Overview (Verses 9 - 16)

At this point, the surah refers to the unbelievers' own situation, which was the opposite of the seriousness with which they should have dealt with God's revelations: Yet they remain in doubt, playing about. Wait, then, for the Day when the skies shall bring forth a kind of smoke which will make things clear. It will envelope the people. Grievous is this suffering! [They will cry': `Our Lord! Relieve us from this suffering; for, indeed, we are believers.' How will this remembrance benefit them? A messenger who clearly explained things had previously come to them; but they turned their backs on him and said: `He is taught by others, a madman!' We shall remove this suffering for a while; but you are bound to revert [to your old ways'. On that Day We shall deliver a mighty onslaught; We will indeed exact retribution. (Verses 9-16)

The surah tells the Prophet that they are playing about when the situation requires seriousness, and that they continue to be in doubt about God's confirmed revelations. He is, therefore, instructed to leave them until they face a day of great hardship: "Wait, then, for the Day when the skies shall bring forth a kind of smoke which will make things clear. It will envelope the people. Grievous is this suffering." (Verses 10-11)

Scholars during the early period of Islam differed in their views about what the smoke mentioned in this verse means. Some of them maintained that it will occur on the Day of Judgement, which makes the warning implied here similar to other warnings in the Qur'an about that day. They said that this will surely take place and that the Prophet awaited it. Others said that it actually did take place just as the Qur'an states. It was then lifted after the Prophet prayed God to so remove it.'

We, though, are more in agreement with the view expressed by Ibn `Abbas and explained by Ibn Kathir making it clear that the smoke will appear on the Day of Judgement. Similar warnings also occur elsewhere in the Qur'an. What it means here is that these people doubt and play. Leave them, then, in anticipation of that terrible day when the skies shall bring smoke that makes things clear. As it envelops people, their suffering will be particularly painful. Their appeals for help is described thus: "[They will cry]: 'Our Lord' Relieve us from this suffering; for, indeed, we are believers." (Verse 12) They are told that a positive response to their appeal is impossible. It is now too late: "How will this remembrance benefit them? A messenger who clearly explained things had previously come to them; but they turned their backs on him and said 'He is taught by others, a madman!' (Verses 13-14) They claimed that a non-Arab person or people taught the Prophet the Qur'an, and they further alleged that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a madman.

Having given them this image of a time when they appeal in vain, they are told that they still have a chance, which they should not lose. While they are still in this life, their punishment is delayed. If they believe now, as they will later promise they would if returned, they will have acted whilst they have the time to prove their sincerity. Nothing is lost yet, so they better act now before they are returned to God. When they are returned to Him: "On that Day We shall deliver a mighty onslaught," when the smoke envelops people. "We will indeed exact retribution," for the play you indulge in and the falsehood you level at the Prophet describing him as 'taught by others, a madman; when he is God's trusted messenger.