The Quran tells many stories involving Moses and many versions of the details in the various episodes of his life. Sūra 44 offers a story about the people of Pharaoh clearly recognizable as an episode in the life of Moses, but the sūra does not give Moses’ name. Missing details like this again raise the question of the makeup of an audience so familiar with the story that the name of its chief protagonist is not necessary to state.

The remainder of this short sūra largely warns of punishment to come, beginning with the “visible smoke” (after which the sūra is named) descending from the sky to cover the people.

44.1–3 – Ḥā Mīm. By the clear Book! Surely We sent it down on a blessed night

On these disconnected letters, see the comment at 2.1. The sūra opens with a strong self-referential claim that Allah “sent it down.”

Muslim beliefs that the recitation was “sent down” disagree about whether the sending occurred all at once or “piecemeal” and at intervals. This verse and 97.1 seem to suggest all at once – and at night. See the discussion of the Quran’s “doctrine of scripture” at 85.21–22.