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VerseSurah

Surah 51 · Meccan · 60 Verses

الذاريات

SURAH ADH-DHARIYAT

The Winnowing Winds

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

1

وَٱلذَّٰرِيَٰتِ ذَرْوًۭا

By the [winds] scattering [dust], dispersing [it]

2

فَٱلْحَٰمِلَٰتِ وِقْرًۭا

And the [clouds] carrying a load [of water]

3

فَٱلْجَٰرِيَٰتِ يُسْرًۭا

And the ships sailing with ease

4

فَٱلْمُقَسِّمَٰتِ أَمْرًا

And the [angels] apportioning [each] matter,

5

إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَصَادِقٌۭ

Indeed, what you are promised is true.

6

وَإِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ لَوَٰقِعٌۭ

And indeed, the recompense is to occur.

7

وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلْحُبُكِ

By the heaven containing pathways,1535

  1. [1535] Explained as tracks, layers or orbits. ↩

8

إِنَّكُمْ لَفِى قَوْلٍۢ مُّخْتَلِفٍۢ

Indeed, you are in differing speech.1536

  1. [1536] About Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) and the Qur’ān. ↩

9

يُؤْفَكُ عَنْهُ مَنْ أُفِكَ

Deluded away from it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is he who is deluded.

10

قُتِلَ ٱلْخَرَّٰصُونَ

Destroyed are the misinformers1537

  1. [1537] Or "May they be destroyed" or "cursed." ↩

11

ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى غَمْرَةٍۢ سَاهُونَ

Who are within a flood [of confusion] and heedless.

12

يَسْـَٔلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ

They ask, "When is the Day of Recompense?"

13

يَوْمَ هُمْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ يُفْتَنُونَ

[It is] the Day they will be tormented over the Fire

14

ذُوقُوا۟ فِتْنَتَكُمْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ

[And will be told], "Taste your torment. This is that for which you were impatient."

15

إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍۢ وَعُيُونٍ

Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs,

16

ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ

Accepting what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were before that doers of good.

17

كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ

They used to sleep but little of the night,1538

  1. [1538] i.e., spending a portion of the night in prayer and supplication. ↩

18

وَبِٱلْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ

And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness,

19

وَفِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّۭ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ

And from their properties was [given] the right of the [needy] petitioner and the deprived.

20

وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ءَايَٰتٌۭ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ

And on the earth are signs for the certain [in faith]

21

وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ

And in yourselves. Then will you not see?

22

وَفِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ

And in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised.

23

فَوَرَبِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُۥ لَحَقٌّۭ مِّثْلَ مَآ أَنَّكُمْ تَنطِقُونَ

Then by the Lord of the heaven and earth, indeed, it is truth - just as [sure as] it is that you are speaking.

24

هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْمُكْرَمِينَ

Has there reached you the story of the honored guests of Abraham?1539 -

  1. [1539] Who were angels given honored positions by Allāh. ↩

25

إِذْ دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا۟ سَلَٰمًۭا ۖ قَالَ سَلَٰمٌۭ قَوْمٌۭ مُّنكَرُونَ

When they entered upon him and said, "[We greet you with] peace." He answered, "[And upon you] peace; [you are] a people unknown."

26

فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجْلٍۢ سَمِينٍۢ

Then he went to his family and came with a fat [roasted] calf.

27

فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ

And placed it near them; he said, "Will you not eat?"

28

فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةًۭ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ ۖ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَٰمٍ عَلِيمٍۢ

And he felt from them apprehension.1540 They said, "Fear not," and gave him good tidings of a learned boy.

  1. [1540] See footnote to 11:70. ↩

29

فَأَقْبَلَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ فِى صَرَّةٍۢ فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌۭ

And his wife approached with a cry [of alarm] and struck her face and said, "[I am] a barren old woman!"

30

قَالُوا۟ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

They said, "Thus has said your Lord; indeed, He is the Wise, the Knowing."

31

۞ قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ

[Abraham] said, "Then what is your business [here], O messengers?"

32

قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍۢ مُّجْرِمِينَ

They said, "Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals1541

  1. [1541] i.e., those who defied Lot (upon him be peace). ↩

33

لِنُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةًۭ مِّن طِينٍۢ

To send down upon them stones of clay,

34

مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ

Marked in the presence of your Lord for the transgressors."

35

فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

So We brought out whoever was in them [i.e., the cities] of the believers.

36

فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهَا غَيْرَ بَيْتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ

And We found not within them other than a [single] house of Muslims.1542

  1. [1542] i.e., Lot and his family, excepting his wife. ↩

37

وَتَرَكْنَا فِيهَآ ءَايَةًۭ لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ

And We left therein a sign for those who fear the painful punishment.

38

وَفِى مُوسَىٰٓ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ بِسُلْطَٰنٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

And in Moses [was a sign], when We sent him to Pharaoh with clear authority.1543

  1. [1543] i.e., evidences. ↩

39

فَتَوَلَّىٰ بِرُكْنِهِۦ وَقَالَ سَٰحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌۭ

But he turned away with his supporters and said, "A magician or a madman."

40

فَأَخَذْنَٰهُ وَجُنُودَهُۥ فَنَبَذْنَٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌۭ

So We took him and his soldiers and cast them into the sea, and he was blameworthy.

41

وَفِى عَادٍ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلْعَقِيمَ

And in ʿAad [was a sign], when We sent against them the barren wind.1544

  1. [1544] Barren of any benefit, i.e., evil. ↩

42

مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَىْءٍ أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا جَعَلَتْهُ كَٱلرَّمِيمِ

It left nothing of what it came upon but that it made it like disintegrated ruins.

43

وَفِى ثَمُودَ إِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍۢ

And in Thamūd, when it was said to them, "Enjoy yourselves for a time."

44

فَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّٰعِقَةُ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ

But they were insolent toward the command of their Lord, so the thunderbolt seized them while they were looking on.

45

فَمَا ٱسْتَطَٰعُوا۟ مِن قِيَامٍۢ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنتَصِرِينَ

And they were unable to arise, nor could they defend themselves.

46

وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍۢ مِّن قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًۭا فَٰسِقِينَ

And [We destroyed] the people of Noah before; indeed, they were a people defiantly disobedient.

47

وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيْنَٰهَا بِأَيْي۟دٍۢ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ

And the heaven We constructed with strength,1545 and indeed, We are [its] expander.

  1. [1545] Literally, "hands." ↩

48

وَٱلْأَرْضَ فَرَشْنَٰهَا فَنِعْمَ ٱلْمَٰهِدُونَ

And the earth We have spread out, and excellent is the preparer.

49

وَمِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَا زَوْجَيْنِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

And of all things We created two mates [i.e., counterparts]; perhaps you will remember.

50

فَفِرُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

So flee to Allāh.1546 Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner.

  1. [1546] i.e., turn to Allāh and take refuge in Him from disbelief and sin, thereby escaping His punishment. ↩

51

وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ ۖ إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

And do not make [as equal] with Allāh another deity. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner.

52

كَذَٰلِكَ مَآ أَتَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا قَالُوا۟ سَاحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ

Similarly, there came not to those before them any messenger except that they said, "A magician or a madman."

53

أَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌۭ طَاغُونَ

Did they suggest it to them?1547 Rather, they [themselves] are a transgressing people.

  1. [1547] i.e., Did the former disbelievers pass on these words to the Makkans so that they repeat the same expressions? ↩

54

فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِمَلُومٍۢ

So leave them, [O Muḥammad], for you are not to be blamed.

55

وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.

56

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.

57

مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍۢ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ

I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me.

58

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ ٱلْمَتِينُ

Indeed, it is Allāh who is the [continual] Provider,1548 the firm possessor of strength.

  1. [1548] Providing everything required by His creations during their decreed existence. His provision includes guidance. ↩

59

فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ذَنُوبًۭا مِّثْلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصْحَٰبِهِمْ فَلَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونِ

And indeed, for those who have wronged is a portion [of punishment] like the portion of their companions [i.e., predecessors], so let them not impatiently urge Me.

60

فَوَيْلٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن يَوْمِهِمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ

And woe to those who have disbelieved from their Day which they are promised.

About This Surah

Surah Adh-Dhariyat affirms judgment, points to signs on earth and within human beings, and states that provision and what people are promised are with God. It recounts Abraham’s honored guests and several earlier communities, then declares that jinn and humans were created to worship God. Dependence and purpose frame the chapter.

The opening swears by winds and forces carrying, distributing and moving by command. Interpretive identifications should be sourced rather than asserted from English labels alone.

People of reverence are described as sleeping little, seeking forgiveness before dawn and recognizing a right in their wealth for those who ask and those deprived. Worship is connected to generosity.

The chapter directs readers to signs in earth and within themselves. It then says that provision and the promised outcome are in heaven. This should not become a marketing promise that recitation automatically produces wealth.

Abraham’s guests arrive unexpectedly. He brings food, becomes uneasy when they do not eat and receives news of a knowledgeable son. The guests then travel toward a people facing judgment.

