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Surah Adh-Dhariyat

The Winnowing Winds

Chapter 51 of 114

Beautiful Quran Recitation

Surah Adh-Dhariyat

Recited by Salaah Bukhaatir

Overview

About this Surah

The Surah has been so named after the word al balad in the first verse.

At a glance

Surah 51 of 114

Translation
English
Recitation
Salaah Bukhaatir

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Commentary

Tafsir

<h2>Name</h2>
<p>The Surah has been so named after the word <em>al balad</em> in the <a href=/90/1>first verse</a>.</p>
<h2>Period of Revelation</h2>
<p>Its subject matter and style resemble those of the earliest Surahs revealed at Makkah, but it contains a pointer which indicates that it was sent down in the period when the disbelievers of Makkah had resolved to oppose the Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace), and made it lawful for themselves to commit tyranny and excess against him.</p>
<h2>Theme and Subject Matter</h2>
<p>In this Surah a vast subject has been compressed into a few brief sentences, and it is a miracle of the Quran that a complete ideology of life which could hardly be explained in a thick volume has been abridged most effectively in brief sentences of this short Surah. Its theme is to explain the true position of man in the world and of the world in relation to man and to tell that God has shown to man both the highways of good and evil, has also provided for him the means to judge and see and follow them, and now it rests upon mans own effort and judgment whether he chooses the path of virtue and reaches felicity or adopts the path of vice and meets with doom.</p>
<p>First, the city of Makkah and the hardships being faced therein by the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) and the state of the children of Adam have been cited as a witness to the truth that this world is not a place of rest and ease for man, where he might have been born to enjoy life, but here he has been created into toil and struggle. If this theme is read with <a href=/53/39>verse 39 of Surah An-Najm</a> (<em>Laisa lil insani illa ma saa</em> : there is nothing for man but what he has striven for), it becomes plain that in this world the future of man depends on his toil and struggle, effort and striving.</p>
<p>After this, man's misunderstanding that he is all in all in this world and that there is no superior power to watch what he does and to call him to account, has been refuted.</p>
<p>Then, taking one of the many moral concepts of ignorance held by man, as an example, it has been pointed out what wrong criteria of merit and greatness he has proposed for himself in the world. The person who for ostentation and display squanders heaps of wealth, not only himself prides upon his extravagances but the people also admire him for it enthusiastically, whereas the Being Who is watching over his deeds, sees by what methods he obtained the wealth and in what ways and with what motives and intention he spent it.</p>
<p>Then Allah says: We have given man the means of knowledge and the faculties of thinking and understanding and opened up before him both the highways of virtue and vice: one way leads down to moral depravity, and it is an easy way pleasing for the self; the other way leads up to moral heights, which is steep like an uphill road, for scaling which man has to exercise self- restraint. It is man's weakness that he prefers slipping down into the abyss to scaling the cliff.</p>
<p>Then, Allah has explained what the steep road is by following which man can ascend to the heights. It is that he should give up spending for ostentation, display and pride and should spend his wealth to help the orphans and the needy, should believe in Allah and His Religion and joining the company of believers should participate in the construction of a society which should fulfill the demands of virtue and righteousness patiently and should be compassionate to the people. The end of those who follow this way is that they would become worthy of Allah's mercies. On the contrary, the end of those who follow the wrong way, is the fire of Hell from which there is no escape.</p>

Verse by verse

Surah Adh-Dhariyat · The Winnowing Winds

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  1. Ayah 1

    بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَالذَّارِيَاتِ ذَرْوًا

    By the (Winds) that scatter broadcast;

  2. Ayah 2

    فَالْحَامِلَاتِ وِقْرًا

    And those that lift and bear away heavy weights;

  3. Ayah 3

    فَالْجَارِيَاتِ يُسْرًا

    And those that flow with ease and gentleness;

  4. Ayah 4

    فَالْمُقَسِّمَاتِ أَمْرًا

    And those that distribute and apportion by Command;-

  5. Ayah 5

    إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَصَادِقٌ

    Verily that which ye are promised is true;

  6. Ayah 6

    وَإِنَّ الدِّينَ لَوَاقِعٌ

    And verily Judgment and Justice must indeed come to pass.

  7. Ayah 7

    وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الْحُبُكِ

    By the Sky with (its) numerous Paths,

  8. Ayah 8

    إِنَّكُمْ لَفِي قَوْلٍ مُّخْتَلِفٍ

    Truly ye are in a doctrine discordant,

  9. Ayah 9

    يُؤْفَكُ عَنْهُ مَنْ أُفِكَ

    Through which are deluded (away from the Truth) such as would be deluded.

  10. Ayah 10

    قُتِلَ الْخَرَّاصُونَ

    Woe to the falsehood-mongers,-

  11. Ayah 11

    الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي غَمْرَةٍ سَاهُونَ

    Those who (flounder) heedless in a flood of confusion:

  12. Ayah 12

    يَسْأَلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ الدِّينِ

    They ask, "When will be the Day of Judgment and Justice?"

  13. Ayah 13

    يَوْمَ هُمْ عَلَى النَّارِ يُفْتَنُونَ

    (It will be) a Day when they will be tried (and tested) over the Fire!

  14. Ayah 14

    ذُوقُوا فِتْنَتَكُمْ هَـٰذَا الَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ

    "Taste ye your trial! This is what ye used to ask to be hastened!"

  15. Ayah 15

    إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ

    As to the Righteous, they will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs,

  16. Ayah 16

    آخِذِينَ مَا آتَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ

    Taking joy in the things which their Lord gives them, because, before then, they lived a good life.

  17. Ayah 17

    كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ

    They were in the habit of sleeping but little by night,

  18. Ayah 18

    وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ

    And in the hour of early dawn, they (were found) praying for Forgiveness;

  19. Ayah 19

    وَفِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ

    And in their wealth and possessions (was remembered) the right of the (needy,) him who asked, and him who (for some reason) was prevented (from asking).

  20. Ayah 20

    وَفِي الْأَرْضِ آيَاتٌ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ

    On the earth are signs for those of assured Faith,

  21. Ayah 21

    وَفِي أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ

    As also in your own selves: Will ye not then see?

  22. Ayah 22

    وَفِي السَّمَاءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ

    And in heaven is your Sustenance, as (also) that which ye are promised.

  23. Ayah 23

    فَوَرَبِّ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ لَحَقٌّ مِّثْلَ مَا أَنَّكُمْ تَنطِقُونَ

    Then, by the Lord of heaven and earth, this is the very Truth, as much as the fact that ye can speak intelligently to each other.

  24. Ayah 24

    هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ

    Has the story reached thee, of the honoured guests of Abraham?

  25. Ayah 25

    إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ

    Behold, they entered his presence, and said: "Peace!" He said, "Peace!" (and thought, "These seem) unusual people."

  26. Ayah 26

    فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ فَجَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ

    Then he turned quickly to his household, brought out a fatted calf,

  27. Ayah 27

    فَقَرَّبَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ

    And placed it before them.. he said, "Will ye not eat?"

  28. Ayah 28

    فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ ۖ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ

    (When they did not eat), He conceived a fear of them. They said, "Fear not," and they gave him glad tidings of a son endowed with knowledge.

  29. Ayah 29

    فَأَقْبَلَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ فِي صَرَّةٍ فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ

    But his wife came forward (laughing) aloud: she smote her forehead and said: "A barren old woman!"

  30. Ayah 30

    قَالُوا كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْعَلِيمُ

    They said, "Even so has thy Lord spoken: and He is full of Wisdom and Knowledge."

  31. Ayah 31

    قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ

    (Abraham) said: "And what, O ye Messengers, is your errand (now)?"

  32. Ayah 32

    قَالُوا إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ

    They said, "We have been sent to a people (deep) in sin;-

  33. Ayah 33

    لِنُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن طِينٍ

    "To bring on, on them, (a shower of) stones of clay (brimstone),

  34. Ayah 34

    مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ

    "Marked as from thy Lord for those who trespass beyond bounds."

  35. Ayah 35

    فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

    Then We evacuated those of the Believers who were there,

  36. Ayah 36

    فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهَا غَيْرَ بَيْتٍ مِّنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

    But We found not there any just (Muslim) persons except in one house:

  37. Ayah 37

    وَتَرَكْنَا فِيهَا آيَةً لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ

    And We left there a Sign for such as fear the Grievous Penalty.

  38. Ayah 38

    وَفِي مُوسَىٰ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ

    And in Moses (was another Sign): Behold, We sent him to Pharaoh, with authority manifest.

  39. Ayah 39

    فَتَوَلَّىٰ بِرُكْنِهِ وَقَالَ سَاحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ

    But (Pharaoh) turned back with his Chiefs, and said, "A sorcerer, or one possessed!"

