Ad-Dukhan · Makki · ayah 49 of 59

Ad-Dukhan 44:49

ذُقْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْكَرِيمُ

“[It will be said], "Taste! Indeed, you are the honored, the noble![1466]”

Saheeh International

Essence

In the Fire, the sinner hears his own boast turned against him: taste it, you who were the mighty, the noble.

A reflection

Garments that belong to Another

Dhuq innaka anta al-ʿazīzu al-karīm: taste it. You, indeed, are the mighty, the noble.

The commentaries record whose words these first were. A leader of Quraysh, it is reported, once declared that no man between Makkah's two mountains was mightier or nobler than him. Another report has him say to the Prophet ﷺ: neither you nor your Lord can do anything to me. I am the mighty, the noble. These reports are preserved in the commentaries, and the meaning is not limited to him. Every sinner who makes such a claim will hear it returned.

Sahih Muslim records a saying of the Prophet ﷺ that explains why such a claim is so dangerous. Might is His lower garment, and grandeur is His cloak. Whoever contends with Me over them, I will punish him.

The narration-based commentary preserves a related saying from an early scholar. Allah wraps Himself in might, clothes Himself in mercy and cloaks Himself in grandeur. Whoever claims might that Allah did not give him is the one told: taste it, you are the mighty, the noble.

A local businessman insists on being introduced as the honourable guest at every charity dinner. He corrects anyone who forgets the title. Everyone smiles politely. Few of them respect him.

The ego loves borrowed garments. It reaches for titles, for being called mighty, noble, important. But some garments belong to Allah alone. Put them on, and they burn.

The cure is to wear what fits a servant. Humility, mercy, honest work. Real nobility does not need announcing. And the only might worth having is the might Allah gives to whoever humbles himself for Him.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.