likewise, you will be raised up again.
12It is He Who created all things
in pairs, and made for you the ships
and livestock on which you ride,
13so that, securely mounted
on their backs, you might recall
your Lord’s favor to you, and say,
“Glory be to Him, Who subdued
all this [to our use],
for we were unable to do this.
14“And We shall turn
back to Our Lord.”
15Yet they attribute
to some of His servants
a share with Him [as His daughters]°—
humankind is blatantly ungrateful.
SECTION 2
16Or, has He taken daughters
from what He himself created
and chosen sons for you?
17When one of them hears
of [the birth of a daughter]
—a creature he has likened to God—
his visage darkens, and he is
choked with grief.°
18“[Am I to have a daughter]—
who is nurtured among trinkets
and cannot form a clear argument?”°
19They also deem the angels
—who are themselves servants
of the Most Merciful—to be female.
Did they witness their creation?
Their testimony will be recorded
and they shall be questioned.
20They say, “If the All Merciful
had willed it, we would not
have worshipped them.”
But they have no knowledge of this,
and do nothing but speculate.
21Or, did We give them
a Book before this,
to which they hold fast?
22No—they say,
“We found our fathers
practicing [this] religion,
and we are guided
by their footsteps.”
23Likewise, whenever We sent
someone before you, to warn a town,
their affluent people affirmed,
“We found our fathers
practicing [this] religion,
and we are guided
by their footsteps.”
24The Prophet retorted,
“Even if I brought you better guidance
than what you found
your ancestors practicing?”
They answered, “We deny
the message you have brought.”
25So We requited them—
observe, then, the fate of those
who denied the truth.
SECTION 3
26Abraham said to his father
and his people, “I repudiate
what you worship.
27“[I worship] none but the One
Who made me,
and He will guide me.”
28He made this a lasting declaration°
to his descendants,
so they might return to God.
29Still, I let these people and their fathers
enjoy this life for a while,
until the truth came to them, and
a messenger who made things clear.
30But when the truth came to them,
they declared, “This is sorcery—
we don’t believe it.”
31And they ask,
“Why wasn’t this Quran
revealed to some prominent man
from one of the two cities?”°
32Is it they who apportion
the mercy of your Lord?
It is We Who apportion among them
their livelihood in the life of this world.
We raise some of them above others
in rank, so they take them into service.
And the mercy of your Lord
is better than
all the worldly goods they hoard.
33We could have lavished on those
who deny the All Merciful
roofs of silver for their houses,
and stairways to ascend
—if this did not risk uniting them
into one disbelieving community—
34as well as doors
for their homes, and
beds on which to rest,
35as well as ornaments of gold.
But all these are merely amusements
of the life of this world. The hereafter,
with your Lord, is for the righteous.°
SECTION 4
36If anyone turns away from
the message of the All Merciful,
We appoint for him a devil,
to be his companion.
37Such [devils] hinder them from
the right path, though they think
they are being rightly guided.
38Until, when they come to Us,
they say [to their devil companion],
“If only there were a distance
between us, as between East and West.
What a wretched companion!”
39[They will be told],
“Since you did wrong,
having partners in punishment
won’t help you now.”
40Can you make the deaf hear,
or guide the blind,
or those who are clearly astray?
41Either We shall take you
[from this life],
and requite them
42or We shall show you
the fate We promised them—
for We have power over them.
43So hold fast to what
was revealed to you,
for you are on a straight path.
44And [the Quran] is a reminder
for you and your people—soon
you shall all be questioned.
45And ask the messengers
We sent before you,
did We appoint any gods
to be worshipped
other than the All Merciful?
SECTION 5
46We sent Moses with Our signs
to Pharaoh and his chiefs.
He announced, “I am a messenger
from the Lord of the universe.”
47But when he came to them
with Our signs, they laughed at them.
48We showed them sign after sign,
each greater than its predecessor,°
then We seized them with torment
so they might turn back [to Us],
49and they replied, “Sorcerer,
pray for us to your Lord
by virtue of His covenant with you—
then we will be guided.”
50But once We removed their torment,
they broke their word.
51Pharaoh called out to his people,
“My people, do I not hold dominion
over Egypt, over these rivers flowing
beneath me? Do you not see?
52“Am I not better than
this vile wretch, who can scarce
express himself in plain speech?
53“Why is he not adorned
with bracelets of gold, and escorted
by a host of angels?”
54And so he fooled his people,
who obeyed him, for they were
a disobedient people.
55So, when they angered Us,
We requited them,
and drowned them all.
56And We made them
a precedent—an example
for generations to come.
SECTION 6
57When [Jesus], son of Mary,
is offered as an example,
your people laugh about him,
58saying, “Are our gods better,
or him?” They mention him
to you merely to argue,
for they are a contentious people.
59He was only a servant—
to whom We granted favor, and
whom We offered as an example
to the children of Israel.
60Had it been Our wish,
We could have made
some of you angels,
succeeding one another
on the earth.
61And [Jesus] is a portent
of the impending hour,°
so do not harbor doubt about it,
and follow Me.
This is a straight path.
62And don’t let Satan bar you
[from the path]—
he is your open enemy.
