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Surah Ad-Dukhan

الدخان

Surah Ad-Dukhan is a short Meccan surah of 59 verses that warns of a day of visible smoke, recalls Pharaoh's downfall, and contrasts the Tree of Zaqqum with the gardens of the righteous.

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Meaning
The Smoke
Surah
44 of 114
Verses
59
Revealed in
Mecca
Found in
Juz 25

What Surah Ad-Dukhan is about

Surah Ad-Dukhan is the 44th surah of the Quran, a Meccan surah of 59 verses. Its name, "The Smoke", comes from verse 10, which warns of a day when the sky brings a visible smoke covering people. It is the fifth of the seven surahs that open with Ha Meem.

It begins with an oath by the clear Book and states that it was sent down on a blessed night, in which every wise matter is decided (44:2-5). Most scholars understand this night to be Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree in Ramadan. Verses 10-16 then describe the smoke and the people's plea to have the punishment lifted, and point out that they had already turned away from a clear messenger, calling him taught by others and mad. The punishment will be eased a little, but they will return to their ways.

Verses 17-33 tell of Moses (Musa) asking Pharaoh to release Allah's servants, being told to leave by night with them, and crossing the sea. Pharaoh's people leave behind gardens, springs, crops and fine homes, and the surah observes that neither the heaven nor the earth wept for them (44:29).

The Meccans' denial of resurrection is then answered: the heavens and earth were not created as play, and the Day of Sorting is the appointed time for all (44:34-42). The surah describes the Tree of Zaqqum, whose fruit boils in the stomach like molten metal (44:43-50), and then the righteous in a secure place among gardens and springs, dressed in silk and safe from death beyond the first one (44:51-57). It ends by saying the Quran was made easy in the Prophet ﷺ's own language so that people might take heed (44:58-59).

Main themes

  1. Sent down on a blessed night

    The surah opens by saying the Book was revealed on a blessed night in which every wise matter is set apart. This revelation is described as a mercy from the Lord of the heavens and earth.

    Verses 1–8

  2. The smoke

    A day is foretold when a visible smoke covers people and they cry out to have it lifted, promising to believe. The surah notes that a clear messenger had already come to them and been rejected. Commentators differ on whether this smoke was a famine-time haze in Mecca or a sign near the end of time.

    Verses 10–16

  3. Pharaoh's lost gardens

    Moses asks Pharaoh to release Allah's servants and then leaves with them by night. Pharaoh's people drown, leaving their gardens, springs and fine homes to others, and no one in heaven or earth mourns them.

    Verses 17–33

  4. Not created as play

    The surah answers those who say there is only one death and no resurrection. Creation has a purpose, and on the Day of Sorting no friend can help another, except those to whom Allah shows mercy.

    Verses 34–42

  5. Zaqqum and the gardens

    The food of the sinner is the Tree of Zaqqum, boiling inside like scalding water. The righteous, in contrast, are secure among gardens and springs, call for any fruit in peace, and are protected from Hell as a favor from their Lord.

    Verses 43–57

Verses to know

إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ فِي لَيۡلَةٖ مُّبَٰرَكَةٍۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ ﴿٣﴾ فِيهَا يُفۡرَقُ كُلُّ أَمۡرٍ حَكِيمٍ ﴿٤﴾

3We have revealed it on a Blessed Night—We have warned. 4In it is distinguished every wise command.
Ad-Dukhan 44:3–4

These verses describe the night on which the Quran was revealed, in which every wise matter is decided. Most scholars link it with Laylat al-Qadr in Ramadan.

فَمَا بَكَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُنظَرِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾

Neither heaven nor earth wept over them, nor were they reprieved.
Ad-Dukhan 44:29

A short and unusual image: neither the heavens nor the earth wept over Pharaoh's people when they perished.

وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا لَٰعِبِينَ ﴿٣٨﴾ مَا خَلَقۡنَٰهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ﴿٣٩﴾

38We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them to play. 39We created them only for a specific purpose, but most of them do not know.
Ad-Dukhan 44:38–39

Allah says He did not create the heavens and the earth as a pastime but for a real purpose, which most people do not realise.

فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرۡنَٰهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٥٨﴾

We made it easy in your language, so that they may remember.
Ad-Dukhan 44:58

The surah ends by saying the Quran has been made easy in the Prophet ﷺ's language so that people would remember, a reassurance for anyone who finds it daunting.

When Surah Ad-Dukhan is recited

Some Muslims recite Surah Ad-Dukhan on Thursday night or Friday night, based on narrations in Sunan at-Tirmidhi promising forgiveness or angels' prayers for those who do so. At-Tirmidhi himself noted weakness in these chains, and hadith scholars generally consider them weak, so they are not a firm basis for a special virtue. Reading the surah at any time is, of course, worthwhile.

Surah Ad-Dukhan in Arabic and English

All 59 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  1. 1

    حمٓ

    Hameem

    Ha, Meem.

  2. 2

    وَٱلۡكِتَٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ

    Waalkitabi almubeeni

    By the Enlightening Scripture.

  3. 3

    إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ فِي لَيۡلَةٖ مُّبَٰرَكَةٍۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ

    Inna anzalnahu fee laylatin mubarakatin inna kunna munthireena

    We have revealed it on a Blessed Night—We have warned.

  4. 4

    فِيهَا يُفۡرَقُ كُلُّ أَمۡرٍ حَكِيمٍ

    Feeha yufraqu kullu amrin hakeemin

    In it is distinguished every wise command.

  5. 5

    أَمۡرٗا مِّنۡ عِندِنَآۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرۡسِلِينَ

    Amran min AAindina inna kunna mursileena

    A decree from Us. We have been sending messages.

  6. 6

    رَحۡمَةٗ مِّن رَّبِّكَۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ

    Rahmatan min rabbika innahu huwa alssameeAAu alAAaleemu

    As mercy from your Lord. He is the Hearer, the Knower.

  7. 7

    رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ

    Rabbi alssamawati waalardi wama baynahuma in kuntum mooqineena

    Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, if you know for sure.

  8. 8

    لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحۡيِۦ وَيُمِيتُۖ رَبُّكُمۡ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ

    La ilaha illa huwa yuhyee wayumeetu rabbukum warabbu abaikumu alawwaleena

    There is no god but He. He gives life and causes death—your Lord and Lord of your ancestors of old.

  9. 9

    بَلۡ هُمۡ فِي شَكّٖ يَلۡعَبُونَ

    Bal hum fee shakkin yalAAaboona

    Yet they play around in doubt.

  10. 10

    فَٱرۡتَقِبۡ يَوۡمَ تَأۡتِي ٱلسَّمَآءُ بِدُخَانٖ مُّبِينٖ

    Fairtaqib yawma tatee alssamao bidukhanin mubeenin

    So watch out for the Day when the sky produces a visible smoke.

  11. 11

    يَغۡشَى ٱلنَّاسَۖ هَٰذَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمࣱ

    Yaghsha alnnasa hatha AAathabun aleemun

    Enveloping mankind; this is a painful punishment.

  12. 12

    رَّبَّنَا ٱكۡشِفۡ عَنَّا ٱلۡعَذَابَ إِنَّا مُؤۡمِنُونَ

    Rabbana ikshif AAanna alAAathaba inna muminoona

    “Our Lord, lift the torment from us, we are believers.”

  13. 13

    أَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ وَقَدۡ جَآءَهُمۡ رَسُولࣱ مُّبِينࣱ

    Anna lahumu alththikra waqad jaahum rasoolun mubeenun

    But how can they be reminded? An enlightening messenger has already come to them.

