Surah 44. Ad-Dukhan

So then, bring forth our forefathers [as witnesses], if what you claim is true!"¹⁹

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., "bring our forefathers back to life and let them bear witness that there is a hereafter". This ironic demand accords with the saying of the unbelievers mentioned in 43:22 and {23}, "We found our forefathers agreed on what to believe - and, verily, it is in their footsteps that we find our guidance!" Thus, in the last resort, the fact that their ancestors did not believe in a hereafter is to them as conclusive an argument against it as the fact that nobody has as yet come back to life to confirm the truth of resurrection.

Bring back our forefathers if you are truthful."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Bring back our fathers, if ye speak the truth!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Are they, then, better than the people of Tubba' and those before them, whom We destroyed because they were truly lost in [the same] sin?²⁰

  - Mohammad Asad

"Tubba" was the title borne by a succession of powerful Himyar kings who ruled for centuries over the whole of South Arabia, and were finally overcome by the Abyssinians in the fourth century of the Christian era. They are mentioned elsewhere in the Qur'an ( 50:14 ) as having denied the truth of resurrection and God's judgment.

Are these people better than the people of Tubba and those who were before them? We destroyed them all only because they had become criminals.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Are they better, or the folk of Tubba and those before them? We destroyed them, for surely they were guilty.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

For [thus it is:] We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in mere idle play:²¹

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., without meaning or purpose (cf. 21:16 ) - implying that if there were no hereafter, man's life on earth would be utterly meaningless, and thus in contradiction to the above as well as the subsequent statement, "none of all this have We created without [an inner] truth".

It was not for a sport that We created the heavens the earth and all that lies between them.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, in play.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

none of this have We created without [an inner] truth:²² but most of them understand it not.

  - Mohammad Asad

See note [11] on 10:5 .

We have created them to reveal the truth, but most of them do not understand.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

We created them not save with truth; but most of them know not.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

VERILY, the Day of Distinction [between the true and the false] is the term appointed for all of them:²³

  - Mohammad Asad

See note [6] on 77:13 .

Surely the Day of sorting out is the time appointed for the resurrection of them all.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Assuredly the Day of Decision is the term of all of them,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

the Day when no friend shall be of the least avail to his friend, and when none shall be succoured

  - Mohammad Asad

On that Day no one shall be able to protect his friend, nor shall they receive any help

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

A day when friend can in naught avail friend, nor can they be helped,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

save those upon whom God will have bestowed His grace and mercy: for, verily, He alone is almighty, a dispenser of grace.

  - Mohammad Asad

except those to whom Allah will show His Mercy: for it is He Who is the All-Mighty, the All Merciful.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Save him on whom Allah hath mercy. Lo! He is the Mighty, the Merciful.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Verily, [in the life to come] the tree of deadly fruit²⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

See surah {37}, note [22].

Surely the Zaqqum tree

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Lo! the tree of Zaqqum,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

will be the food of the sinful:²⁵

  - Mohammad Asad

The term al-athim (lit., "the sinful one") has here apparently a specific connotation, referring to a wilful denial of resurrection and of God's judgment: in other words, of all sense and meaning in man's existence.

shall be the food of the sinners,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The food of the sinner!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

like molten lead will it boil in the belly,

  - Mohammad Asad

it will be like the drags of oil. Which shall boil in the belly

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Like molten brass, it seetheth in their bellies

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

like the boiling of burning despair.²⁶

  - Mohammad Asad

For this tropical meaning of the term hamim, see surah {6}. note [62].

like the boiling of scalding water.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

As the seething of boiling water.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[And the word will be spoken:] "Seize him, [O you forces of hell,] and drag him into the midst of the blazing fire:

  - Mohammad Asad

A voice will be heard: "Seize him and drag him into the depth of the hell,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

(And it will be said): Take him and drag him to the midst of hell,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

then pour over his head the anguish of burning despair!

  - Mohammad Asad

then pour scalding water over his head,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then pour upon his head the torment of boiling water.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Taste it - thou who [on earth] hast considered thyself so mighty, so noble!²⁷

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "for, behold, thou wert . . .", etc. - thus alluding to the sin of arrogance due to disbelief in a continuation of life after death and, hence, in man's ultimate responsibility to God. (Cf. {96} "Verily, man becomes grossly overweening whenever he believes himself to be self-sufficient" - and the corresponding note [4].)

then the voice will say: "Taste it; you were such a powerful noble!

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

(Saying): Taste! Lo! thou wast forsooth the mighty, the noble!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

This is the very thing which you [deniers of the truth] were wont to call in question!"²⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., the continuation of life after death.

This is the punishment which you use to doubt."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Lo! this is that whereof ye used to doubt.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall