الذاريات
Surah Adh-Dhariyat
The Winnowing Winds · Surah 51 · Meccan · 60 verses
1وَٱلذَّـٰرِيَٰتِ ذَرۡوࣰا ١By those that winnow with a winnowing.InsightElmalılı explains “adh-dhariyat” as the forces that scatter soil and sand, break things down and carry them off as dust; winds are the clearest example.2فَٱلۡحَٰمِلَٰتِ وِقۡرࣰا ٢And those that bear the burden (of the rain).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these are rain-laden clouds, the winds that carry clouds, or pregnant women, or the causes of all these.3فَٱلۡجَٰرِيَٰتِ يُسۡرࣰا ٣And those that glide with ease (upon the sea).4فَٱلۡمُقَسِّمَٰتِ أَمۡرًا ٤And those who distribute (blessings) by command.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these are the angels who distribute Allah’s command so that what is scattered and carried reaches its destination.5إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَصَادِقࣱ ٥Lo! that wherewith ye are threatened is indeed true.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the promises and warnings made to you, the new creation, the resurrection and eternal abiding are all true.6وَإِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ لَوَٰقِعࣱ ٦And lo! the judgment will indeed befall.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “din” here is recompense and accountability: those who strive for good are repaid with good, those who strive for evil with evil.7وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلۡحُبُكِ ٧By the heaven full of paths.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “dhat al-hubuk” is a marvellous expression with much said about it: a woven, pathed, patterned sky.8إِنَّكُمۡ لَفِي قَوۡلࣲ مُّخۡتَلِفࣲ ٨Lo! ye, forsooth, are of various opinion (concerning the truth).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, your words contradict each other: you say Allah created the heavens and earth, then claim He cannot raise the dead.9يُؤۡفَكُ عَنۡهُ مَنۡ أُفِكَ ٩He is made to turn away from it who is (himself) averse.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, whoever is destined to turn from this contradictory speech turns and believes; those who do not believe have been turned from the path of truth.10قُتِلَ ٱلۡخَرَّـٰصُونَ ١٠Accursed be the conjecturers.11ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ فِي غَمۡرَةࣲ سَاهُونَ ١١Who are careless in an abyss.InsightElmalılı explains “ghamrah” as a swamp, intoxication or ignorance that engulfs a person on all sides like a flood.12يَسۡـَٔلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوۡمُ ٱلدِّينِ ١٢They ask: When is the Day of Judgment.13يَوۡمَ هُمۡ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ يُفۡتَنُونَ ١٣(It is) the day when they will be tormented at the Fire.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the original meaning of “fitnah” is putting gold and silver to the fire to separate the good from the bad.14ذُوقُواْ فِتۡنَتَكُمۡ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسۡتَعۡجِلُونَ ١٤(And it will be said unto them): Taste your torment (which ye inflicted). This is what ye sought to hasten.15إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّـٰتࣲ وَعُيُونٍ ١٥Lo! those who keep from evil will dwell amid gardens and watersprings.16ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَبۡلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحۡسِنِينَ ١٦Taking that which their Lord giveth them; for lo! aforetime they were doers of good.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they receive what Allah gives with good acceptance, pleased and content; for in the world they did good work.17كَانُواْ قَلِيلࣰا مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ مَا يَهۡجَعُونَ ١٧They used to sleep but little of the night.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, out of longing for Allah and concern for the Hereafter, sleep would not come to their eyes; they worshipped and did their duties. “Huju‘” means little sleep.18وَبِٱلۡأَسۡحَارِ هُمۡ يَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَ ١٨And ere the dawning of each day would seek forgiveness.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, though they spent the night in worship, they did not lie down at dawn but sought forgiveness for their shortcomings, as if they had spent it in sin.19وَفِيٓ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ حَقࣱّ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِ ١٩And in their wealth the beggar and the outcast had due share.InsightElmalılı explains “sa’il” as the one who asks, who begs; and “mahrum” as the needy who, thought rich because of their reserve, are deprived even of charity.20وَفِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ءَايَٰتࣱ لِّلۡمُوقِنِينَ ٢٠And in the earth are portents for those whose faith is sure.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, in the earth and in the self are many proofs showing that recompense and accountability are real and that religion is true.21وَفِيٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡۚ أَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُونَ ٢١And (also) in yourselves. Can ye then not see.22وَفِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزۡقُكُمۡ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ ٢٢And in the heaven is your providence and that which ye are promised.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, in the heaven are the causes of your provision, like rain and warmth, and what you are promised, or it is decreed there.23فَوَرَبِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِنَّهُۥ لَحَقࣱّ مِّثۡلَ مَآ أَنَّكُمۡ تَنطِقُونَ ٢٣And by the Lord of the heavens and the earth, it is the truth, even as (it is true) that ye speak.