Tazkirul Quran, Qur’an 44:17–21
Smoke (Al-Dukhan)
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
English text; the translator is not named in the archive’s data.
Translation
(17) We tried the people of Pharaoh before them: a noble messenger was sent to them, (18) saying, ‘Hand over God’s servants to me. I am a trustworthy messenger for you. (19) Do not set yourselves above God: I bring you clear authority. (20) I have sought refuge with my Lord and your Lord lest you stone me [to death]. (21) If you do not believe in me, at least keep away from me.’
Commentary
(a) The call for Truth is, in fact, a manifestation of God’s power in the shape of reasoning. In this way, God announces Himself through human beings, while He Himself remains unseen. The divine call, therefore, becomes a trial for its addressees. The truth seekers acknowledge it and bow down before it, while those who are enamoured of appearances consider it unimportant and ignore it.
But after rejecting the call to accept the Truth, man cannot avoid facing the consequences. During the lifetime of the Prophet, these ruinous consequences became apparent in this world itself, just as had happened in the case of the Pharaoh of Egypt. Where there was no immediate evidence of such divine retribution, the deniers had to face the consequences of their actions after death.