  14. 14

    ثُمَّ تَوَلَّوۡاْ عَنۡهُ وَقَالُواْ مُعَلَّمࣱ مَّجۡنُونٌ

    Thumma tawallaw AAanhu waqaloo muAAallamun majnoonun

    But they turned away from him, and said, “Educated, but crazy!”

  15. 15

    إِنَّا كَاشِفُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابِ قَلِيلًاۚ إِنَّكُمۡ عَآئِدُونَ

    Inna kashifoo alAAathabi qaleelan innakum AAaidoona

    We will ease the punishment a little, but you will revert.

  16. 16

    يَوۡمَ نَبۡطِشُ ٱلۡبَطۡشَةَ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ إِنَّا مُنتَقِمُونَ

    Yawma nabtishu albatshata alkubra inna muntaqimoona

    The Day when We launch the Great Assault—We will avenge.

  17. 17

    ۞وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَجَآءَهُمۡ رَسُولࣱ كَرِيمٌ

    Walaqad fatanna qablahum qawma firAAawna wajaahum rasoolun kareemun

    Before them We tested the people of Pharaoh; a noble messenger came to them.

  18. 18

    أَنۡ أَدُّوٓاْ إِلَيَّ عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنِّي لَكُمۡ رَسُولٌ أَمِينࣱ

    An addoo ilayya AAibada Allahi innee lakum rasoolun ameenun

    Saying, “Hand over Allah’s servants to me. I am an honest messenger to you.”

  19. 19

    وَأَن لَّا تَعۡلُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۖ إِنِّيٓ ءَاتِيكُم بِسُلۡطَٰنٖ مُّبِينٖ

    Waan la taAAloo AAala Allahi innee ateekum bisultanin mubeenin

    And, “Do not exalt yourselves above Allah. I come to you with clear authority.

  20. 20

    وَإِنِّي عُذۡتُ بِرَبِّي وَرَبِّكُمۡ أَن تَرۡجُمُونِ

    Wainnee AAuthtu birabbee warabbikum an tarjumooni

    I have taken refuge in my Lord and your Lord, lest you stone me.

  21. 21

    وَإِن لَّمۡ تُؤۡمِنُواْ لِي فَٱعۡتَزِلُونِ

    Wain lam tuminoo lee faiAAtazilooni

    But if you do not believe in me, keep away from me.”

  22. 22

    فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوۡمࣱ مُّجۡرِمُونَ

    FadaAAa rabbahu anna haolai qawmun mujrimoona

    He appealed to his Lord: “These are a sinful people.”

  23. 23

    فَأَسۡرِ بِعِبَادِي لَيۡلًا إِنَّكُم مُّتَّبَعُونَ

    Faasri biAAibadee laylan innakum muttabaAAoona

    “Set out with My servants by night—you will be followed.

  24. 24

    وَٱتۡرُكِ ٱلۡبَحۡرَ رَهۡوًاۖ إِنَّهُمۡ جُندࣱ مُّغۡرَقُونَ

    Waotruki albahra rahwan innahum jundun mughraqoona

    And cross the sea quickly; they are an army to be drowned.”

  25. 25

    كَمۡ تَرَكُواْ مِن جَنَّـٰتٖ وَعُيُونٖ

    Kam tarakoo min jannatin waAAuyoonin

    How many gardens and fountains did they leave behind?

  26. 26

    وَزُرُوعٖ وَمَقَامٖ كَرِيمٖ

    WazurooAAin wamaqamin kareemin

    And plantations, and splendid buildings.

  27. 27

    وَنَعۡمَةٖ كَانُواْ فِيهَا فَٰكِهِينَ

    WanaAAmatin kanoo feeha fakiheena

    And comforts they used to enjoy.

  28. 28

    كَذَٰلِكَۖ وَأَوۡرَثۡنَٰهَا قَوۡمًا ءَاخَرِينَ

    Kathalika waawrathnaha qawman akhareena

    So it was; and We passed it on to another people.

