[Al-Quran 50:6-8] Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and how it has no rifts? And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind, Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah].

Sunday, January 28, 2018

The Cursed Tree

Warnings: Past & Future Trials 
So set your face to the religion upright. Nature (made by) Allah (upon) which He has created mankind [on it]. No change (should there be) in the creation (of) Allah. That (is) the religion the correct, but most men (do) not know. [Al-Quran 30:30] 
So set your face to the religion right, before [that] comes a Day not (can be) averted [it] from Allah. That Day, they will be divided. [Al-Quran 30:43] 





Abstract
Adam was tried with the Forbidden Tree in the Garden. The trial of the Cursed Tree awaits the people destined for Hell on the Day of Judgment & Recompense, the Day of Religion (يَوْمَ الدِّينِ).    


Full Text

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لَكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ أَحَاطَ بِالنَّاسِ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الرُّؤْيَا الَّتِي أَرَيْنَاكَ
إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَالشَّجَرَةَ الْمَلْعُونَةَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ
وَنُخَوِّفُهُمْ فَمَا يَزِيدُهُمْ إِلَّا طُغْيَانًا كَبِيرًا
And when We said to you, "Indeed, your Lord has encompassed the mankind." And not We made the vision which We showed you 
except (as) a trial for mankind, and the tree the accursed in the Quran.
And We threaten them but not it increases them except (in) transgression great.
 [Al-Quran 17:60]

Cursed means to be removed from God's mercy. Ali Unal translates Q17:60 thus: ... and (in the same way We mentioned) in the Qur’an the Accursed Tree (the tree in Hell absolutely outside the sphere of God’s Mercy). ... 

Surah asSaafaat focuses on the warnings and how the chosen ones (Q37:40)  are saved in this world and how they will be rewarded with everlasting bliss in the Hereafter (Q37:41-50), and then narrates a conversation, which concludes as:  

قَالَ تَاللَّهِ إِن كِدتَّ لَتُرْدِينِ
وَلَوْلَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّي لَكُنتُ مِنَ الْمُحْضَرِينَ
أَفَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَيِّتِينَ
إِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا الْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
لِمِثْلِ هَٰذَا فَلْيَعْمَلِ الْعَامِلُونَ

He (will) say, "By Allah, verily, you almost ruined me.
And if not (for the) Grace (of) my Lord, certainly, I (would) have been among those brought.
Then are not we (to) die,
Except our death the first, and not we will be punished?"
Indeed, this surely (is) the attainment great.
For (the) like (of) this, let work the workers.
[Al-Quran 37:56-61]

Immortality is decreed for the Hereafter. After resurrection, nobody will die. But while the chosen ones are promised health, happiness and the inheritance of the Gardens, the unjust who were warned against the wrongs they were committing, will suffer the trial of the cursed tree:  

أَذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ نُّزُلًا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُّومِ
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهَا فِتْنَةً لِّلظَّالِمِينَ
إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌ تَخْرُجُ فِي أَصْلِ الْجَحِيمِ
طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُ رُءُوسُ الشَّيَاطِينِ
فَإِنَّهُمْ لَآكِلُونَ مِنْهَا فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ
ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا لَشَوْبًا مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ
ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرْجِعَهُمْ لَإِلَى الْجَحِيمِ
إِنَّهُمْ أَلْفَوْا آبَاءَهُمْ ضَالِّينَ
فَهُمْ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ يُهْرَعُونَ
وَلَقَدْ ضَلَّ قَبْلَهُمْ أَكْثَرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا فِيهِم مُّنذِرِينَ
فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُنذَرِينَ
إِلَّا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ

Is that better (as) hospitality or (the) tree (of) Zaqqum
Indeed, We [We] have made it a trial for the wrongdoers.
Indeed, it (is) a tree that grows in (the) bottom (of) the Hellfire,
Its emerging fruit (is) as if it (was) heads (of) the devils.
And indeed, they (will) surely eat from it and fill with it (their) bellies.
Then indeed, for them in it (is) a mixture of boiling water.
Then indeed, their return (will) surely be to the Hellfire.
Indeed, they found their fathers astray.
So they on their footsteps they hastened.
And verily, went astray before them most (of) the former (people),
And verily, We sent among them warners.
Then see how was (the) end (of) those who were warned,
Except (the) slaves (of) Allah the chosen ones.
[Al-Quran 37:62-74]

