In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. 'Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari.
Surah al-Dukhan.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Ha-Mim.
By the clear Book.
“Lo! We revealed it on a blessed night - Lo! We are ever warning -” (44:3)
Indeed, We have been warners.
Ha-Mim.
By the clear Book.
He swears by this Book that He revealed it on a blessed night.
It is the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr).
Indeed, We have been warners, manifesting through this Book the warning of Our punishment.
“Whereon every wise command is made clear” (44:4)
As a command from Us.
Indeed, We have been senders of messengers.
As a mercy from your Lord.
Indeed, it is He who is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
On this blessed night.
Every matter decreed by Allah the Almighty for that year is ordained and distinguished.
Until the same time in the following year.
On this blessed night, every wise matter is made distinct.
As a command from Us.
Indeed, We have been senders of Our messenger Muhammad, peace be upon him, to Our servants.
As a mercy from your Lord, O Muhammad.
Indeed, Allah is the All-Hearing of what these polytheists say.
The All-Knowing of what their inner selves conceal.
And other matters concerning them and others.
The Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them.
If you are of those who are certain.
There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death.
Your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers.
He who revealed this Book to you, O Muhammad.
The Owner of the seven heavens and the earth and whatever is between them.
If you are certain of the truth of what I have informed you.
Then be certain of it just as you are certain of the realities of things other than it.
There is no object of worship for you, O people, other than the Lord of the heavens and the earth.
He is the One who gives life to whom He wills and causes death to whom He wills.
Your Owner and the Owner of those who passed away before you from your first forefathers.
So worship Him instead of your idols.
“Nay, but they play in doubt.” (44:9)
They are not certain of the truth of what is said and reported to them of these accounts.
Rather, they are in doubt about it.
They are merely playing with their doubt regarding what they are told of these matters.
“But watch thou (O Muhammad) for the day when the sky will produce visible smoke” (44:10)
People will soon face this painful punishment.
"Our Lord, remove the punishment from us; indeed, we are believers."
So wait, O Muhammad, regarding these polytheists.
The day the sky brings forth something like a clear smoke, which is evident to anyone who contemplates it as smoke.
This occurred when the Prophet, peace be upon him, prayed against the Quraysh.
That Allah might afflict them with years like the years of Joseph.
It will cover their vision due to the distress that befalls them.
They will say, "This is a painful punishment."
And they will say, "If You remove it, we will believe in You."
"And we will worship You instead of every deity other than You."
How can they be reminded when a clear messenger has already come to them?
“And they had turned away from him and said: One taught (by others), a madman?” (44:14)
From what perspective can these polytheists be reminded after the affliction has descended upon them?
When they turned away from Our messenger when he came to them, ignoring him.
They neither remember nor take heed.
And they say, "He is merely a madman who has been taught this speech."
Indeed, We will remove the punishment for a little while, but you will return to your ways.
We will remove the distress that has descended upon them.
Indeed, you polytheists, once the distress you are in is removed from you.
You will not fulfill the faith you promised and pledged to your Lord.
But you will return to your misguidance and transgression.
“On the day when We shall seize them with the greater seizure, (then) in truth We shall punish.” (44:16)
Indeed, you polytheists.
If the punishment is removed from you and you then return to your disbelief.
We will take retribution from you.
The day We strike with the greatest assault in the immediate life of this world.
And We will destroy you.
Allah removed it from them, but they returned.
So He struck them with His greatest assault in this world.
And He destroyed them by killing them with the sword on the day of Badr.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.