Tafseer of The Smoke · Ad-Dukhaan · 44:33
And We gave them of signs that in which there was a clear trial.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
His words: "And We gave them of the signs that wherein lay a manifest trial" (44:33). The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: and We gave them of the lessons and admonitions that wherein lay a trial which makes clear to whoever reflects upon it that it was a trial with which Allah tested them.
The scholars of exegesis differed concerning that trial. Some of them said: He tested them with His favors toward them.
* Mention of who said that:
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His words: "And We gave them of the signs that wherein lay a manifest trial" — Allah saved them from their enemy, then He split the sea open for them, and made the clouds overshadow them, and sent down upon them the manna and the quails.
And others said: Rather, He tested them with prosperity and adversity.
* Mention of who said that:
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said, concerning His words: "And We gave them of the signs that wherein lay a manifest trial", and he recited: "And We test you with evil and with good, as a trial, and to Us you shall be returned" — and he said: a manifest trial for whoever believed in it and whoever disbelieved in it; a trial with which We try them, with which We purify them, a trial of testing, with which We test them with good and evil, with which We test them in order to see who, among those to whom signs came, believes in it and profits from it, and who neglects them.
And the correct of the statements concerning this is that one says: indeed, Allah informed that He gave the children of Israel of the signs that wherein lay their trial and testing. And the trial and testing may take place through prosperity, and may take place through adversity; and He has given us no indication, neither from transmission nor from reason, that He intended a portion thereof to the exclusion of another portion. And Allah had already tested them with both meanings together. And it is permissible that He intended His testing of them by both. And since the matter is as we have described, the correct statement concerning this is that we say as the Exalted, whose praise is exalted, has said: that He tested them.
