51: The Scatterers (Al-Dhariyat)
Revealed at Makkah
The title of this chapter is taken from the mention of The Scatterers of Truth in the first verse. It opens by drawing attention to the gradual advancement of the Truth and the certainty of the judgment of the rejectors. Then it speaks of the news given to Abraham of the birth of a son, standing for the birth of a nation of the righteous, and goes on to relate the fate of some previous nations. It ends by warning the opponents that their good fortune is about to be ended and they shall be judged. This chapter belongs to the early period at Makkah.
Section 1 (Verses 51:1–51:23): Falsehood is Doomed
In verses 1–4, attention is called to certain facts by means of an oath, for which see 37:1, while verses 5–6 indicate the conclusion to which those facts lead. V. 1 refers to the winds that raise up dust before the coming of a cloud; v. 2 to the clouds that carry rain; v. 3 to the winds that carry the clouds along, and v. 4 to the winds that distribute the rain. This indicates a similar arrangement in the spiritual world by which Truth gradually advances. Attention is drawn here to the scattering of Truth broadcast through the Holy Prophet and his faithful followers, which led to some bearing the load of it as if they had become pregnant with Truth, while others ran easily towards its acceptance. But they were not satisfied with mere acceptance; they went to and fro to deliver to others the Truth and the Light which they had received. In the existence of these workers in the cause of Truth there was a clear sign that the triumph of Islam would soon take place.
The description of heaven as full of paths is a scientific truth certainly unknown to the world at the time of the revelation of the Quran.
51:9
یُّؤۡفَکُ عَنۡہُ مَنۡ اُفِکَ ﴿ؕ۹﴾
he is turned away from it who would (himself) be turned away.
Only those are turned away from the Truth who themselves turn away.
51:14
ذُوۡقُوۡا فِتۡنَتَکُمۡ ؕ ہٰذَا الَّذِیۡ کُنۡتُمۡ بِہٖ تَسۡتَعۡجِلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
Taste your persecution! This is what you would hasten on.
Tasting of persecution signifies receiving punishment for their persecution of the Muslims.
51:15
اِنَّ الۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ فِیۡ جَنّٰتٍ وَّ عُیُوۡنٍ ﴿ۙ۱۵﴾
Surely the dutiful are amidst Gardens and fountains,
51:16
اٰخِذِیۡنَ مَاۤ اٰتٰہُمۡ رَبُّہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا قَبۡلَ ذٰلِکَ مُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ۱۶﴾
taking what their Lord gives them. Surely they were before that the doers of good.
51:17
کَانُوۡا قَلِیۡلًا مِّنَ الَّیۡلِ مَا یَہۡجَعُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
They used to sleep but little at night.
51:18
وَ بِالۡاَسۡحَارِ ہُمۡ یَسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸﴾
And in the morning they asked (Divine) protection.
51:19
وَ فِیۡۤ اَمۡوَالِہِمۡ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَ الۡمَحۡرُوۡمِ ﴿۱۹﴾
And in their wealth there was a due share for the beggar and for one who is deprived (of good).
The word maḥrūm, “deprived”, is understood by some to mean a poor man who does not beg, and by others, one who has not the faculty of speech, like the dog and the cat. Note that the poor are here spoken of as having a share in the wealth of the rich. The State is bound to take that share and make it over to the poor. But it is only a share, not the whole.
51:20
وَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ اٰیٰتٌ لِّلۡمُوۡقِنِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۲۰﴾
And in the earth are signs for those who are sure,
51:22
وَ فِی السَّمَآءِ رِزۡقُکُمۡ وَ مَا تُوۡعَدُوۡنَ ﴿۲۲﴾
And in the heavens is your sustenance and what you are promised.
What is promised may mean the spiritual sustenance as contrasted with physical sustenance. Or, it may refer to the Judgment, of which they were warned again and again.
51:23
فَوَ رَبِّ السَّمَآءِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ اِنَّہٗ لَحَقٌّ مِّثۡلَ مَاۤ اَنَّکُمۡ تَنۡطِقُوۡنَ ﴿٪۲۳﴾
So by the Lord of the heavens and the earth! It is surely the truth, just as you speak.
Note the high degree of certainty, the unshakable faith in the ultimate triumph of the Truth at this early period. Just as people’s speaking to each other is a reality, even so is God’s speaking to man.
Section 2 (Verses 51:24–51:46): The Fate of Previous Nations
51:24
ہَلۡ اَتٰىکَ حَدِیۡثُ ضَیۡفِ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ الۡمُکۡرَمِیۡنَ ﴿ۘ۲۴﴾
Has the story of Abraham’s honoured guests reached you?
See 11:69 footnote.
