English translation
4821. Narrated 'Abdullāh رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ (i.e., the imagined smoke) was because, when the Quraish refused to obey the Prophet ﷺ, he invoked Allāh to afflict them with years of drought (famine) similar to those of (Prophet) Yūsuf (Joseph); and so they were stricken with drought and severe (hunger) exhaustion so much so that they ate even bones. A man would look towards the sky and imagine seeing something like smoke between him and the sky because of severe (hunger) exhaustion. So Allāh تعالى revealed: "Then wait you for the Day when the sky will bring forth a visible smoke covering the people; this is a painful torment." (V.44:10,11) Then someone (Abū Sufyān) came to Allāh's Messenger ﷺ and said, "O Allāh's Messenger! Invoke Allāh to send rain for the tribes of Muḍar as they are on the verge of destruction." On that the Prophet ﷺ said (astonishingly), "(Shall I invoke Allāh) for the tribes of Muḍar? Verily, you are a brave man!" But the Prophet ﷺ prayed for rain and it rained for them. Then the Verse was revealed: "Verily! you will revert (to disbelief)." (V.44:15) (When the famine was over and) they restored prosperity and welfare, they reverted to their ways (of heathenism) whereupon Allāh تعالى revealed: "On the Day when We shall seize you with the greatest seizure (punishment). Verily, We will exact retribution.” (V.44:16) The narrator said, “That was the day of the battle of Badr.”