سُورَةُ الذَّارِيَاتِ
Surah 51 - Adh-Dhaariyat
The Winnowing Winds
- 60 verses
- Juz 26 to 27
- Pages 520 to 523 of the Mushaf
Adh-Dhaariyat has sixty verses and begins with four oaths that do not name what they point to, before stating that the promise is true. The text first describes those who gave little of their night to sleep and set aside a share of their goods for whoever has nothing; it then shows the proofs laid on the earth and within the self. A scene follows: visitors come in to Abraham, he brings them a calf, a boy is announced to him, then they say whom they are sent to. Four peoples follow, each in two or three verses. The end comes back to one sentence: what jinn and men exist for.
The main parts
The text of the surah
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلذَّٰرِيَٰتِ ذَرْوًۭا
By those [winds] scattering [dust] dispersing
فَٱلْحَٰمِلَٰتِ وِقْرًۭا
And those [clouds] carrying a load [of water]
فَٱلْجَٰرِيَٰتِ يُسْرًۭا
And those [ships] sailing with ease
فَٱلْمُقَسِّمَٰتِ أَمْرًا
And those [angels] apportioning [each] matter,
إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَصَادِقٌۭ
Indeed, what you are promised is true.
وَإِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ لَوَٰقِعٌۭ
And indeed, the recompense is to occur.
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلْحُبُكِ
By the heaven containing pathways,
إِنَّكُمْ لَفِى قَوْلٍۢ مُّخْتَلِفٍۢ
Indeed, you are in differing speech.
يُؤْفَكُ عَنْهُ مَنْ أُفِكَ
Deluded away from the Qur'an is he who is deluded.
قُتِلَ ٱلْخَرَّٰصُونَ
Destroyed are the falsifiers
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى غَمْرَةٍۢ سَاهُونَ
Who are within a flood [of confusion] and heedless.
يَسْـَٔلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ
They ask, "When is the Day of Recompense?"
يَوْمَ هُمْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ يُفْتَنُونَ
[It is] the Day they will be tormented over the Fire
ذُوقُوا۟ فِتْنَتَكُمْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ
[And will be told], "Taste your torment. This is that for which you were impatient."
إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍۢ وَعُيُونٍ
Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs,
ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ
Accepting what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were before that doers of good.
كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ
They used to sleep but little of the night,
وَبِٱلْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ
And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness,
وَفِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّۭ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ
And from their properties was [given] the right of the [needy] petitioner and the deprived.
وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ءَايَٰتٌۭ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ
And on the earth are signs for the certain [in faith]
وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ
And in yourselves. Then will you not see?
وَفِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ
And in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised.
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.
هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْمُكْرَمِينَ
Has there reached you the story of the honored guests of Abraham? -
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.
فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجْلٍۢ سَمِينٍۢ
Then he went to his family and came with a fat [roasted] calf
فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ
And placed it near them; he said, "Will you not eat?"
فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةًۭ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ ۖ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَٰمٍ عَلِيمٍۢ
And he felt from them apprehension. They said, "Fear not," and gave him good tidings of a learned boy.
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!"
قَالُوا۟ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
They said, "Thus has said your Lord; indeed, He is the Wise, the Knowing."
۞ قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ
[Abraham] said, "Then what is your business [here], O messengers?"
قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍۢ مُّجْرِمِينَ
They said, "Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals
لِنُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةًۭ مِّن طِينٍۢ
To send down upon them stones of clay,
مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ
Marked in the presence of your Lord for the transgressors."
فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
So We brought out whoever was in the cities of the believers.
فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهَا غَيْرَ بَيْتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
And We found not within them other than a [single] house of Muslims.
وَتَرَكْنَا فِيهَآ ءَايَةًۭ لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ
And We left therein a sign for those who fear the painful punishment.
وَفِى مُوسَىٰٓ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ بِسُلْطَٰنٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ
And in Moses [was a sign], when We sent him to Pharaoh with clear authority.
