from the punishment of Hellfire
فَضْلًۭا مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ﴿٥٧﴾
As bounty from your Lord. That is what is the great attainment.
فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرْنَـٰهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٥٨﴾
And indeed, We have eased the Qur'an in your tongue that they might be reminded.
فَٱرْتَقِبْ إِنَّهُم مُّرْتَقِبُونَ ﴿٥٩﴾
So watch, [O Muhammad]; indeed, they are watching [for your end].