Ad-Dukhan: (17) "And We certainly tested before them the people of Pharaoh..."

"And We certainly tested before them the people of Pharaoh" (that is, We put them to the test by sending Moses, peace be upon him, to them). This is analogous to the refining of silver, where it is exposed to fire; thus, it carries the meaning of examination, serving as a metaphor. The intent is: We treated them as one who tests is treated, in order that their state might become manifest to others. Alternatively, it means: We caused them to fall into fitna (tribulation), where it carries its well-known meaning. The fitna intended is that whereby a person is tempted, becoming deluded and heedless of that which holds their well-being, as in His, the Exalted’s, saying: "Your wealth and your children are but a trial (fitna)." Here, it has been interpreted as giving respite and expanding provision. Some have interpreted fitna as punishment, then used it figuratively to refer to the sins which are the cause of it, though this is an unnecessary affectation. It has been recited as fattanna (with a doubled 't'), either to emphasize its meaning as a verbal noun, or to denote the multiplicity of the objects or the intensity of the action.

"And there came to them a noble messenger."

(That is, honored and glorified in the sight of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, or in the sight of the believers, or in His sight, the Exalted, and in theirs. Or, he is noble in his own self, characterized by praiseworthy traits and magnificent qualities, both in lineage and character.) Al-Raghib said: When "nobility" (karam) is used to describe a human, it is a term for the praiseworthy morals and actions that appear from him; it is not said that a person is karim (noble) until such things become manifest from him. It is reported from some scholars that karam is like hurriyya (liberty/nobility of character), except that hurriyya may be used for both small and large virtues, while karam is only used for significant virtues. Al-Khafaji said that the root meaning of "noble" is "one who encompasses all praiseworthy qualities and benefits," and he argued that this interpretation is superior to the two aforementioned interpretations.