About the cursed tree, it states in Surah adDukhan: 

إِنَّ شَجَرَتَ الزَّقُّومِ
طَعَامُ الْأَثِيمِ
كَالْمُهْلِ يَغْلِي فِي الْبُطُونِ
كَغَلْيِ الْحَمِيمِ
خُذُوهُ فَاعْتِلُوهُ إِلَىٰ سَوَاءِ الْجَحِيمِ
ثُمَّ صُبُّوا فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْحَمِيمِ

Indeed, (the) tree (of) Zaqqum
(Will be) food (of) the sinner(s).
Like the murky oil, it will boil in the bellies,
Like boiling (of) scalding water.
"Seize him and drag him into (the) midst (of) the Hellfire,
Then pour over his head of (the) punishment (of) the scalding water.
[Al-Quran 44:43-48]


About the companions of the left (Q56:41) Surah alWaqiah states …


لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَاتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا الضَّالُّونَ الْمُكَذِّبُونَ
لَآكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِّن زَقُّومٍ
فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ
فَشَارِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْحَمِيمِ
فَشَارِبُونَ شُرْبَ الْهِيمِ
هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ الدِّينِ

Surely, will be gathered for (the) appointment (of) a Day well-known."
"Then indeed you, O those astray! the deniers,
Will surely eat from (the) tree of Zaqqum.
Then will fill with it the bellies,
And drink over it [from] the scalding water,
And will drink (as) drinking (of) the thirsty camels."
This (is) their hospitality (on the) Day (of) Judgment.
[Al-Quran 56:50-56]


Past Trial 
Early on in The Quran, our story begins with Adam’s appointment as khalifa. He was warned about the tree when he was placed in The Garden:

وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
And We said, "O Adam! Dwell you and your spouse (in) Paradise, and [you both] eat from it freely (from) wherever you [both] wish. But do not [you two] approach this [the] tree, lest you [both] be of the wrongdoers."
[Al-Quran 2:35]

Surah alA`raf re-tells the story of Adam:

وَيَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ فَكُلَا مِنْ حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
And O Adam! Dwell, you and your wife, (in) the Garden, and you both eat from wherever you both wish, but (do) not approach [both of you] this [the] tree lest you both be among the wrongdoers."
 [Al-Quran 7:19]

Yet again, in Surah Taha it is explained:

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ
فَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ إِنَّ هَٰذَا عَدُوٌّ لَّكَ وَلِزَوْجِكَ فَلَا يُخْرِجَنَّكُمَا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَتَشْقَىٰ
إِنَّ لَكَ أَلَّا تَجُوعَ فِيهَا وَلَا تَعْرَىٰ
وَأَنَّكَ لَا تَظْمَأُ فِيهَا وَلَا تَضْحَىٰ
فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْطَانُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ لَّا يَبْلَىٰ
فَأَكَلَا مِنْهَا فَبَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْآتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ وَعَصَىٰ آدَمُ رَبَّهُ فَغَوَىٰ
ثُمَّ اجْتَبَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ وَهَدَىٰ
قَالَ اهْبِطَا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَىٰ
وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَىٰ
قَالَ رَبِّ لِمَ حَشَرْتَنِي أَعْمَىٰ وَقَدْ كُنتُ بَصِيرًا
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ أَتَتْكَ آيَاتُنَا فَنَسِيتَهَا وَكَذَٰلِكَ الْيَوْمَ تُنسَىٰ
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي مَنْ أَسْرَفَ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِن بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَشَدُّ وَأَبْقَىٰ