  40. Ayah 40

    فَأَخَذْنَاهُ وَجُنُودَهُ فَنَبَذْنَاهُمْ فِي الْيَمِّ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ

    So We took him and his forces, and threw them into the sea; and his was the blame.

  41. Ayah 41

    وَفِي عَادٍ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّيحَ الْعَقِيمَ

    And in the 'Ad (people) (was another Sign): Behold, We sent against them the devastating Wind:

  42. Ayah 42

    مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَيْءٍ أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا جَعَلَتْهُ كَالرَّمِيمِ

    It left nothing whatever that it came up against, but reduced it to ruin and rottenness.

  43. Ayah 43

    وَفِي ثَمُودَ إِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَمَتَّعُوا حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ

    And in the Thamud (was another Sign): Behold, they were told, "Enjoy (your brief day) for a little while!"

  44. Ayah 44

    فَعَتَوْا عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّاعِقَةُ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ

    But they insolently defied the Command of their Lord: So the stunning noise (of an earthquake) seized them, even while they were looking on.

  45. Ayah 45

    فَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا مِن قِيَامٍ وَمَا كَانُوا مُنتَصِرِينَ

    Then they could not even stand (on their feet), nor could they help themselves.

  46. Ayah 46

    وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ

    So were the People of Noah before them for they wickedly transgressed.

  47. Ayah 47

    وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ

    With power and skill did We construct the Firmament: for it is We Who create the vastness of pace.

  48. Ayah 48

    وَالْأَرْضَ فَرَشْنَاهَا فَنِعْمَ الْمَاهِدُونَ

    And We have spread out the (spacious) earth: How excellently We do spread out!

  49. Ayah 49

    وَمِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَا زَوْجَيْنِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

    And of every thing We have created pairs: That ye may receive instruction.

  50. Ayah 50

    فَفِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

    Hasten ye then (at once) to Allah: I am from Him a Warner to you, clear and open!

  51. Ayah 51

    وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا آخَرَ ۖ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

    And make not another an object of worship with Allah: I am from Him a Warner to you, clear and open!

  52. Ayah 52

    كَذَٰلِكَ مَا أَتَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا قَالُوا سَاحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ

    Similarly, no messenger came to the Peoples before them, but they said (of him) in like manner, "A sorcerer, or one possessed"!

  53. Ayah 53

    أَتَوَاصَوْا بِهِ ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ طَاغُونَ

    Is this the legacy they have transmitted, one to another? Nay, they are themselves a people transgressing beyond bounds!

  54. Ayah 54

    فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَمَا أَنتَ بِمَلُومٍ

    So turn away from them: not thine is the blame.

  55. Ayah 55

    وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَىٰ تَنفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

    But teach (thy Message) for teaching benefits the Believers.

  56. Ayah 56

    وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

    I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.

  57. Ayah 57

    مَا أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ

    No Sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me.

  58. Ayah 58

    إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ

    For Allah is He Who gives (all) Sustenance,- Lord of Power,- Steadfast (for ever).

  59. Ayah 59

    فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا ذَنُوبًا مِّثْلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصْحَابِهِمْ فَلَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونِ

    For the Wrong-doers, their portion is like unto the portion of their fellows (of earlier generations): then let them not ask Me to hasten (that portion)!

  60. Ayah 60

    فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن يَوْمِهِمُ الَّذِي يُوعَدُونَ

    Woe, then, to the Unbelievers, on account of that Day of theirs which they have been promised!

About the Quran

The Quran

The Quran is the holy scripture of Islam. Muslims believe that it is the literal word of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) over a period of 23 years. The Quran is composed of 114 Surahs (chapters) and contains 6,236 Ayat (verses). Muslim beliefs and practices are based on the Quran and the Sunnah, the teachings and example of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

The Kaaba in Mecca
A mosque in South America

Meccan Surahs

The Meccan Surahs are the earliest revelations sent down to the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم). They were revealed in Mecca, hence their name. These revelations form the foundation of the Islamic faith and contain guidance for Muslims on how to live their lives. The Meccan Surahs are also notable for their poetic beauty and lyrical prose.

Medinan Surahs

The Medinan Surahs are the later Surahs that, according to Islamic tradition, were revealed in Medina after the Prophet Muhammad's (صلى الله عليه وسلم) hijra from Mecca. They were revealed by Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) when the Muslim community was larger and more developed, as opposed to their minority position in Mecca.

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