الذاريات
Adh-Dhariyat
About this surah
Name
It is derived from the very first word wadh-dhariyat, which implies that it is a Surah which begins with the word adh-dhariyat.
Period of Revelation
The subject matter and the style clearly show that it was sent down in the period when although the Holy Prophet's invitation was being resisted and opposed with denial and ridicule and false accusations stubbornly, persecution had not yet started. Therefore, this Surah also seems to have been revealed in the same period in which the Surah Qaf was revealed.
Subject Matter and Topics
The Surah mostly deals with the Hereafter, and in the end it presents the invitation to Tauhid. In addition, the people have also been warned that refusal to accept the message of the Prophets and persistence in the concepts and creeds of ignorance have proved to be disastrous for those nations themselves which have adopted this attitude and way of life in the past.
About the Hereafter what this Surah presents in short but pithy sentences is this: The people's different and conflicting beliefs about the end of human life are themselves an express proof that none of these beliefs and creeds is based on knowledge; everyone by himself has formed an ideology on the basis of conjecture and made the same his creed. Someone thought that there would be no life-after-death; someone believed in the life- after-death, but in the form of the transmigration of souls someone believed in the life hereafter and the meting out of the rewards and punishments but invented different sorts of props and supports to escape retribution. About a question of such vital and fundamental importance a wrong view of which renders man's whole life-work wrong and waste and ruins his future for ever, it would be a disastrous folly to build an ideology only on the basis of speculation and conjecture, without knowledge. It would mean that man should remain involved in a grave misunderstanding, pass his whole life in the heedlessness of error, and after death should suddenly meet with a situation for which he had made no preparation at all. There is only one way of forming the right opinion about such a question, and it is this: Man should seriously ponder over the knowledge about the Hereafter that the Prophet of Allah is conveying to him from Him, and should study carefully the system of the earth and heavens and his own existence: and should see whether the evidence of that knowledge's being sound and correct is afforded by everything around him or not. In this regard, the arrangement of the wind and rain, the structure of the earth and the creatures found on it, man's own self, the creation of the heavens and of everything in the world in the form of pairs have been presented as evidence of the Hereafter, and instances have been cited from human history to show that the temper of the empire of the Universe requires that the law of retribution must operate here.
After this, giving the invitation to Tauhid briefly, it has been said : "Your Creator has not created you for the service of others but for His own service. He is not like your false gods, which receive sustenance from you and godhead of which cannot function without your help, but He is a God Who is the Sustainer of all, Who does not stand in need of sustenance from anyone and Whose Godhead is functioning by His own power and might.
In this very connection, it has also been stated that whenever the Prophets of Allah have been opposed and resisted, they have not been opposed and resisted on the basis of any rational ground but on the basis of the same obduracy and stubbornness and false pride that is being shown against the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and there is no other motive for it than rebellion and arrogance. Then the Holy Prophet has been instructed not to bother about the rebels but to go on performing his mission of invitation and admonition, for it is useful and beneficial for the believers although it may not be so for the other people. As for the wicked people who still persist in their rebellion, they should know that their predecessors who followed the same way of life, have already received their shares of the punishment, and these people's share of the punishment has been made ready for them.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
- 51:1وَٱلذَّـٰرِيَٰتِ ذَرۡوٗاBy those [winds] scattering [dust] dispersing
- 51:2فَٱلۡحَٰمِلَٰتِ وِقۡرٗاAnd those [clouds] carrying a load [of water]
- 51:3فَٱلۡجَٰرِيَٰتِ يُسۡرٗاAnd those [ships] sailing with ease
- 51:4فَٱلۡمُقَسِّمَٰتِ أَمۡرًاAnd those [angels] apportioning [each] matter,
- 51:5إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَصَادِقٞIndeed, what you are promised is true.
- 51:6وَإِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ لَوَٰقِعٞAnd indeed, the recompense is to occur.
- 51:7وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلۡحُبُكِBy the heaven containing pathways,
- 51:8إِنَّكُمۡ لَفِي قَوۡلٖ مُّخۡتَلِفٖIndeed, you are in differing speech.