And when We said to the Angels, "Prostrate to Adam," then they prostrated, except Iblis; he refused.
Then We said, "O Adam! Indeed, this (is) an enemy to you and to your wife. So not (let) him drive you both from Paradise so (that) you would suffer.
Indeed, for you that not you will be hungry therein and not you will be unclothed.
And that you not will suffer from thirst therein and not exposed to the sun's heat."
Then whispered to him Shaitaan, he said, "O Adam! Shall I direct you to (the) tree (of) the Eternity and a kingdom not (that will) deteriorate?"
Then they both ate from it, so became apparent to them their shame and they began, (to) fasten on themselves from (the) leaves (of) Paradise. And Adam disobeyed his Lord, and erred.
Then chose him his Lord, and turned to him and guided (him).
He said, "Go down from it all, some of you to others (as) enemy. Then if comes to you from Me guidance then whoever, follows My guidance, then not he will go astray and not suffer.
And whoever turns away from My remembrance, then indeed, for him (is) a life straitened and We will gather him (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection blind."
He will say, "My Lord! Why You raised me blind while [verily] I had sight."
He will say, "Thus came to you Our Signs, but you forgot them, and thus today you will be forgotten."
And thus We recompense (he) who transgresses, and not believes in (the) Signs (of) his Lord. And surely (the) punishment (of) the Hereafter (is) more severe and more lasting.
 [Al-Quran 20:116-127]

Satan tempted Adam with the promise of immortality. As discussed in detail in Adam’s Attempt to Improve upon Allah’s Creation, Adam erred and suffered as a consequence of his disobedience to Allah.
Excerpt from Adam Facts 

Our clothing is a sign from Allah (Q7:26), and has been bestowed as a replacement to cover our shame. While scientists wonder why we are the rare creatures without natural clothing, scripture informs us that we were once perfect:   

وَالتِّينِ وَالزَّيْتُونِ
وَطُورِ سِينِينَ
وَهَٰذَا الْبَلَدِ الْأَمِينِ
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ
ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَاهُ أَسْفَلَ سَافِلِينَ
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ
فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعْدُ بِالدِّينِ
أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَحْكَمِ الْحَاكِمِينَ

By the fig, and the olive,
And (the) Mount Sinai,
And this [the] city, [the] secure,
Indeed, We created man in (the) best mould.
Then We returned him (to the) lowest (of the) low,
Except those who believe and do righteous deeds, then for them (is a) reward never ending.
Then what causes you to deny after (this) the judgment?
Is not Allah (the) Most Just (of) the Judges?
[Al-Quran 95:1-8]



Past Warnings 

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّقُوا مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَمَا خَلْفَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
وَمَا تَأْتِيهِم مِّنْ آيَةٍ مِّنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا كَانُوا عَنْهَا مُعْرِضِينَ
And when it is said to them, "Fear what (is) before you and what (is) behind you so that you may receive mercy."
And not comes to them of a Sign from (the) Signs (of) their Lord, but they from it turn away.
[Al-Quran 36:45-46]


Not only was Adam pre-warned before he underwent the trial of the forbidden tree, the progeny of Adam have also been pre-warned. Surah anNisa, Ayat 119, quotes Satan when he vowed to mislead the Adam and his progeny:


...

Excerpts from Human: Body or Soul? 


On the promised Day, when nobody will be wronged in the least, God will ask: 



While Surah Yasin informs us that people ignore the signs, Surah alFussilat explains that the reason why such people are negligent of 'what is before and behind them':    

