يَغْشَى ٱلنَّاسَ ۖ هَـٰذَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 11
Translations
Covering the people; this is a painful torment.
Transliteration
Yaghsha an-nasa hatha adhab alim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the smoke that enveloped the people of Mecca during the drought, which is understood by classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari as a punishment from Allah. The smoke covered and overwhelmed the people, and this severe affliction served as a sign of Allah's power and a warning to those who rejected the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this was a tangible, observable punishment that affected their vision and breathing, demonstrating Allah's ability to bring His threatened torment.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ad-Dukhan, which describes the historical account of the smoke that afflicted the Quraysh during a severe famine and drought in Mecca. The surah contextualizes this as one of the signs sent to warn the people, occurring before the Battle of Badr. The smoke (dukhan) became so thick that it obscured vision, fulfilling Allah's promise of sending a punishment to those who persisted in disbelief.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that during this period of drought, Abu Sufyan asked the Prophet to pray for relief from the smoke/famine (al-jim'). Additionally, Surah Ad-Dukhan itself references this historical event mentioned in various hadith collections regarding the signs preceding the Battle of Badr.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah's warnings are not empty threats but manifest in observable consequences, teaching us to heed divine guidance before facing severe trials. It also demonstrates that rejection of truth brings tangible suffering, encouraging readers to reflect on warnings in their own lives and respond to guidance with sincere acceptance.