Brief references follow to Moses and Pharaoh, ‘Ad, Thamud and Noah. These compressed narratives rely on wider Quranic context and should not be expanded carelessly.

The chapter calls people to flee toward God and avoid associating partners. It explains the shared accusation of sorcery or madness against messengers.

The statement that humans and jinn were created to worship God is followed by divine independence: God does not need provision from them. Worship fulfills created purpose, not divine need.

The statement that provision is in heaven and the assurance that God is the Provider teach dependence and divine sovereignty.

They do not guarantee wealth, remove the duty to work and plan, or condemn people experiencing unemployment and poverty.

Abraham’s hospitality shows generous welcome, while the visitors’ extraordinary identity remains within revelation.

Lot’s punishment narrative does not authorize harassment, private punishment, or collective blame toward contemporary people.

Core Themes

  • Accountability is certain despite delay.
  • Private worship should produce social generosity.
  • Creation includes signs in world and self.
  • Provision belongs to divine authority.
  • Prophetic rejection follows recurring patterns.
  • Worship answers human purpose, not divine need.

Structure

Verses 1-14: Oaths and accountability — 1-14

Verses 15-23: Devotion, generosity and signs — 15-23

Verses 24-37: Abraham’s guests — 24-37

Verses 38-46: Moses, ‘Ad, Thamud and Noah — 38-46

Verses 47-60: Creation, prophetic pattern and purpose of worship — 47-60

Reading Guide

Reading step 1

Source the opening oath interpretations.

Reading step 2

Read provision language without prosperity guarantees.

Reading step 3

Connect early-morning devotion to financial responsibility.

Reading step 4

Keep compressed punishment stories within wider context.

Key Passages

Devotion and the right of the deprived — 15-19

The description of future gardens turns back to earlier conduct: doing good, night devotion, forgiveness-seeking before dawn and a recognized share for those in need. The portrait joins inward worship to material responsibility. Its praise of devotion should not be rewritten as a compulsory sleep schedule for everyone.

Signs and provision — 20-23

Signs on the earth and in human beings lead into a statement about provision and what is promised. The oath compares the certainty of that promise with the familiar fact of speaking. The passage calls for recognition and trust without replacing ordinary effort to obtain a livelihood.

Abraham’s guests — 24-30

Hospitality begins with a greeting and a meal, then turns to apprehension when the guests do not eat. Reassurance brings news of a child that Abraham's wife finds astonishing. The exchange moves from ordinary welcome to divine wisdom and knowledge, preserving the surprise rather than treating the outcome as expected.

Mission toward Lot’s people — 31-37

Abraham's question reveals that the guests also carry a mission of judgment. The account distinguishes the people to be punished from the household brought out before it. That distinction matters: the passage records a particular divine judgment and rescue, not authority for readers to enact punishment against others.

Earlier peoples — 38-46

Moses' encounter with Pharaoh is followed by compressed reminders of ‘Ad, Thamud and Noah's people. Each example returns to the failure of power or resistance when warning is rejected. The repetition links different histories through accountability without claiming that their events happened in an identical way.

Heaven and created pairs — 47-49

Heaven, prepared earth and created counterparts form a sequence ending in an invitation to remember. Its emphasis is the Creator's power and the dependence of creation. The language should be allowed to make that argument without being forced into a complete account of modern cosmology or biology.

Fleeing toward God — 50-51

The call to flee toward God is immediately explained by a rejection of rival deities, while the description of the messenger as a clear warner is repeated. This pairing gives the image its direction. It is a turn in worship and reliance rather than an instruction to abandon ordinary responsibilities.

Purpose and divine independence — 56-58

The purpose of worship is followed by a denial that God needs food or provision from His creatures. The final description identifies Him as Provider and possessor of strength. Human worship therefore answers dependence on God; it does not supply a deficiency in God or make divine care a commercial exchange.

Recitation Note

No exclusive time, fixed repetition count, or guaranteed worldly outcome is asserted here for reciting Surah Adh-Dhariyat. Reading it is worship and study; any claim about protection, healing, provision, marriage, political success, or a prescribed number requires separate exact evidence and carefully limited wording.

Interpretation Limits

  • Provision verses do not guarantee wealth through recitation.
  • Jinn references do not support occult services.
  • Punishment narratives should not be mapped to modern disasters.
  • The purpose verse should not erase work, family and social responsibilities.
  • Created pairs should not be overextended into claims beyond the text.
  • Provision verses do not guarantee wealth or remove duties of work, planning, charity, and justice.
  • Poverty and unemployment must not be blamed on weak faith or insufficient recitation.
  • Angelic guests and unseen details must not be embellished beyond the text.

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