وَيَوْمَ يُحْشَرُ أَعْدَاءُ اللَّهِ إِلَى النَّارِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا مَا جَاءُوهَا شَهِدَ عَلَيْهِمْ سَمْعُهُمْ وَأَبْصَارُهُمْ وَجُلُودُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
وَقَالُوا لِجُلُودِهِمْ لِمَ شَهِدتُّمْ عَلَيْنَا قَالُوا أَنطَقَنَا اللَّهُ الَّذِي أَنطَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ خَلَقَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَسْتَتِرُونَ أَن يَشْهَدَ عَلَيْكُمْ سَمْعُكُمْ وَلَا أَبْصَارُكُمْ وَلَا جُلُودُكُمْ وَلَٰكِن ظَنَنتُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَعْلَمُ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
وَذَٰلِكُمْ ظَنُّكُمُ الَّذِي ظَنَنتُم بِرَبِّكُمْ أَرْدَاكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
فَإِن يَصْبِرُوا فَالنَّارُ مَثْوًى لَّهُمْ وَإِن يَسْتَعْتِبُوا فَمَا هُم مِّنَ الْمُعْتَبِينَ
وَقَيَّضْنَا لَهُمْ قُرَنَاءَ فَزَيَّنُوا لَهُم مَّا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَحَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقَوْلُ فِي أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا خَاسِرِينَ
And (the) Day will be gathered (the) enemies (of) Allah to the Fire, then they will be assembled in rows, Until, when they come to it (will) testify against them their hearing, and their sight, and their skins, (as) to what they used to do. And they will say to their skins, "Why do you testify against us?" They will say, "Allah made us speak, the One Who makes speak every thing; and He created you (the) first time, and to Him you will be returned." And not you were covering yourselves lest testify against you your hearing and not your sight and not your skins, but you assumed that Allah (does) not know much of what you do. And that (was) your assumption which you assumed about your Lord. It has ruined you, and you have of the losers. Then if they endure, the Fire (is) an abode for them; and if they ask for favor, then not they (will be) of those who receive favor.
And We have destined for them companions (who) made fair-seeming to them, what (was) before them and what (was) behind them, and (is) justified against them the Word among nations (that have) passed away before them of the jinn and the men. Indeed, they were losers. 
[Al-Quran 41:19-25


إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا لَا يَخْفَوْنَ عَلَيْنَا أَفَمَن يُلْقَىٰ فِي النَّارِ خَيْرٌ أَم مَّن يَأْتِي آمِنًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِالذِّكْرِ لَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ وَإِنَّهُ لَكِتَابٌ عَزِيزٌ
لَّا يَأْتِيهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِ تَنزِيلٌ مِّنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ
مَّا يُقَالُ لَكَ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ قِيلَ لِلرُّسُلِ مِن قَبْلِكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ وَذُو عِقَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا أَعْجَمِيًّا لَّقَالُوا لَوْلَا فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ أَأَعْجَمِيٌّ وَعَرَبِيٌّ قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هُدًى وَشِفَاءٌ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى أُولَٰئِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِن مَّكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ فَاخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مُرِيبٍ
مَّنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ أَسَاءَ فَعَلَيْهَا وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
Indeed, those who distort [in] Our Verses (are) not hidden from Us. So, is (he) who is cast in the Fire better or (he) who comes secure (on the) Day (of) Resurrection? Do what you will. Indeed, He of what you do (is) All-Seer.
Indeed, those who disbelieve in the Reminder when it comes to them. And indeed, it (is) surely a Book mighty.
Not comes to it the falsehood from before it and not from behind it. A Revelation from (the) All-Wise, (the) Praiseworthy.
Not is said to you except what was said to the Messengers before you. Indeed, your Lord (is) Possessor (of) forgiveness, and Possessor (of) penalty painful.
And if We (had) made it a Quran (in) a foreign (language), they (would have) said, "Why not are explained in detail its verses? (Is it) a foreign (language) and an Arab?" Say, "It (is) for those who believe, a guidance and a healing." And those who (do) not believe, in their ears (is) deafness, and it (is) for them blindness. Those are being called from a place far."
And certainly, We gave Musa the Book, but disputes arose therein. And had it not been (for) a word (that) preceded from your Lord, surely, would have been settled between them. But indeed, they surely (are) in doubt about it disquieting.
Whoever does righteous deeds then it is for his soul; and whoever does evil, then it is against it. And not (is) your Lord unjust to His slaves.
[Al-Quran 41:40-46]  


The Message of Hope
Surah azZumar places emphasis on sincerity in دِّينِ . It offers hope in the following words:  

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ
وَاتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ
Say, "O Those who have transgressed against themselves, (do) not despair of (the) Mercy (of) Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives the sins all. Indeed He, He (is) the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. 
And turn to your Lord and submit to Him before [that] comes to you the punishment; then not you will be helped.
And follow (the) best (of) what is revealed to you from your Lord before [that] comes to you the punishment suddenly, while you (do) not perceive,




Last updated on: June 2, 2018


Thursday, January 25, 2018

Smoke from the Sky

Warnings & Past Extinction Events  
… Not (is) the command but for Allah. He has commanded that not you worship but Him Alone … [Q12:40] 


Abstract
The Quran warns of a smoke from the sky. In the same surah, it mentions the Qaum-e-Tubba and the people before them who have all been destroyed. A look at the world history to explore some well-known /closely-studied past extinction events to see if some parallels can be established between the secular and scriptural history of the world. 