- 51:9يُؤۡفَكُ عَنۡهُ مَنۡ أُفِكَDeluded away from the Qur'an is he who is deluded.
- 51:10قُتِلَ ٱلۡخَرَّـٰصُونَDestroyed are the falsifiers
- 51:11ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ فِي غَمۡرَةٖ سَاهُونَWho are within a flood [of confusion] and heedless.
- 51:12يَسۡـَٔلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوۡمُ ٱلدِّينِThey ask, "When is the Day of Recompense?"
- 51:13يَوۡمَ هُمۡ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ يُفۡتَنُونَ[It is] the Day they will be tormented over the Fire
- 51:14ذُوقُواْ فِتۡنَتَكُمۡ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسۡتَعۡجِلُونَ[And will be told], "Taste your torment. This is that for which you were impatient."
- 51:15إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّـٰتٖ وَعُيُونٍIndeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs,
- 51:16ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَبۡلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحۡسِنِينَAccepting what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were before that doers of good.
- 51:17كَانُواْ قَلِيلٗا مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ مَا يَهۡجَعُونَThey used to sleep but little of the night,
- 51:18وَبِٱلۡأَسۡحَارِ هُمۡ يَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَAnd in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness,
- 51:19وَفِيٓ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ حَقّٞ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِAnd from their properties was [given] the right of the [needy] petitioner and the deprived.
- 51:20وَفِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ءَايَٰتٞ لِّلۡمُوقِنِينَAnd on the earth are signs for the certain [in faith]
- 51:21وَفِيٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡۚ أَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُونَAnd in yourselves. Then will you not see?
- 51:22وَفِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزۡقُكُمۡ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَAnd in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised.
- 51:23فَوَرَبِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِنَّهُۥ لَحَقّٞ مِّثۡلَ مَآ أَنَّكُمۡ تَنطِقُونَThen by the Lord of the heaven and earth, indeed, it is truth - just as [sure as] it is that you are speaking.
- 51:24هَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيۡفِ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلۡمُكۡرَمِينَHas there reached you the story of the honored guests of Abraham? -
- 51:25إِذۡ دَخَلُواْ عَلَيۡهِ فَقَالُواْ سَلَٰمٗاۖ قَالَ سَلَٰمٞ قَوۡمٞ مُّنكَرُونَWhen they entered upon him and said, "[We greet you with] peace." He answered, "[And upon you] peace, [you are] a people unknown.
- 51:26فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجۡلٖ سَمِينٖThen he went to his family and came with a fat [roasted] calf
- 51:27فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيۡهِمۡ قَالَ أَلَا تَأۡكُلُونَAnd placed it near them; he said, "Will you not eat?"
- 51:28فَأَوۡجَسَ مِنۡهُمۡ خِيفَةٗۖ قَالُواْ لَا تَخَفۡۖ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَٰمٍ عَلِيمٖAnd he felt from them apprehension. They said, "Fear not," and gave him good tidings of a learned boy.
- 51:29فَأَقۡبَلَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُهُۥ فِي صَرَّةٖ فَصَكَّتۡ وَجۡهَهَا وَقَالَتۡ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٞAnd his wife approached with a cry [of alarm] and struck her face and said, "[I am] a barren old woman!"
- 51:30قَالُواْ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُThey said, "Thus has said your Lord; indeed, He is the Wise, the Knowing."
- 51:31۞قَالَ فَمَا خَطۡبُكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ[Abraham] said, "Then what is your business [here], O messengers?"
- 51:32قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّآ أُرۡسِلۡنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمٖ مُّجۡرِمِينَThey said, "Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals
- 51:33لِنُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ حِجَارَةٗ مِّن طِينٖTo send down upon them stones of clay,
- 51:34مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلۡمُسۡرِفِينَMarked in the presence of your Lord for the transgressors."
- 51:35فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَSo We brought out whoever was in the cities of the believers.
- 51:36فَمَا وَجَدۡنَا فِيهَا غَيۡرَ بَيۡتٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَAnd We found not within them other than a [single] house of Muslims.