  29. 29

    فَمَا بَكَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُنظَرِينَ

    Fama bakat AAalayhimu alssamao waalardu wama kanoo munthareena

    Neither heaven nor earth wept over them, nor were they reprieved.

  30. 30

    وَلَقَدۡ نَجَّيۡنَا بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَـٰٓءِيلَ مِنَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡمُهِينِ

    Walaqad najjayna banee israeela mina alAAathabi almuheeni

    And We delivered the Children of Israel from the humiliating persecution.

  31. 31

    مِن فِرۡعَوۡنَۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَالِيٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ

    Min firAAawna innahu kana AAaliyan mina almusrifeena

    From Pharaoh. He was a transgressing tyrant.

  32. 32

    وَلَقَدِ ٱخۡتَرۡنَٰهُمۡ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

    Walaqadi ikhtarnahum AAala AAilmin AAala alAAalameena

    And We chose them knowingly over all other people.

  33. 33

    وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ مَا فِيهِ بَلَـٰٓؤࣱاْ مُّبِينٌ

    Waataynahum mina alayati ma feehi balaon mubeenun

    And We gave them many signs, in which was an obvious test.

  34. 34

    إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ لَيَقُولُونَ

    Inna haolai layaqooloona

    These people say.

  35. 35

    إِنۡ هِيَ إِلَّا مَوۡتَتُنَا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمُنشَرِينَ

    In hiya illa mawtatuna aloola wama nahnu bimunshareena

    “There is nothing but our first death, and we will not be resurrected.

  36. 36

    فَأۡتُواْ بِـَٔابَآئِنَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ

    Fatoo biabaina in kuntum sadiqeena

    Bring back our ancestors, if you are truthful.”

  37. 37

    أَهُمۡ خَيۡرٌ أَمۡ قَوۡمُ تُبَّعٖ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهُمۡۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ مُجۡرِمِينَ

    Ahum khayrun am qawmu tubbaAAin waallatheena min qablihim ahlaknahum innahum kanoo mujrimeena

    Are they better, or the people of Tubba and those before them? We annihilated them. They were evildoers.

  38. 38

    وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا لَٰعِبِينَ

    Wama khalaqna alssamawati waalarda wama baynahuma laAAibeena

    We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them to play.

  39. 39

    مَا خَلَقۡنَٰهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

    Ma khalaqnahuma illa bialhaqqi walakinna aktharahum la yaAAlamoona

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

  40. 40

    إِنَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَصۡلِ مِيقَٰتُهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ

    Inna yawma alfasli meeqatuhum ajmaAAeena

    The Day of Sorting Out is the appointed time for them all.

  41. 41

    يَوۡمَ لَا يُغۡنِي مَوۡلًى عَن مَّوۡلٗى شَيۡـٔٗا وَلَا هُمۡ يُنصَرُونَ

    Yawma la yughnee mawlan AAan mawlan shayan wala hum yunsaroona

    The Day when no friend will avail a friend in any way, and they will not be helped.

  42. 42

    إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ٱللَّهُۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

    Illa man rahima Allahu innahu huwa alAAazeezu alrraheemu

    Except for him upon whom Allah has mercy. He is the Mighty, the Merciful.

  43. 43

    إِنَّ شَجَرَتَ ٱلزَّقُّومِ

    Inna shajarata alzzaqqoomi

    The Tree of Bitterness.

  44. 44

    طَعَامُ ٱلۡأَثِيمِ

    TaAAamu alatheemi

    The food of the sinner.

  45. 45

    كَٱلۡمُهۡلِ يَغۡلِي فِي ٱلۡبُطُونِ

    Kaalmuhli yaghlee fee albutooni

    Like molten lead; boiling inside the bellies.

  46. 46

    كَغَلۡيِ ٱلۡحَمِيمِ

    Kaghalyi alhameemi

    Like the boiling of seething water.

