496 Page Notes

44 Surah Ad-Dukhan

Page 496 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 496 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Surah Ad-Dukhan (Chapter 44) of the Quran, starting on page 496, addresses themes of divine revelation, the "Smoke" (Dukhan) as a sign, and the historical struggle between Moses and Pharaoh.

1. The "Blessed Night" (Verses 1–6)

• The Verse: "Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. On that night is made distinct every precise matter" (44:3–4).

• Significance: While verse 97:1 explicitly names "The Night of Decree" (Laylat al-Qadr), many scholars, including Ibn Abbas, interpret the "blessed night" in Surah Ad-Dukhan as referring to Laylat al-Qadr. It is described as the night when the destiny of the coming year is decreed and the Quran was revealed (Katheer, n.d.; Khan, 2024).

2. The "Smoke" (Dukhan) (Verses 10–15)

• The Verse: "Then watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke" (44:10).

• Sunnah Context: There is a significant discussion in the Hadith literature regarding the nature of this "smoke."

  • Future Sign: Many scholars interpret this as one of the major signs of the Day of Judgment, a smoke that will fill the earth and affect both believers and disbelievers. Some narrations suggest it will cause believers to feel like they have a cold, while it will cause the disbelievers to swell up (Habibullah, n.d.).

  • Historical Interpretation: Other scholars, including some reports from Ibn Mas'ud, linked this specifically to the severe famine and drought that afflicted the Quraysh in Mecca as a punishment for their rejection of the Prophet. During this time, they were so starved that they saw what looked like smoke between the sky and the earth. However, the majority of scholars view the "smoke" mentioned in verse 10 as a future eschatological event (Habibullah, n.d.).

3. The Story of Moses and Pharaoh (Verses 17–18)

• The Verse: "And We had already tried before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble messenger [Moses], [Saying], 'Render to me the servants of Allah [the Children of Israel]...'" (44:17–18).

• Commentary: These verses serve as a parallel to the Prophet Muhammad's struggle with the Quraysh. The Quran recounts that Pharaoh and his people were tested with a "noble messenger" and were shown clear signs, yet they remained arrogant and committed to their polytheistic traditions.

• Sunnah Context: The Sunnah emphasizes the patience of the Prophets when faced with such arrogance. The story of Pharaoh's destruction is frequently cited in Hadith as a warning to those who reject the truth despite seeing clear evidence of God's power (Katheer, n.d.).

Summary of Themes

• Divine Guidance: The Surah emphasizes that the Quran is a clear Book, revealed at a blessed time to guide humanity away from the darkness of disbelief (Faizah, n.d.).

• Warning: The mention of the "Smoke" acts as a reminder of the impending Day of Judgment, urging the listeners to believe before the opportunity passes.

• Historical Precedent: By citing Pharaoh, the Quran informs the people of Mecca that their rejection of the Prophet Muhammad mirrors the destructive path of those who came before them.

References

Faizah, A. (n.d.). Analyzing the deixis found in Surah Al-Dukhan. E-Theses UIN Malang.

Habibullah, I. (n.d.). The meaning of Dukhan and Wardatan Ka-ddihan in Surah Ad-Dukhan (10-11) and Surah Ar-Rahman (37): A scientific thematic study. Qist: Jurnal Jurnal Theologia, 34(1), 39–72. 

Katheer, I. (n.d.). Life and times of the messengers. Kalamullah.com. 

Khan, W. (2024). Why Laylatul Qadr? The significance & virtues of the most important night of the year. ResearchHub Technologies, Inc. 

Page 496 of the Holy Quran marks the beginning of a new chapter: Surah Ad-Dukhan (Chapter 44), Verses 1 through 18. This section introduces the core themes of the Surah, focusing heavily on the revelation of the Quran on a blessed night, the nature of divine mercy, the warning of a looming smoke (Ad-Dukhan) sent as a punishment to the arrogant Quraysh, and the historical parallel of Prophet Musa (Moses) delivering the Children of Israel from Pharaoh.

Classical Tafsir (including Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi, and Al-Tabari) connects several pivotal Hadiths and Sunnah narratives to these verses:

1. The Blessed Night of Revelation (Verses 1–4)

“Ha, Meem. By the clear Book, Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were warning. On that night is made distinct every precise matter.”

