Surah 44 · Meccan · 59 Verses
الدخان
SURAH AD-DUKHAN
The Smoke
Surah Ad-Dukhan describes the Quran being sent down on a blessed night, warns of a smoke and recounts the rescue of the Children of Israel from Pharaoh. It contrasts creation with purpose against the assumption that life is play and closes with scenes of accountability and reassurance for the mindful. More about this surah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
وَٱلْكِتَٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ
By the clear Book,
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إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةٍۢ مُّبَٰرَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ
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فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ
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أَمْرًۭا مِّنْ عِندِنَآ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَ
[Every] matter [proceeding] from Us. Indeed, We were to send [a messenger]
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رَحْمَةًۭ مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
As mercy from your Lord. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing,
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رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ
Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them, if you would be certain.
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لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death. [He is] your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers.
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بَلْ هُمْ فِى شَكٍّۢ يَلْعَبُونَ
But they are in doubt, amusing themselves.
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فَٱرْتَقِبْ يَوْمَ تَأْتِى ٱلسَّمَآءُ بِدُخَانٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ
Then watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke
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يَغْشَى ٱلنَّاسَ ۖ هَٰذَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ
Covering the people; this is a painful torment.
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رَّبَّنَا ٱكْشِفْ عَنَّا ٱلْعَذَابَ إِنَّا مُؤْمِنُونَ
[They will say], "Our Lord, remove from us the torment; indeed, we are believers."
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أَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ وَقَدْ جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ
How will there be for them a reminder [at that time]? And there had come to them a clear Messenger.
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ثُمَّ تَوَلَّوْا۟ عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا۟ مُعَلَّمٌۭ مَّجْنُونٌ
Then they turned away from him and said, "[He was] taught [and is] a madman."
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إِنَّا كَاشِفُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابِ قَلِيلًا ۚ إِنَّكُمْ عَآئِدُونَ
Indeed, We will remove the torment for a little. Indeed, you [disbelievers] will return [to disbelief].
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يَوْمَ نَبْطِشُ ٱلْبَطْشَةَ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ إِنَّا مُنتَقِمُونَ
The Day We will strike with the greatest assault, indeed, We will take retribution.
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۞ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَجَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌۭ كَرِيمٌ
And We had already tried before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble messenger [i.e., Moses],
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أَنْ أَدُّوٓا۟ إِلَىَّ عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌۭ
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وَأَن لَّا تَعْلُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم بِسُلْطَٰنٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ
And [saying], "Be not haughty with Allāh. Indeed, I have come to you with clear evidence.
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وَإِنِّى عُذْتُ بِرَبِّى وَرَبِّكُمْ أَن تَرْجُمُونِ
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وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ لِى فَٱعْتَزِلُونِ
But if you do not believe me, then leave me alone."
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فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوْمٌۭ مُّجْرِمُونَ
And [finally] he called to his Lord that these were a criminal people.
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فَأَسْرِ بِعِبَادِى لَيْلًا إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ
[Allāh said], "Then set out with My servants by night. Indeed, you are to be pursued.
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وَٱتْرُكِ ٱلْبَحْرَ رَهْوًا ۖ إِنَّهُمْ جُندٌۭ مُّغْرَقُونَ
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كَمْ تَرَكُوا۟ مِن جَنَّٰتٍۢ وَعُيُونٍۢ
How much they left behind of gardens and springs
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وَزُرُوعٍۢ وَمَقَامٍۢ كَرِيمٍۢ
And crops and noble sites
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وَنَعْمَةٍۢ كَانُوا۟ فِيهَا فَٰكِهِينَ
And comfort wherein they were amused.
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كَذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَأَوْرَثْنَٰهَا قَوْمًا ءَاخَرِينَ
Thus. And We caused to inherit it another people.
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فَمَا بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنظَرِينَ
And the heaven and earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved.
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وَلَقَدْ نَجَّيْنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ مِنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْمُهِينِ
And We certainly saved the Children of Israel from the humiliating torment -
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مِن فِرْعَوْنَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَالِيًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ
From Pharaoh. Indeed, he was a haughty one among the transgressors.