Full Text

فَارْتَقِبْ يَوْمَ تَأْتِي السَّمَاءُ بِدُخَانٍ مُّبِينٍ
يَغْشَى النَّاسَ هَٰذَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
رَّبَّنَا اكْشِفْ عَنَّا الْعَذَابَ إِنَّا مُؤْمِنُونَ
أَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ الذِّكْرَىٰ وَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّبِينٌ
ثُمَّ تَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا مُعَلَّمٌ مَّجْنُونٌ
إِنَّا كَاشِفُو الْعَذَابِ قَلِيلًا إِنَّكُمْ عَائِدُونَ
يَوْمَ نَبْطِشُ الْبَطْشَةَ الْكُبْرَىٰ إِنَّا مُنتَقِمُونَ
Then watch (for the) Day (when) will bring the sky smoke visible,
Enveloping the people. This (will be) a punishment painful.
"Our Lord! Remove from us the punishment; indeed, we (are) believers."
How can (there be) for them the reminder, when verily, had come to them a Messenger clear.
Then they turned away from and said, "One taught, a mad man."
Indeed, We (will) remove the punishment a little, indeed, you (will) return.
(The) Day We will seize (with) the seizure the greatest, indeed, We (will) take retribution.
[Al-Quran 44:10-16]

The Smoke (adDukhan) is mentioned twice in The Quran: once to describe the state of the sky at the time of its creation, and once to warn of a smoke from the sky:

Excerpt from corpus.quran.com  


قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُ أَندَادًا ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ مِن فَوْقِهَا وَبَارَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَا أَقْوَاتَهَا فِي أَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ سَوَاءً لِّلسَّائِلِينَ
ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَهِيَ دُخَانٌ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ائْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا قَالَتَا أَتَيْنَا طَائِعِينَ
فَقَضَاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَأَوْحَىٰ فِي كُلِّ سَمَاءٍ أَمْرَهَا وَزَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ وَحِفْظًا ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ
فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُوا فَقُلْ أَنذَرْتُكُمْ صَاعِقَةً مِّثْلَ صَاعِقَةِ عَادٍ وَثَمُودَ

Say: Is it that ye deny Him Who created the earth in two Days? And do ye join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the Worlds. He set on the (earth), mountains standing firm, high above it, and bestowed blessings on the earth, and measure therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion, in four Days, in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (Sustenance).
Moreover He comprehended in His design the sky, and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: "Come ye together, willingly or unwillingly." They said: "We do come (together), in willing obedience."
So He completed them as seven firmaments in two Days, and He assigned to each heaven its duty and command. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights, and (provided it) with guard. Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might, Full of Knowledge.
But if they turn away, say thou: "I have warned you of a stunning Punishment (as of thunder and lightning) like that which (overtook) the 'Ad and the Thamud!"
[Al-Quran 41:9-13, Translation: Yusuf Ali]

Smoke from the Sky or Cosmic Dust, to use a more current term, is extraterrestrial dust, which abounds throughout the cosmos. Thousands of tons of cosmic dust reach the Earth every year. 

Micrometeorite collected from the Antarctic snow
Attribution:


A Flame in Orion Belt
This mosaic image taken by NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, features three nebulae that are part of the giant Orion Molecular Cloud. Included in this view are the Flame nebula, the Horsehead nebula and NGC 2023.


Cat’s Eye Nebula
Observations suggest the star ejected its mass in a series of pulses at 1,500-year intervals. These convulsions created dust shells, each of which contain as much mass as all of the planets in our solar system combined (still only one percent of the Sun's mass). These concentric shells make a layered, onion-skin structure around the dying star. The view from Hubble is like seeing an onion cut in half, where each skin layer is discernible.


