In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The brief commentary
on the book "Identification Cards
for the Surahs of the Noble Qur'an"
by Dr. Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Umar Nasif,
may Allah preserve him.
Surah Ad-Dukhan.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
We are still continuing with our brief commentary
on the identification cards.
Surah Ad-Dukhan, and we have a series of pauses regarding it. The first pause concerns the surah's placement
and its suitability to Surah Az-Zukhruf, along with the similarity in their openings. At the end of the previous surah,
there is the command to turn away graciously: "So turn away from them and say, 'Peace.'" And what
recurs in this surah is the command to watch and wait: "So watch," at the beginning of the surah on the first
page: "So watch for the day when the sky brings visible smoke," and at the end of the surah,
in the very last verse: "So watch, indeed, they are waiting." Thus, there is a verbal link here, which is
one of the textual connections that exist between two surahs; it may be
verbal, or it may be thematic, as was the case with things we have previously covered.
As for the second pause, it concerns the date of the surah's revelation. He noted that the mention of the smoke (ad-dukhan)
and the tree of Zaqqum may assist in determining the chronological order of revelation. As we have noted time
and again, the word "may" mentioned in such a context merely points to
a potential avenue of research. The verses mentioning Zaqqum in the Qur'an are numerous,
and for some of them, specific reasons for revelation are transmitted; compiling these verses and examining the reasons,
as well as reflecting upon their contexts and contents, may lead to determining a date
for the revelation of some or all of those verses. As for the smoke, it is mentioned only
in this surah; nevertheless, there is a substantial difference among the Companions regarding it, which he mentioned here
under the reasons for revelation, and examining the narrations may also assist in this regard. This requires
collecting the diverse reports of the Companions concerning the matter of the smoke, and which of them
interpreted it as occurring in this worldly life, as well as identifying the historical events or situations that occurred
during the revelation of the entire surah or the revelation of these verses; all of this helps
in acquiring knowledge. However, a researcher may delve into a specific aspect of
these proposed points and yet not arrive at a definitive conclusion; one might only reach
a strong presumption, for the matter is one of scholarly ijtihad. As for the third
and final pause, it connects the theme of the surah with its internal divisions. I recall here
that Surahs Ghafir, Fussilat, and Az-Zukhruf mentioned the conditions of the disbelievers who denied
the Qur'an in their openings; likewise, here Allah Almighty says: "Nay, they are in
doubt, playing." I have identified the theme of the surah as warning those who doubt and play; notice
in the introduction the clarification that the polytheists are indeed in doubt, playing; then, throughout
the body of the surah, the decisive proof is established against those who are in doubt, playing. Thus, the context
is seamlessly connected. Remarkably, the description of the disbelievers' punishment in the Hereafter in this
surah carries a distinct irony that corresponds to their playful mockery in this worldly life; that is,
by contrasting it, saying: "Seize him and drag him into the midst of Hellfire, then pour over his head
of the torment of scalding water: 'Taste this! Indeed, you were the mighty, the noble.'" This is said in derision of him,
for what might or nobility could there possibly be in what he is tasting? Yet this is precisely what is deserved by
those who are in doubt, playing. The discussion concerning this surah has many branching avenues,
but I shall suffice with this much. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon
his family and all his Companions. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.