  47. 47

    خُذُوهُ فَٱعۡتِلُوهُ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ

    Khuthoohu faiAAtiloohu ila sawai aljaheemi

    Seize him and drag him into the midst of Hell!

  48. 48

    ثُمَّ صُبُّواْ فَوۡقَ رَأۡسِهِۦ مِنۡ عَذَابِ ٱلۡحَمِيمِ

    Thumma subboo fawqa rasihi min AAathabi alhameemi

    Then pour over his head the suffering of the Inferno!

  49. 49

    ذُقۡ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡكَرِيمُ

    Thuq innaka anta alAAazeezu alkareemu

    Taste! You who were powerful and noble.

  50. 50

    إِنَّ هَٰذَا مَا كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَمۡتَرُونَ

    Inna hatha ma kuntum bihi tamtaroona

    This is what you used to doubt.

  51. 51

    إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي مَقَامٍ أَمِينٖ

    Inna almuttaqeena fee maqamin ameenin

    As for the righteous, they will be in a secure place.

  52. 52

    فِي جَنَّـٰتٖ وَعُيُونٖ

    Fee jannatin waAAuyoonin

    Amidst gardens and springs.

  53. 53

    يَلۡبَسُونَ مِن سُندُسٖ وَإِسۡتَبۡرَقٖ مُّتَقَٰبِلِينَ

    Yalbasoona min sundusin waistabraqin mutaqabileena

    Dressed in silk and brocade, facing one another.

  54. 54

    كَذَٰلِكَ وَزَوَّجۡنَٰهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٖ

    Kathalika wazawwajnahum bihoorin AAeenin

    So it is, and We will wed them to lovely companions.

  55. 55

    يَدۡعُونَ فِيهَا بِكُلِّ فَٰكِهَةٍ ءَامِنِينَ

    YadAAoona feeha bikulli fakihatin amineena

    They will call therein for every kind of fruit, in peace and security.

  56. 56

    لَا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا ٱلۡمَوۡتَ إِلَّا ٱلۡمَوۡتَةَ ٱلۡأُولَىٰۖ وَوَقَىٰهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ

    La yathooqoona feeha almawta illa almawtata aloola wawaqahum AAathaba aljaheemi

    Therein they will not taste death, beyond the first death; and He will protect them from the torment of Hell.

  57. 57

    فَضۡلٗا مِّن رَّبِّكَۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ

    Fadlan min rabbika thalika huwa alfawzu alAAatheemu

    A favor from your Lord. That is the supreme salvation.

  58. 58

    فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرۡنَٰهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

    Fainnama yassarnahu bilisanika laAAallahum yatathakkaroona

    We made it easy in your language, so that they may remember.

  59. 59

    فَٱرۡتَقِبۡ إِنَّهُم مُّرۡتَقِبُونَ

    Fairtaqib innahum murtaqiboona

    So wait and watch. They too are waiting and watching.

Surah Ad-Dukhan PDF

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Questions about Surah Ad-Dukhan

How many verses are in Surah Ad-Dukhan?

Surah Ad-Dukhan has 59 verses. It is the 44th surah of the Quran and was revealed in Mecca.

What is the blessed night in Surah Dukhan?

Verse 3 says the Quran was sent down on a blessed night. Most scholars identify it with Laylat al-Qadr in Ramadan, though a minority linked it to the middle night of Sha'ban.

Is it sunnah to read Surah Dukhan on Friday night?

Narrations in Sunan at-Tirmidhi mention reading it on Thursday or Friday night, but hadith scholars, including at-Tirmidhi, considered their chains weak. It is not established in the way reading Surah Al-Kahf on Friday is held to be by many scholars.

What is the smoke in Surah Ad-Dukhan?

Verses 10-11 describe a visible smoke covering people as a punishment. Some early scholars, including Ibn Mas'ud, said it referred to the haze that hunger caused during a famine in Mecca, while others understood it as a sign before the Day of Judgment.