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وَلَقَدِ ٱخْتَرْنَٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عَلَى ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ
And We certainly chose them by knowledge over [all] the worlds.
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وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ مَا فِيهِ بَلَٰٓؤٌۭا۟ مُّبِينٌ
And We gave them of signs that in which there was a clear trial.
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إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ لَيَقُولُونَ
Indeed, these [disbelievers] are saying,
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إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّا مَوْتَتُنَا ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُنشَرِينَ
"There is not but our first death, and we will not be resurrected.
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فَأْتُوا۟ بِـَٔابَآئِنَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ
Then bring [back] our forefathers, if you should be truthful."
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أَهُمْ خَيْرٌ أَمْ قَوْمُ تُبَّعٍۢ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ أَهْلَكْنَٰهُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ
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وَمَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَٰعِبِينَ
And We did not create the heavens and earth and that between them in play.
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مَا خَلَقْنَٰهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
We did not create them except in truth, but most of them do not know.
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إِنَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْفَصْلِ مِيقَٰتُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
Indeed, the Day of Judgement is the appointed time for them all -
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يَوْمَ لَا يُغْنِى مَوْلًى عَن مَّوْلًۭى شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
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إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Except those [believers] on whom Allāh has mercy. Indeed, He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.
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إِنَّ شَجَرَتَ ٱلزَّقُّومِ
Indeed, the tree of zaqqūm
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طَعَامُ ٱلْأَثِيمِ
Is food for the sinful.
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كَٱلْمُهْلِ يَغْلِى فِى ٱلْبُطُونِ
Like murky oil, it boils within bellies
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كَغَلْىِ ٱلْحَمِيمِ
Like the boiling of scalding water.
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خُذُوهُ فَٱعْتِلُوهُ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
[It will be commanded], "Seize him and drag him into the midst of the Hellfire,
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ثُمَّ صُبُّوا۟ فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِۦ مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱلْحَمِيمِ
Then pour over his head from the torment of scalding water."
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ذُقْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْكَرِيمُ
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إِنَّ هَٰذَا مَا كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَمْتَرُونَ
Indeed, this is what you used to dispute."
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إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى مَقَامٍ أَمِينٍۢ
Indeed, the righteous will be in a secure place:
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فِى جَنَّٰتٍۢ وَعُيُونٍۢ
Within gardens and springs,
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يَلْبَسُونَ مِن سُندُسٍۢ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍۢ مُّتَقَٰبِلِينَ
Wearing [garments of] fine silk and brocade, facing each other.
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كَذَٰلِكَ وَزَوَّجْنَٰهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٍۢ
Thus. And We will marry them to fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes.
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يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِكُلِّ فَٰكِهَةٍ ءَامِنِينَ
They will call therein for every [kind of] fruit - safe and secure.
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لَا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا ٱلْمَوْتَ إِلَّا ٱلْمَوْتَةَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَوَقَىٰهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
They will not taste death therein except the first death, and He will have protected them from the punishment of Hellfire
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فَضْلًۭا مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
As bounty from your Lord. That is what is the great attainment.
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فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرْنَٰهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
And indeed, We have eased it [i.e., the Qur’ān] in your tongue that they might be reminded.
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فَٱرْتَقِبْ إِنَّهُم مُّرْتَقِبُونَ
So watch, [O Muḥammad]; indeed, they are watching [for your end].
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At a Glance
- Verses
- 59
- Words (Arabic)
- 346 — ranked 57 of 114 surahs by word count
- Average per verse
- 5.9 words
- Longest verse
- 44:37 (12 words)
- Shortest verse
- 44:1 (1 word)
- Revealed
- Meccan
- Juz
- Juz 25
Word counts are computed from the Uthmani Arabic text used on this site; the basmalah at the head of the surah is not counted. Counts can differ slightly between printed editions of the Mushaf.
About This Surah
The opening speaks of the clear Book and a blessed night in which matters are determined by divine command. Interpretive traditions connect this passage with the Night of Decree, but this page distinguishes direct wording from explanatory tradition and sources any claim about exact recitation practice.
A warning of smoke follows. Classical interpretations have discussed whether it refers to a historical famine/sign experienced by opponents, a future sign or related meanings. VerseSurah does not present one debated interpretation as undisputed or use the passage to predict a current event.