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this conveys that the promise made to you is as certain as your ability to speak.24هَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيۡفِ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلۡمُكۡرَمِينَ ٢٤Hath the story of Abraham’s honoured guests reached thee (O Muhammad).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this expression draws attention to the story’s greatness and its coming by revelation; “hadith” is speech reaching a person by revelation or hearing.25إِذۡ دَخَلُواْ عَلَيۡهِ فَقَالُواْ سَلَٰمࣰاۖ قَالَ سَلَٰمࣱ قَوۡمࣱ مُّنكَرُونَ ٢٥When they came in unto him and said: Peace! he answered, Peace! (and thought): Folk unknown (to me).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Abraham’s greeting, in a form expressing permanence, is stronger than theirs; an example of returning a greeting with a better one.26فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجۡلࣲ سَمِينࣲ ٢٦Then he went apart unto his housefolk so that they brought a fatted calf.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Abraham hurried to his family to prepare food without the guests noticing; this is one of the manners of hospitality.27فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيۡهِمۡ قَالَ أَلَا تَأۡكُلُونَ ٢٧And he set it before them, saying: Will ye not eat.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is either an offer meaning “please eat” or a question meaning “why do you not eat?”; placing food near the guest is also good manners.28فَأَوۡجَسَ مِنۡهُمۡ خِيفَةࣰۖ قَالُواْ لَا تَخَفۡۖ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَٰمٍ عَلِيمࣲ ٢٨Then he conceived a fear of them. They said: Fear not! and gave him tidings of (the birth of) a wise son.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, since guests not touching food was then a sign of hostility, Abraham grew suspicious.29فَأَقۡبَلَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُهُۥ فِي صَرَّةࣲ فَصَكَّتۡ وَجۡهَهَا وَقَالَتۡ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمࣱ ٢٩Then his wife came forward, making moan, and smote her face, and cried: A barren old woman.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Sarah was watching from a corner; on hearing the good news she was embarrassed and turned to go into the house.30قَالُواْ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٣٠They said: Even so saith thy Lord. Lo! He is the Wise, the Knower.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the angels said: “We do not say this from ourselves; we only convey your Lord’s word.”31۞قَالَ فَمَا خَطۡبُكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ ٣١(Abraham) said: And (afterward) what is your errand, O ye sent (from Allah).InsightElmalılı explains “khatb” as an important matter: after this good news, what is the real reason you were sent?32قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّآ أُرۡسِلۡنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمࣲ مُّجۡرِمِينَ ٣٢They said: Lo! we are sent unto a guilty folk.33لِنُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ حِجَارَةࣰ مِّن طِينࣲ ٣٣That we may send upon them stones of clay.34مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ ٣٤Marked by thy Lord for (the destruction of) the wanton.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, which of these stones would strike whom and how was decreed and marked, for those who went beyond bounds in crime.35فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٣٥Then we brought forth such believers as were there.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, when they reached that people’s town, they first brought out whoever there was of the believers.36فَمَا وَجَدۡنَا فِيهَا غَيۡرَ بَيۡتࣲ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ ٣٦But We found there but one house of those surrendered (to Allah).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there were no believers but one household; it was they who were saved, and that was the house of Lot.37وَتَرَكۡنَا فِيهَآ ءَايَةࣰ لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَلِيمَ ٣٧And We left behind therein a portent for those who fear a painful doom.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, where those towns sank a mark remains, one of the signs on earth; according to Ibn Jarir, great stones piled up.38وَفِي مُوسَىٰٓ إِذۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ بِسُلۡطَٰنࣲ مُّبِينࣲ ٣٨And in Moses (too, there is a portent) when We sent him unto Pharaoh with clear warrant.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this adds to the signs in the earth and in the self: the story of Moses is also a lesson.39فَتَوَلَّىٰ بِرُكۡنِهِۦ وَقَالَ سَٰحِرٌ أَوۡ مَجۡنُونࣱ ٣٩But he withdrew (confiding) in his might, and said: A wizard or a madman.40فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُ وَجُنُودَهُۥ فَنَبَذۡنَٰهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡيَمِّ وَهُوَ مُلِيمࣱ ٤٠So We seized him and his hosts and flung them in the sea, for he was reprobate.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Pharaoh drowned while committing blameworthy acts of disbelief, tyranny and crime.41وَفِي عَادٍ إِذۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلۡعَقِيمَ ٤١And in (the tribe of) A’ad (there is a portent) when we sent the fatal wind against them.InsightElmalılı explains “‘aqim” as a wind with no good or benefit, that does not pollinate, or one that cuts off at the root and destroys.42مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَيۡءٍ أَتَتۡ عَلَيۡهِ إِلَّا جَعَلَتۡهُ كَٱلرَّمِيمِ ٤٢It spared naught that it reached, but made it (all) as dust.