Tafsir of Ad-Dukhan 44:31

( Min Fir'awn ) serves as a substitute (badal) for "the punishment," with the omission of the genitive (mudaf). The intended meaning is: "from the punishment of Pharaoh." Alternatively, he—may the curse of Allah be upon him—is considered the very essence of the punishment by way of hyperbole. It is also permissible for it to be connected to an omitted element serving as a circumstantial qualifier (hal), meaning: "existing from the side of Pharaoh." It has also been said that it is connected to an omitted element serving as an adjective, meaning: "existing from Pharaoh." There is no harm in this, provided it is not considered an omission of the relative pronoun (al-mawsul) along with part of its connective clause (silah).

'Abdullah recited it as (min 'adhabil-muhin), treating the qualified noun as a genitive to its adjective, similar to the expression baqlatul-hamqa. Ibn 'Abbas recited it as (amin Fir'awna?) as an interrogative to highlight the severity of the punishment; that is, "Do you know who Pharaoh is in his tyranny and devilry? What then is your assumption regarding his punishment?" It is also said that it is to belittle Pharaoh by rendering him as someone unknown, questioning him as an indefinite noun due to the vile acts for which he is infamous, as is known. What follows corresponds to what precedes, as is not hidden. In any case, the apparent reading is that the sentence is a commencement (isti'naf). It is also said that it is the content of an implied speech which serves as an adjective for the punishment. The content is determined according to whether the definition of "the punishment" is for specific reference ('ahd) or for the genus (jins); so do not be heedless.

( Innahu kana 'aliyan )—arrogant—( minal-musrifin ) in tyranny and corruption. The prepositional phrase (jar wa majrur) is either a second predicate for kana, meaning he was arrogant, immersed in excess, or it is a circumstantial qualifier (hal) for the hidden pronoun in 'aliyan, meaning: he was arrogant while being immersed in excess.