The surah briefly recounts Moses asking that the servants of God be released. Pharaoh’s people are described through arrogance, luxury and pursuit, then the gardens and resources they leave behind are noted.
The Children of Israel receive knowledge and signs, but the chapter’s first audience still challenges resurrection. The response points to earlier destruction and to creation not being made in play.
Judgment scenes distinguish the tree of Zaqqum and punishment from the security and gardens of the mindful. These are unseen claims and should be presented without sensational imagery.
The Quran is described as made easy in the messenger’s language so that people may remember. The closing tells him to wait while opponents also wait.
The Quran describes revelation on a blessed night, but this overview does not identify that night with the middle of Sha‘ban or attach special rituals without separate exact evidence.
The smoke passage has generated interpretive discussion; it must not be confidently mapped onto current pollution, war, technology, or an announced date.
Core Themes
- Revelation is connected with mercy and warning.
- Political luxury cannot prevent collapse.
- Creation has purpose.
- Resurrection answers moral imbalance.
- Unseen signs require humility.
- Accessible language creates responsibility.
Structure
Verses 1-16: Blessed night, mercy and smoke — 1-16
Verses 17-33: Moses, Pharaoh and rescue — 17-33
Verses 34-42: Resurrection and purposeful creation — 34-42
Verses 43-57: Punishment and security — 43-57
Verses 58-59: Accessible revelation and waiting — 58-59
Reading Guide
Reading step 1
Distinguish Quranic wording from later devotional practice.
Reading step 2
Present competing smoke interpretations fairly.
Reading step 3
Do not map Pharaoh’s fall onto every current political event.
Reading step 4
Avoid graphic sensationalism in judgment passages.
Key Passages
Clear Book and blessed night — 1-6
The clear Book, its descent on a blessed night and the sending of a messenger are framed as warning and mercy. The passage links revelation with divine purpose and knowledge. Its mention of a blessed night does not itself supply a new annual ritual formula or repetition count.
Smoke warning — 10-16
The smoke scene includes a request for relief, a claim of belief and a warning that the earlier pattern will return. The section therefore concerns the reliability of a response made under pressure. It should be read alongside the remembered rejection of the messenger, rather than used to date a modern event.
Moses and Pharaoh — 17-29
Moses asks for the people entrusted to him and seeks protection from threatened violence. The departure by night is followed by pursuit and the loss of Pharaoh's gardens, buildings and comfort. The list of abandoned possessions makes the collapse of apparently permanent security concrete.
Resurrection and purpose — 34-42
Denial of resurrection is answered by recalling earlier peoples and affirming that creation is not aimless. The appointed day then exposes the limits of family connections and assistance. The argument moves from demands about dead ancestors to the question of what makes moral accountability meaningful.
Contrasting outcomes — 43-57
The two outcomes contrast painful dependence with secure welcome, nourishment and lasting life. The ironic address to the supposedly honored person overturns confidence in earthly status. The second scene identifies its security as divine bounty, not something a person can independently claim by social rank.
Quran made accessible in language — 58-59
The chapter returns to the Quran's language and its purpose as a reminder, echoing the opening description of a clear Book. The closing instruction to wait leaves the dispute unresolved within the immediate scene while sustaining the warning. Accessibility calls for a response rather than guaranteeing one.
Recitation Note
No exclusive time, fixed repetition count, or guaranteed worldly outcome is asserted here for reciting Surah Ad-Dukhan. Reading it is worship and study; any claim about protection, healing, provision, marriage, political success, or a prescribed number requires separate exact evidence and carefully limited wording.
Interpretation Limits
- The smoke cannot be confidently identified with a modern event without evidence.
- Exact Night of Decree practice requires separate source verification.
- Unseen punishment descriptions should not be illustrated beyond the text.
- The chapter does not provide a date for end-time signs.
- Political analogies should remain cautious and non-incendiary.
- The blessed night must not be identified with 15 Sha‘ban or a specific ritual without separate exact evidence.
- The smoke must not be confidently mapped onto current events, technologies, disasters, or dates.
- Judgment scenes should not become fear marketing, entertainment, or declarations against named people.