Surah arRehman which lists the favours of Allah, informs us of a future event:

فَإِذَا انشَقَّتِ السَّمَاءُ فَكَانَتْ وَرْدَةً كَالدِّهَانِ
Then when is split the heaven, and it becomes rose-colored like murky oil.
[Al-Quran 55:37]


Qaum-e-Tubba & The Toba Catastrophe Theory
Surah adDukhan, which warns us of a smoke from the sky, also mentions Qaum-e-Tubba and the people before them have already been destroyed:


أَهُمْ خَيْرٌ أَمْ قَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مُجْرِمِينَ
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَاعِبِينَ
مَا خَلَقْنَاهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Are they better or (the) people (of) Tubba and those before them? We destroyed them, indeed, they were criminals.
And not We created the heavens and the earth and whatever (is) between them (in) play. Not We created both of them but in [the] truth, but most of them (do) not know.
[Al-Quran 44:37-39]

Qaum-e-Tubba are also mentioned only twice in The Quran, without any details, as if its something well-known or evident, and needs no elaboration.   

Excerpt from corpus.quran.com  

The Toba volcanic eruption, that is supposed to have occurred about 70,000 years ago, in Sumatra, Indonesia, is the most closely studied super-eruption. The volcanic ash that erupted from it has been found as far off as in Lake Malawi, East Africa. However, ice cores samples from Greenland do not show any evidence of the ash from Toba. Therefore, although massive, it was not a global extinction event.

Parallel to the timeline of the Toba eruption, it is theorized that a genetic bottleneck may also have occurred around the same time, due to mass extinction. This genetic bottleneck could be the reason homo sapiens became the dominant specie of the genus Homo.  

Interestingly, also mentioned twice in The Quran is the fact that the Earth has been reset:  

Excerpt from corpus.quran.com 


وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَاحِهَا وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
And (do) not cause corruption in the earth after its reformation. And call Him (in) fear and hope. Indeed, (the) Mercy of Allah (is) near for the good-doers.
[Al-Quran 7:56]


وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَأَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ وَالْمِيزَانَ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءَهُمْ وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَاحِهَا ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
And to Madyan, his brother Shuaib. He said, "O my people! Worship Allah, not for you any god other than Him. Verily, has came to you a clear proof from your Lord. So give full [the] measure and the weight and (do) not deprive [the] people in their things and (do) not cause corruption in the earth after its reformation. That (is) better for you if you are believers.
[Al-Quran 7:85]

Allah has sent several Messengers, and also The Book and The Balance, and warned humans to not upset the Balance!

Reading together these ayaat of The Quran, it may be plausible to imagine that the cause of the extinction of many species may have been a cosmic smoke that engulfed the Earth, leading to the extinction event, and the consequent resetting of the Earth.  That would also offer an explanation as to why, if not how, only few breeding pairs survived: repeatedly in The Quran, in each example of past civilizations that were punished for their crimes, the believers who kept their duty and/or did acts of reform were saved and delivered, along with their Messenger from God.   

أَفَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَىٰ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ 
إِن نَّشَأْ نَخْسِفْ بِهِمُ الْأَرْضَ أَوْ نُسْقِطْ عَلَيْهِمْ كِسَفًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُّنِيبٍ
Then, do not they see towards what (is) before them and what (is) behind them of the heaven and the earth?
If We will We (could) cause to swallow them the earth or cause to fall upon them fragments from the sky. Indeed, in that surely, is a Sign for every slave who turns (to Allah).
[Al-Quran 34:9]


وَإِن يَرَوْا كِسْفًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ سَاقِطًا يَقُولُوا سَحَابٌ مَّرْكُومٌ
فَذَرْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يُلَاقُوا يَوْمَهُمُ الَّذِي فِيهِ يُصْعَقُونَ
يَوْمَ لَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُمْ كَيْدُهُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
وَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا عَذَابًا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَإِدْبَارَ النُّجُومِ
And if they were to see a portion from the sky falling, they will say, "Clouds heaped up."
So leave them until they meet their Day which in it they will faint.
 (The) Day not will avail to them their plotting (in) anything, and not they will be helped. And indeed, for those who do wrong, (is) a punishment before that, but most of them (do) not know.
So be patient, for (the) Command (of) your Lord, for indeed, you (are) in Our Eyes. And glorify (the) praise (of) your Lord when you arise, And of the night, glorify Him, and after the stars.
[Al-Quran 52:44-49]