51:25
اِذۡ دَخَلُوۡا عَلَیۡہِ فَقَالُوۡا سَلٰمًا ؕ قَالَ سَلٰمٌ ۚ قَوۡمٌ مُّنۡکَرُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۲۵﴾
When they came to him, they said: ‘Peace!’ ‘Peace!’ said he. Strangers!
51:26
فَرَاغَ اِلٰۤی اَہۡلِہٖ فَجَآءَ بِعِجۡلٍ سَمِیۡنٍ ﴿ۙ۲۶﴾
Then he turned aside to his family and brought a fat calf.
51:27
فَقَرَّبَہٗۤ اِلَیۡہِمۡ قَالَ اَلَا تَاۡکُلُوۡنَ ﴿۫۲۷﴾
So he placed it before them. He said: Will you not eat?
51:28
فَاَوۡجَسَ مِنۡہُمۡ خِیۡفَۃً ؕ قَالُوۡا لَا تَخَفۡ ؕ وَ بَشَّرُوۡہُ بِغُلٰمٍ عَلِیۡمٍ ﴿۲۸﴾
So he conceived a fear of them. They said: Do not fear. And they gave him the good news of a boy possessing knowledge.
51:29
فَاَقۡبَلَتِ امۡرَاَتُہٗ فِیۡ صَرَّۃٍ فَصَکَّتۡ وَجۡہَہَا وَ قَالَتۡ عَجُوۡزٌ عَقِیۡمٌ ﴿۲۹﴾
Then his wife came up in grief, and she struck her face and said: A barren old woman!
51:30
قَالُوۡا کَذٰلِکِ ۙ قَالَ رَبُّکِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ ہُوَ الۡحَکِیۡمُ الۡعَلِیۡمُ ﴿۳۰﴾
They said: So says your Lord. Surely He is the Wise, the Knowing.
51:31
قَالَ فَمَا خَطۡبُکُمۡ اَیُّہَا الۡمُرۡسَلُوۡنَ ﴿۳۱﴾
He said: What is your errand, messengers!
51:32
قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّاۤ اُرۡسِلۡنَاۤ اِلٰی قَوۡمٍ مُّجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۲﴾
They said: We have been sent to a guilty people
51:34
مُّسَوَّمَۃً عِنۡدَ رَبِّکَ لِلۡمُسۡرِفِیۡنَ ﴿۳۴﴾
marked from your Lord for those who commit excesses.
For the punishment sent on Lot’s people, see 7:84 footnote. The stones were marked, i.e., they were destined for them.
51:35
فَاَخۡرَجۡنَا مَنۡ کَانَ فِیۡہَا مِنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۳۵﴾
Then We brought forth such believers as were there.
51:36
فَمَا وَجَدۡنَا فِیۡہَا غَیۡرَ بَیۡتٍ مِّنَ الۡمُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۳۶﴾
And We found there only one house of Muslims.
It is said to be the house of Lot himself. A Muslim is one who submits himself to God, and in this sense all prophets and their righteous followers were Muslims.
51:37
وَ تَرَکۡنَا فِیۡہَاۤ اٰیَۃً لِّلَّذِیۡنَ یَخَافُوۡنَ الۡعَذَابَ الۡاَلِیۡمَ ﴿ؕ۳۷﴾
And We left there a sign for those who fear the painful punishment.
51:38
وَ فِیۡ مُوۡسٰۤی اِذۡ اَرۡسَلۡنٰہُ اِلٰی فِرۡعَوۡنَ بِسُلۡطٰنٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۳۸﴾
And in Moses (was another sign), when We sent him to Pharaoh with clear authority.
51:39
فَتَوَلّٰی بِرُکۡنِہٖ وَ قَالَ سٰحِرٌ اَوۡ مَجۡنُوۡنٌ ﴿۳۹﴾
But he turned away on account of his might and said: An enchanter or a madman!
51:40
فَاَخَذۡنٰہُ وَ جُنُوۡدَہٗ فَنَبَذۡنٰہُمۡ فِی الۡیَمِّ وَ ہُوَ مُلِیۡمٌ ﴿ؕ۴۰﴾
So We seized him and his armies and hurled them into the sea, and he was blameable.
51:41
وَ فِیۡ عَادٍ اِذۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمُ الرِّیۡحَ الۡعَقِیۡمَ ﴿ۚ۴۱﴾
And in Ād, when We sent upon them the destructive wind.
51:42
مَا تَذَرُ مِنۡ شَیۡءٍ اَتَتۡ عَلَیۡہِ اِلَّا جَعَلَتۡہُ کَالرَّمِیۡمِ ﴿ؕ۴۲﴾
It spared nothing that it came against, but it made it like ashes.
51:43
وَ فِیۡ ثَمُوۡدَ اِذۡ قِیۡلَ لَہُمۡ تَمَتَّعُوۡا حَتّٰی حِیۡنٍ ﴿۴۳﴾
And in Thamūd, when it was said to them: Enjoy yourselves for a while.