- 51:37وَتَرَكۡنَا فِيهَآ ءَايَةٗ لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَلِيمَAnd We left therein a sign for those who fear the painful punishment.
- 51:38وَفِي مُوسَىٰٓ إِذۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ بِسُلۡطَٰنٖ مُّبِينٖAnd in Moses [was a sign], when We sent him to Pharaoh with clear authority.
- 51:39فَتَوَلَّىٰ بِرُكۡنِهِۦ وَقَالَ سَٰحِرٌ أَوۡ مَجۡنُونٞBut he turned away with his supporters and said," A magician or a madman."
- 51:40فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُ وَجُنُودَهُۥ فَنَبَذۡنَٰهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡيَمِّ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٞSo We took him and his soldiers and cast them into the sea, and he was blameworthy.
- 51:41وَفِي عَادٍ إِذۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلۡعَقِيمَAnd in 'Aad [was a sign], when We sent against them the barren wind.
- 51:42مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَيۡءٍ أَتَتۡ عَلَيۡهِ إِلَّا جَعَلَتۡهُ كَٱلرَّمِيمِIt left nothing of what it came upon but that it made it like disintegrated ruins.
- 51:43وَفِي ثَمُودَ إِذۡ قِيلَ لَهُمۡ تَمَتَّعُواْ حَتَّىٰ حِينٖAnd in Thamud, when it was said to them, "Enjoy yourselves for a time."
- 51:44فَعَتَوۡاْ عَنۡ أَمۡرِ رَبِّهِمۡ فَأَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَهُمۡ يَنظُرُونَBut they were insolent toward the command of their Lord, so the thunderbolt seized them while they were looking on.
- 51:45فَمَا ٱسۡتَطَٰعُواْ مِن قِيَامٖ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُنتَصِرِينَAnd they were unable to arise, nor could they defend themselves.
- 51:46وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٖ مِّن قَبۡلُۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَوۡمٗا فَٰسِقِينَAnd [We destroyed] the people of Noah before; indeed, they were a people defiantly disobedient.
- 51:47وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيۡنَٰهَا بِأَيۡيْدٖ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَAnd the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.
- 51:48وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَرَشۡنَٰهَا فَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡمَٰهِدُونَAnd the earth We have spread out, and excellent is the preparer.
- 51:49وَمِن كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَا زَوۡجَيۡنِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَAnd of all things We created two mates; perhaps you will remember.
- 51:50فَفِرُّوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنۡهُ نَذِيرٞ مُّبِينٞSo flee to Allah. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner.
- 51:51وَلَا تَجۡعَلُواْ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَۖ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنۡهُ نَذِيرٞ مُّبِينٞAnd do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner.
- 51:52كَذَٰلِكَ مَآ أَتَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا قَالُواْ سَاحِرٌ أَوۡ مَجۡنُونٌSimilarly, there came not to those before them any messenger except that they said, "A magician or a madman."
- 51:53أَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِهِۦۚ بَلۡ هُمۡ قَوۡمٞ طَاغُونَDid they suggest it to them? Rather, they [themselves] are a transgressing people.
- 51:54فَتَوَلَّ عَنۡهُمۡ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِمَلُومٖSo leave them, [O Muhammad], for you are not to be blamed.
- 51:55وَذَكِّرۡ فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَAnd remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.
- 51:56وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِAnd I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
- 51:57مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنۡهُم مِّن رِّزۡقٖ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطۡعِمُونِI do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me.
- 51:58إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلۡقُوَّةِ ٱلۡمَتِينُIndeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.
- 51:59فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ ذَنُوبٗا مِّثۡلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصۡحَٰبِهِمۡ فَلَا يَسۡتَعۡجِلُونِAnd indeed, for those who have wronged is a portion [of punishment] like the portion of their predecessors, so let them not impatiently urge Me.
- 51:60فَوَيۡلٞ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن يَوۡمِهِمُ ٱلَّذِي يُوعَدُونَAnd woe to those who have disbelieved from their Day which they are promised.