فَتَوَلَّىٰ بِرُكْنِهِۦ وَقَالَ سَٰحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌۭ
But he turned away with his supporters and said," A magician or a madman."
فَأَخَذْنَٰهُ وَجُنُودَهُۥ فَنَبَذْنَٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌۭ
So We took him and his soldiers and cast them into the sea, and he was blameworthy.
وَفِى عَادٍ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلْعَقِيمَ
And in 'Aad [was a sign], when We sent against them the barren wind.
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.
وَفِى ثَمُودَ إِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍۢ
And in Thamud, when it was said to them, "Enjoy yourselves for a time."
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.
فَمَا ٱسْتَطَٰعُوا۟ مِن قِيَامٍۢ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنتَصِرِينَ
And they were unable to arise, nor could they defend themselves.
وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍۢ مِّن قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًۭا فَٰسِقِينَ
And [We destroyed] the people of Noah before; indeed, they were a people defiantly disobedient.
وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيْنَٰهَا بِأَيْي۟دٍۢ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ
And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.
وَٱلْأَرْضَ فَرَشْنَٰهَا فَنِعْمَ ٱلْمَٰهِدُونَ
And the earth We have spread out, and excellent is the preparer.
وَمِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَا زَوْجَيْنِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
And of all things We created two mates; perhaps you will remember.
فَفِرُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ
So flee to Allah. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner.
وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ ۖ إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ
And do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner.
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."
أَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌۭ طَاغُونَ
Did they suggest it to them? Rather, they [themselves] are a transgressing people.
فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِمَلُومٍۢ
So leave them, [O Muhammad], for you are not to be blamed.
وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
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.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ ٱلْمَتِينُ
Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.
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 predecessors, so let them not impatiently urge Me.
فَوَيْلٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن يَوْمِهِمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ
And woe to those who have disbelieved from their Day which they are promised.
Key verses of the surah
It sets a share of wealth as a right and not as a gift: it belongs to whoever asks and to whoever has nothing.
وَفِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّۭ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ
And from their properties was [given] the right of the [needy] petitioner and the deprived.
After the proofs laid on the earth, it turns the gaze back on those it addresses, then puts a question.
وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ
And in yourselves. Then will you not see?
A short verse on the sky built and spread wide; it opens the last part of the surah.
وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيْنَٰهَا بِأَيْي۟دٍۢ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ
And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.
One line stating the reason for which jinn and men are there, close to the end of the text.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
What is surah Adh-Dhaariyat about?
Of what is promised and of what bears it out: first oaths, then proofs taken from the earth, the sky and man himself. One developed account and four peoples come in support, before a sentence saying why the creatures are there.
How is surah Adh-Dhaariyat built?
By accumulation. Four oaths, then a fifth at verse 7. One long scene, that of the visitors. Then four peoples dispatched in a few verses each, one after another. The text closes on two short orders and a sentence that holds everything.
What does surah Adh-Dhaariyat tell about Abraham?
Guests come in to him and greet him. He has a calf brought, is troubled to see them not touch it, and a boy is announced to him. His wife cries out: she is old and barren. The visitors then say whom they are going to.
How does surah Adh-Dhaariyat end?
With a call repeated twice in a row, at verses 50 and 51, with the same warner formula. Then with an observation: earlier messengers were met with the same words. The last verse announces a day held out as a threat.
Why is surah Adh-Dhaariyat called that?
“Adh-Dhaariyat” means winds that scatter. The word opens the first verse, first in a run of four oaths that follow one another without their object being named. The surah is therefore called by the first word of its first verse, and the word does not return afterwards.
How many verses does surah Adh-Dhaariyat have?
Surah Adh-Dhaariyat has 60 verses. It stands at number 51 in the order of the Mushaf, which holds 114.
The Arabic text is that of the Mushaf. The summary, the outline and the answers on this page describe the text and how it is built: they are not religious commentary.