Some Scientific Terms, Concepts & Theories

Cosmic Dust
Cosmic dust, also called extraterrestrial dust or space dust, is dust which exists in outer space, as well as all over planet Earth.[1][2] Most cosmic dust particles are between a few molecules to 0.1 µm in size. A smaller fraction of all dust in space consists of larger refractory minerals that condensed as matter left the stars. It is called "stardust" and is included in a separate section below. The dust density falling to Earth is approximately 10−6/m3 with each grain having a mass between 10−16kg (0.1 pg) and 10−4 kg (100 mg).[3][4]
Cosmic dust can be further distinguished by its astronomical location: intergalactic dust, interstellar dust, interplanetary dust (such as in the zodiacal cloud) and circumplanetary dust (such as in a planetary ring). In the Solar System, interplanetary dust causes the zodiacal light. Sources of Solar System dust include comet dustasteroidal dust, dust from the Kuiper belt, and interstellar dust passing through the Solar System. The terminology has no specific application for describing materials found on the planet Earth except for dust that has demonstrably fallen to Earth. By one estimate, as much as 40,000 tons of cosmic dust reaches the Earth's surface every year.[3] In October 2011, scientists reported that cosmic dust contains complex organic matter (amorphous organic solids with a mixed aromaticaliphatic structure) that could be created naturally, and rapidly, by stars.[5][6][7]
In August 2014, scientists announced the collection of possible interstellar dust particles from the Stardust spacecraft since returning to Earth in 2006.[8][9][10][11] In March 2017, scientists reported that extraterrestrial dust particles have been identified all over planet Earth.[2] According to one of the researchers, “Once I knew what to look for, I found them everywhere.”[1]


'Superstar' Eta Carinae Acts Like a Ginormous Cosmic-Ray Gun, But Why?
https://www.space.com/41111-giant-cosmic-ray-gun-star-system.html
By Elizabeth Howell, Space.com Contributor | July 10, 2018 07:20am ET
A huge star system 7,500 light-years away is shooting out radiation at superhigh speeds. A new study with NASA's NuSTAR space telescope shows that Eta Carinae may act as an accelerator of charged particles, which are also called cosmic rays.
Eta Carinae is a famous hourglass-shaped gas cloud containing two massive stars orbiting each other: They are 30 and 90 times the mass of the sun, respectively. The system experienced an outburst in the 19th century and briefly became the second-brightest object in the sky. Astronomers, however, still struggle to understand the source of the outburst — and the dynamics of that star system in general.
...
NASA added that some of these superfast electrons, as well as other charged particles, likely escape Eta Carinae. Some of those particles may fly in Earth's direction, showing up here as cosmic-ray detections.


Toba Catastrophe Theory
The Toba supereruption was a supervolcanic eruption that occurred about 75,000 years ago at the site of present-day Lake Toba in SumatraIndonesia. It is one of the Earth's largest known eruptions. The Toba catastrophe theory holds that this event caused a global volcanic winter of six to ten years and possibly a 1,000-year-long cooling episode.
In 1993, science journalist Ann Gibbons posited that a population bottleneck occurred in human evolution about 70,000 years ago, and she suggested that this was caused by the eruption. Biologist Michael R. Rampino of New York University and volcanologist Stephen Self of the University of Hawaii at Manoa support her suggestion. In 1998, the bottleneck theory was further developed by anthropologist Stanley H. Ambrose of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Both the link and global winter theories are highly controversial.[2]
The Toba event is the most closely studied supereruption.[3][4]


Volcanic Ash
To get an idea about what the above theory suggests, most people might remember the relatively small eruption in Iceland, in April 2010, whose volcanic ash spread over Europe:   

Image Attribution:




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Last updated on: August 31, 2018