Haze: A Reminder in the month of Zulhijjah |

In this month of September and the Beginning of Zulhijjah, the ever common, not so common Haze plagues us. It seems to be annual, and this time it’s really bad that schools have to be closed due to the Air Pollution Index was at a worrying level. Health is declining, people complaining and blaming each other (neighboring countries). It’s bad.

And then I came across a Surah from the Quran. I never paid attention to this, until we are in this hazy situation. Usually we are reminded about other popular Surahs like Al-Mulk, Al-Kahfi, Ya-seen etc. So today I would like to share about this Surah from the Holy Quran, Surah Ad-Dukhan.

It’s the 44^th Surah in the Holy Quran, 59 verses and translated as The Smoke. A few verses that caught my attention, verses 9-16 :

Yet they play about in doubt.
Then watch thou for the Day that the sky will bring forth a kind of smoke (or mist) plainly visible,
Enveloping the people: this will be a Penalty Grievous.
(They will say:) “Our Lord! Remove the Penalty from us, for we do really believe!”
How shall the message be (effectual) for them, seeing that a Messenger explaining things clearly has (already) come to them?
Yet they turn away from him and say: “Tutored (by others), a man possessed!”
We shall indeed remove the Penalty for a while, (but) truly ye will revert (to your ways).
One day We shall seize you with a mighty onslaught: We will indeed (then) exact Retribution!

These verses actually tell us about how The People are just taking things lightly with regards to religion and faith. Then Allah unleashed upon them The Haze (The Smoke) as punishment for their ignorance but it’s too late to repent. The People asked Allah to lift the Haze, however Allah replied that even if He lifts it, even for a while, they would go back to their old ways.

The Smoke is part of the signs of the Day of Resurrection.

Let these verses be a Reminder for us as we are facing troubled times with the Haze getting worse by the day. Be closer to Allah, do more good deeds and also take advantage of the blessed month of Zulhijjah.