51:44
فَعَتَوۡا عَنۡ اَمۡرِ رَبِّہِمۡ فَاَخَذَتۡہُمُ الصّٰعِقَۃُ وَ ہُمۡ یَنۡظُرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۴﴾
But they revolted against the commandment of their Lord, so the punishment overtook them, while they saw.
See 7:78.
51:45
فَمَا اسۡتَطَاعُوۡا مِنۡ قِیَامٍ وَّ مَا کَانُوۡا مُنۡتَصِرِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۴۵﴾
So they were unable to rise up, nor could they defend themselves;
51:46
وَ قَوۡمَ نُوۡحٍ مِّنۡ قَبۡلُ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا قَوۡمًا فٰسِقِیۡنَ ﴿٪۴۶﴾
and the people of Noah before. Surely they were a transgressing people.
Section 3 (Verses 51:47–51:60): Judgment is Sure
51:47
وَ السَّمَآءَ بَنَیۡنٰہَا بِاَیۡىدٍ وَّ اِنَّا لَمُوۡسِعُوۡنَ ﴿۴۷﴾
And the heaven, We raised it high with power, and We have made the vast extent.
51:48
وَ الۡاَرۡضَ فَرَشۡنٰہَا فَنِعۡمَ الۡمٰہِدُوۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾
And the earth, We have spread it out. How well We prepared it!
51:49
وَ مِنۡ کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَا زَوۡجَیۡنِ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَذَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۹﴾
And of everything We have created pairs that you may be mindful.
51:50
فَفِرُّوۡۤا اِلَی اللّٰہِ ؕ اِنِّیۡ لَکُمۡ مِّنۡہُ نَذِیۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿ۚ۵۰﴾
So flee to Allah. Surely I am a plain warner to you from Him.
51:51
وَ لَا تَجۡعَلُوۡا مَعَ اللّٰہِ اِلٰـہًا اٰخَرَ ؕ اِنِّیۡ لَکُمۡ مِّنۡہُ نَذِیۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿ۚ۵۱﴾
And do not set up with Allah another god. Surely I am a plain warner to you from Him.
51:52
کَذٰلِکَ مَاۤ اَتَی الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ مِّنۡ رَّسُوۡلٍ اِلَّا قَالُوۡا سَاحِرٌ اَوۡ مَجۡنُوۡنٌ ﴿ۚ۵۲﴾
Thus, no messenger came to those before them but they said: An enchanter or a madman!
51:53
اَتَوَاصَوۡا بِہٖ ۚ بَلۡ ہُمۡ قَوۡمٌ طَاغُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۵۳﴾
Have they charged each other with this? Indeed, they are an inordinate people.
51:54
فَتَوَلَّ عَنۡہُمۡ فَمَاۤ اَنۡتَ بِمَلُوۡمٍ ﴿٭۫۵۴﴾
So turn away from them, for you are not to blame;
Turning away from them means to pay no heed to their abuses and to disregard their reviling. The words that follow make this clear, for the Prophet is enjoined to continue to remind, for there will be some who will believe, and these will profit by the reminder.
51:55
وَّ ذَکِّرۡ فَاِنَّ الذِّکۡرٰی تَنۡفَعُ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۵۵﴾
and remind, for reminding benefits the believers.
51:56
وَ مَا خَلَقۡتُ الۡجِنَّ وَ الۡاِنۡسَ اِلَّا لِیَعۡبُدُوۡنِ ﴿۵۶﴾
And I have not created the jinn and the people except that they should serve Me.
51:57
مَاۤ اُرِیۡدُ مِنۡہُمۡ مِّنۡ رِّزۡقٍ وَّ مَاۤ اُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ یُّطۡعِمُوۡنِ ﴿۵۷﴾
I desire no sustenance from them, nor do I desire that they should feed Me.
51:58
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ ہُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الۡقُوَّۃِ الۡمَتِیۡنُ ﴿۵۸﴾
Surely Allah is the Provider of sustenance, the Lord of Power, the Strong.
51:59
فَاِنَّ لِلَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا ذَنُوۡبًا مِّثۡلَ ذَنُوۡبِ اَصۡحٰبِہِمۡ فَلَا یَسۡتَعۡجِلُوۡنِ ﴿۵۹﴾
Surely the lot of the wrongdoers is as was the lot of their companions, so let them not ask Me to hasten (it) on.
51:60
فَوَیۡلٌ لِّلَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مِنۡ یَّوۡمِہِمُ الَّذِیۡ یُوۡعَدُوۡنَ ﴿٪۶۰﴾
Woe, then, to those who disbelieve because of that day of theirs which they are promised!