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is the wind reducing everything it touched to a crumbled, decayed state.43وَفِي ثَمُودَ إِذۡ قِيلَ لَهُمۡ تَمَتَّعُواْ حَتَّىٰ حِينࣲ ٤٣And in (the tribe of) Thamud (there is a portent) when it was told them: Take your ease awhile.44فَعَتَوۡاْ عَنۡ أَمۡرِ رَبِّهِمۡ فَأَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَهُمۡ يَنظُرُونَ ٤٤But they rebelled against their Lord’s decree, and so the thunderbolt overtook them even while they gazed.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, calling it “sayhah” in other surahs and “sa‘iqah” here conveys different aspects of the punishment.45فَمَا ٱسۡتَطَٰعُواْ مِن قِيَامࣲ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُنتَصِرِينَ ٤٥And they were unable to rise up, nor could they help themselves.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these expressions convey the utter helplessness of a people going under, in whatever way.46وَقَوۡمَ نُوحࣲ مِّن قَبۡلُۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَوۡمࣰا فَٰسِقِينَ ٤٦And the folk of Noah aforetime. Lo! they were licentious folk.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, all who were destroyed were defiantly disobedient peoples; that was the cause of their destruction.47وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيۡنَٰهَا بِأَيۡيْدࣲ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ ٤٧We have built the heaven with might, and We it is Who make the vast extent (thereof).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this style expresses reasoning from the work to its Maker: the heaven is the work of His power.48وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَرَشۡنَٰهَا فَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡمَٰهِدُونَ ٤٨And the earth have We laid out, how gracious is the Spreader (thereof).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the earth has been furnished with all kinds of blessings and laid out like a bed, so you may live on it for a time and take your share of life.49وَمِن كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَا زَوۡجَيۡنِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ ٤٩And all things We have created by pairs, that haply ye may reflect.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, some understood this as male and female of every animal kind, including plants too.50فَفِرُّوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنۡهُ نَذِيرࣱ مُّبِينࣱ ٥٠Therefor flee unto Allah; lo! I am a plain warner unto you from him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is fleeing to Allah through faith, tawhid and obedience, to be protected from His punishment and painful torment.51وَلَا تَجۡعَلُواْ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَۖ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنۡهُ نَذِيرࣱ مُّبِينࣱ ٥١And set not any other god along with Allah; lo! I am a plain warner unto you from Him.52كَذَٰلِكَ مَآ أَتَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا قَالُواْ سَاحِرٌ أَوۡ مَجۡنُونٌ ٥٢Even so there came no messenger unto those before them but they said: A wizard or a madman.53أَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِهِۦۚ بَلۡ هُمۡ قَوۡمࣱ طَاغُونَ ٥٣Have they handed down (the saying) as an heirloom one unto another? Nay, but they are froward folk.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, earlier and later peoples say the same words without knowing each other; what unites them is their transgression.54فَتَوَلَّ عَنۡهُمۡ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِمَلُومࣲ ٥٤So withdraw from them (O Muhammad), for thou art in no wise blameworthy.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, if you have fulfilled the duty of conveying and they persist stubbornly in transgression, you are not the one to blame.55وَذَكِّرۡ فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٥٥And warn, for warning profiteth believers.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, keep on advising by reminding of duty and responsibility; for reminding benefits the believers.56وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ ٥٦I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is the duty to be reminded of: the wisdom in creating jinn and humans is servanthood to Allah.57مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنۡهُم مِّن رِّزۡقࣲ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطۡعِمُونِ ٥٧I seek no livelihood from them, nor do I ask that they should feed Me.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, unlike masters who expect benefit from their servants, Allah wants nothing for Himself from His servants.58إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلۡقُوَّةِ ٱلۡمَتِينُ ٥٨Lo! Allah! He it is that giveth livelihood, the Lord of unbreakable might.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, so servanthood to Him is drawing on His strength and, in His shade, being useful to His servants.59فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ ذَنُوبࣰا مِّثۡلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصۡحَٰبِهِمۡ فَلَا يَسۡتَعۡجِلُونِ ٥٩And lo! for those who (now) do wrong there is an evil day like unto the evil day (which came for) their likes (of old); so let them not ask Me to hasten on (that day).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these are the wrongdoers of Mecca who rejected the Prophet, fled from servanthood to Allah and dragged themselves to eternal punishment through idolatry and transgression.60فَوَيۡلࣱ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن يَوۡمِهِمُ ٱلَّذِي يُوعَدُونَ ٦٠And woe unto those who disbelieve, from (that) their day which they are promised.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this reinforces the surah’s opening words: “Indeed, what you are promised is true.”