63When Jesus came
with clear testimony, he said,
“I come to bring you wisdom,
and to clarify some of the things
over which you dispute—
so, fear God, and obey me.”
64“For God is my Lord
and your Lord.
So worship Him alone—
this is a straight path.”
65Yet the various sects still
disputed among themselves.
Let those who did wrong
beware the torment
of a painful day.
66Are they just waiting
for the hour to fall upon them
suddenly, while they are heedless?
67On that day, friends
will become foes of one another—
except those who are righteous.
SECTION 7
68My servants—on that day,
you shall have no fear
nor shall you grieve—
69those who believed in Our signs
and bowed to Our will—
70enter the garden, you
and your spouses, rejoicing.
71Plates and goblets of gold
shall be passed among them.
And there, they shall have
all that their souls desire
and all that delights the eyes.
And you shall abide there forever.
72This shall be the garden
bequeathed to you as its heirs
in virtue of your deeds.
73There you shall have
fruit in abundance to eat.
74But the sinful shall see
the torment of hell,
abiding there forever.
75Their torment shall not be lightened—
they shall be mired in despair.
76We have not wronged them—
it is they themselves who did wrong.
77They will cry, “Malik,°
let your Lord put an end to us!”
He will reply, “You must abide.”
78We have brought you the truth
but most of you abhor the truth.
79Have they contrived a scheme?
We too shall conceive a scheme.
80Or do they think We can’t hear
their covert talk and whispered counsels?
Our envoys are with them, recording.
81Say, “If the All Merciful
did have a child, I would be
the first to worship [him].”
82Glory be to the Lord
of the heavens and the earth,
Lord of the throne—far above
what they ascribe to Him.
83So leave them to gossip
and frolic—until they encounter
their promised day.
84He is God in heaven
and God on earth,
He is Wise, All Knowing.
85Blessed is He who has dominion
over the heavens and the earth
and all that lies between them;
He alone has knowledge of the hour,
and to Him you shall be returned.
86And those they call on besides God
have no power to intercede—
only those who bore witness
to the truth and know [it].
87If you, Prophet, asked them
“Who created the heavens and earth?”
they would surely say, “God.”
How, then, can they be deluded?
88[God hears the] lament
[of the messenger],°
“My Lord, these are a people
who do not believe.”
89So, turn away from them,
and say, “Peace,”
for soon they shall come to know.
SURA 44
Smoke (Al-Dukhan)
For this Meccan sura of 59 verses, the distinctive image is “a pall of smoke” marking the day of resurrection (v. 10). It suggests that the Quran was revealed “on a [single] blessèd night” (v. 3), anticipating al-Qdar, Sura 97. It also recounts the story of Pharaoh, his punishment, and the rescue of the people of Israel (vv. 17–33). It ends with a direct command to Muhammad: “Wait,” as the unbelievers also are waiting (v. 59).
In the Name of God, the All Merciful, Ever Merciful
SECTION 1
1Ha Mim.°
2By the clarifying Book,
3which We revealed on a blessèd night
—We constantly give warning—
4a night where every matter
was wisely determined
5by Our command—
We constantly send [revelation]
6as a mercy from your Lord—
He is All Hearing, All Knowing,
7Lord of the heavens and earth,
and of all that lies between—if only
you were assured in faith.°
8There is no god but He—
He Who gives life and brings death,
your Lord, and Lord of your forefathers.
9Yet they idle around, in doubt.
10Watch out, then, for a day
when the sky pours out
a pall of smoke, for all to see,
11enveloping humankind—
a painful torment.
12[They will cry,] “Our Lord,
remove this torment from us—
we are true believers.”
13How can they be reminded
—a messenger already came to them
with a clear message,°
14they turned away from him,
exclaiming, “A tutored madman.”
15If We remove the torment
for a while, you will revert
[to your former ways].
16The day We seize them
with overwhelming force,
We shall exact retribution.
17Before them, We tested
the people of Pharaoh—
a noble messenger came to them,
18saying, “Deliver God’s servants to me—
I am a trustworthy messenger sent to you,
19“and do not exalt yourselves
over God—I come to you
with clear authority.
20“Should you seek to revile me°
I seek refuge with my Lord
and your Lord.
21“If you don’t believe me,
then keep away from me.”
22So Moses cried to his Lord,
“These people are a nation of sinners.”
23[The reply came:]
“Set out by night with My servants,
for you are sure to be pursued.
24“And leave the sea as it is—
divided°—behind you,
for their army shall be drowned.”
25How many gardens and springs
they left behind,
26with fields of corn
and splendid structures,
27and pleasant things° in which
they had known delight.
28This [was their end],
and We made other peoples
heirs to those things.
29Neither heaven nor earth
wept for them,
nor were they granted any respite.
SECTION 2
30We delivered the children of Israel
from disgraceful torment
31by Pharaoh, foremost
among the transgressors.
32And We chose them,
with full knowledge,
over all peoples,°
33and granted them signs
that would clearly try them.°
34As for these people
[the Meccan disbelievers], they say,
35“There is nothing beyond
our first death—we shall not
be raised again.
36“Bring back our ancestors
if what you say is true.”
37Are they better
