English translation
4823. Narrated Masrūq: I came upon 'Abdullāh and he said, "When Allāh's Messenger ﷺ invited Quraish (to Islām), they disbelieved him and stood against him. So he (the Prophet ﷺ) said, 'O Allāh! Help me against them by sending on them seven years (of drought-famine) like those seven (years of draught) of Yūsuf (Joseph).' So they were afflicted with such a year of drought that destroyed everything, and they started eating of dead animals, and if one of them got up he would see something like smoke between him and the sky from the severe fatigue (exhaustion) and hunger.'" 'Abdullāh then recited: "Then wait you for the Day when the sky will bring forth a visible smoke covering the people, this is a painful torment... (till he reached)... Verily, We shall remove the torment for a while. Verily! You will revert." (V.44:10-15) 'Abdullāh added: "Will the punishment be removed from them on the Day of Resurrection?" He added, "The greatest grasp was the day of the battle of Badr."