The Identity of the "Blessed Night"

There is a foundational discussion in the Sunnah regarding the identity of this "blessed night" (Laylatin Mubarakah). While a minor opinion among early commentators (like Ikrimah) suggested this refers to the 15th night of Sha'ban (Nisf Sha'ban), the overwhelming consensus of the Sahabah and the authentic Sunnah establishes that it is Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Decree) in the month of Ramadan.

This is tied to the famous Hadith narrated by Aisha regarding seeking the night:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Search for Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2017)

The Decree of "Every Precise Matter"

Verse 4 states that on this night, every precise matter is decreed. The Sunnah contextualizes this as the annual decree where the angels are given the logs of life, death, and provision for the upcoming year.

Abdullah ibn Abbas explained this verse by saying: "You see a man walking in the marketplace, while his name has already been written among those who will die [in the coming year]." This annual decree complements the primary decree written 50,000 years before creation, as noted in the Sunnah:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Allah ordained the measures of the creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth." (Sahih Muslim, Book 42, Hadith 6416)

2. The Famine and the Miracle of Smoke (Verses 10–12)

“Then watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke. Enveloping the people; this is a painful torment. [They will say], 'Our Lord, remove from us the torment; indeed, we are believers.'”

Context of Revelation: The Quraysh Famine

A major, highly specific historical event in the Sunnah explains these verses. When the Quraysh stubbornly rejected the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and persecuted the Muslims, the Prophet made a specific supplication against them.

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud narrated:

"Five signs have passed: the smoke, the defeat of the Romans, the splitting of the moon, the defeat at Badr, and the punishment. When the Quraysh disobeyed the Prophet (ﷺ), he prayed against them to be afflicted with years of famine like the seven years of Joseph. They were stricken with such a severe famine that they ate bones, dead animals, and skins. A man would look at the sky and see something like smoke between him and the sky because of sheer hunger.

Abu Sufyan (then a pagan leader) came to the Prophet and said: 'O Muhammad! You order people to obey Allah and keep good relations with kith and kin. Your people are dying, so please invoke Allah for them.' So, the Prophet (ﷺ) invoked Allah, and it rained heavily for them..." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1007; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2798)

The Second Meaning: The Major Sign of the Hour

While the famine was a literal fulfillment for the Quraysh, the Sunnah also explicitly establishes that "The Smoke" (Ad-Dukhan) will manifest again as one of the major, cataclysmic Ten Signs of the Day of Judgment.

Hudhayfah bin Uayd al-Ghifari reported:

"The Prophet (ﷺ) came out to us while we were discussing. He asked: 'What are you talking about?' We said: 'We are talking about the Last Hour.' He said: 'It will not come until you see ten signs before it.' He then mentioned the smoke, the Dajjal (Anti-Christ), the Beast, the rising of the sun from its place of setting, the descent of Jesus son of Mary..." (Sahih Muslim, Book 54, Hadith 6931)

3. The Great Assault / Seizure (Verse 16)

“The Day We will assault them with the greatest assault; indeed, We will take retribution.”

The Battle of Badr

The Sunnah directly identifies what Allah means by "the greatest assault" (Al-Batshah al-Kubra) against the leaders of the Quraysh who mocked the smoke and returned to their disbelief after the famine was lifted.

In the continuation of the narration by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud regarding Surah Ad-Dukhan, he explicitly states:

"The 'greatest assault' took place on the Day of the Battle of Badr, when Allah took retribution from the chiefs of the disbelievers." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4821)

4. Prophet Musa’s Call to Pharaoh's People (Verses 17–18)

“And We had already tried before them the people of Pharaoh, and there came to them a noble messenger, [Saying], 'Render to me the servants of Allah. Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger,'”

The Sunnah of Identifying True Leadership

In Verse 18, Prophet Musa demands that Pharaoh release the Children of Israel ("Render to me the servants of Allah"), identifying himself as a trustworthy messenger (Ameen).

The Sunnah mirrors this concept of trustworthiness (Amanah) as the defining trait of prophethood and true spiritual leadership. Before receiving revelation, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was universally known among his enemies as Al-Ameen (The Trustworthy). The Sunnah establishes that the message of Islam cannot be separated from absolute integrity, as narrated in the famous dialogue between the Roman Emperor Heraclius and Abu Sufyan (before his conversion):

Heraclius asked: "Did you used to accuse him of telling lies before he said what he said?" Abu Sufyan replied: "No." Heraclius later concluded: "I wondered how he could refrain from lying to people and then go and forge a lie against Allah." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 7)