Surah Adh-Dhariyat - English Translation by Shabbir Ahmed

وَٱلذَّـٰرِيَٰتِ ذَرۡوٗا

Consider those who scatter broadcast. (Individuals and communities that spread the Divine Word)
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 1

فَٱلۡحَٰمِلَٰتِ وِقۡرٗا

And those who carry a great burden of responsibility
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 2

فَٱلۡجَٰرِيَٰتِ يُسۡرٗا

And those who glide gently (toward success)
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 3

فَٱلۡمُقَسِّمَٰتِ أَمۡرًا

And those who share the Command
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 4

إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَصَادِقٞ

Behold, what you are promised will come to pass. (The Qur'an will prevail)
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 5

وَإِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ لَوَٰقِعٞ

And verily, the Divine System will be established
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 6

وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلۡحُبُكِ

Witness is the sky with starry orbits
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 7

إِنَّكُمۡ لَفِي قَوۡلٖ مُّخۡتَلِفٖ

Behold, it is you humans who deviate from your course
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 8

يُؤۡفَكُ عَنۡهُ مَنۡ أُفِكَ

Wanders in the wilderness of thought he who wills to wander
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 9

قُتِلَ ٱلۡخَرَّـٰصُونَ

Belittle themselves those who live by guesswork
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 10

ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ فِي غَمۡرَةٖ سَاهُونَ

They know not that they know not
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 11

يَسۡـَٔلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوۡمُ ٱلدِّينِ

They ask mockingly, "When is the Day of Judgment coming
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 12

يَوۡمَ هُمۡ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ يُفۡتَنُونَ

It is the Day when they are tried at the Fire
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 13

ذُوقُواْ فِتۡنَتَكُمۡ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسۡتَعۡجِلُونَ

Taste the trial that you brought upon yourselves. This is what you asked to hasten
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 14

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّـٰتٖ وَعُيُونٍ

Behold, in the midst of Gardens and springs are those who walked aright
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 15

ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَبۡلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحۡسِنِينَ

Enjoying all that their Lord grants them, for, behold, aforetime they used to benefit others
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 16

كَانُواْ قَلِيلٗا مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ مَا يَهۡجَعُونَ

And rarely did they fall asleep at night without reflection. ('Haju' = Fall asleep instantly like an exhausted horse)
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 17

وَبِٱلۡأَسۡحَارِ هُمۡ يَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَ

And heartily sought to be guarded against their imperfections. ('Sahr' = Morning = Core of the heart (Lisanal Arab). 'Ghafarah' = Helmet = Guarding
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 18

وَفِيٓ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ حَقّٞ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِ

And in their wealth was the Divine Right of the requester and the deprived
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 19

وَفِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ءَايَٰتٞ لِّلۡمُوقِنِينَ

And in the earth are signs for those who wish to attain conviction. (And its resources must remain open for all (15:20), (41:10)
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 20

وَفِيٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡۚ أَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُونَ

And also in yourselves, your individual psyche and soma, your folk and the unity in diversity among your human communities. Can you not then use your inner vision? ('Anfusikum' entails all the meanings rendered here)
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 21

وَفِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزۡقُكُمۡ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ

And in the heaven is all your providence and all that you are promised. (It is the Divine Laws that bestow upon you your physical and mental needs and promise you the just reward of your actions)
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 22

فَوَرَبِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِنَّهُۥ لَحَقّٞ مِّثۡلَ مَآ أَنَّكُمۡ تَنطِقُونَ

And by the Lord of the heavens and the earth, all that which is being said is as Real as your speaking to one another
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 23

هَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيۡفِ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلۡمُكۡرَمِينَ

And (as a historical evidence) has the story of Abraham's honored guests reached you
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 24

إِذۡ دَخَلُواْ عَلَيۡهِ فَقَالُواْ سَلَٰمٗاۖ قَالَ سَلَٰمٞ قَوۡمٞ مُّنكَرُونَ

When they visited him greeting him with "Peace!" He answered, "Peace to you strangers
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 25

فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجۡلٖ سَمِينٖ

Then he went quietly to his household, and brought forth a well-bred roasted calf
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 26

فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيۡهِمۡ قَالَ أَلَا تَأۡكُلُونَ

And placed it before them, saying, "Will you not eat
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 27

فَأَوۡجَسَ مِنۡهُمۡ خِيفَةٗۖ قَالُواْ لَا تَخَفۡۖ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَٰمٍ عَلِيمٖ

Then he felt apprehensive of them. They said, "Fear not!" And gave him the glad news of a son who would be endowed with knowledge. (Abraham was concerned, since people with aggressive designs used to refuse hospitality. But they were hurrying to Sodom (11:69-76), (15:50-55), (26)
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 28

فَأَقۡبَلَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُهُۥ فِي صَرَّةٖ فَصَكَّتۡ وَجۡهَهَا وَقَالَتۡ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٞ

Then his wife came forward with a loud cry and struck her face in astonishment and said, "An old barren woman
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 29

قَالُواْ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ

They said, "Thus it is. Your Lord has so decreed. Behold, He, He alone is all-Wise, all-Knowing
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 30

۞قَالَ فَمَا خَطۡبُكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ

Abraham said, "And now what is your task, O Messengers
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 31

قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّآ أُرۡسِلۡنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمٖ مُّجۡرِمِينَ

They replied, "Behold, We have been sent to a guilty folk who violate human rights
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 32

لِنُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ حِجَارَةٗ مِّن طِينٖ

That we may herald upon them a shower of hardened stones
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 33

مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ

Marked out by your Lord for those who have wasted their own 'Self
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 34

فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ

We then brought forth safe all believers that were in town
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 35

فَمَا وَجَدۡنَا فِيهَا غَيۡرَ بَيۡتٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ

But We found therein none but one Muslim household
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 36

وَتَرَكۡنَا فِيهَآ ءَايَةٗ لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَلِيمَ

And so We left therein a Sign for those who fear a painful consequence (of their actions)
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 37

وَفِي مُوسَىٰٓ إِذۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ بِسُلۡطَٰنٖ مُّبِينٖ

And in Moses too! Behold, We sent him to Pharaoh with a clear authority
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 38

فَتَوَلَّىٰ بِرُكۡنِهِۦ وَقَالَ سَٰحِرٌ أَوۡ مَجۡنُونٞ

But he turned away in the pride of his might and said, "A wizard or a madman
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 39

فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُ وَجُنُودَهُۥ فَنَبَذۡنَٰهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡيَمِّ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٞ

So We seized him and his troops, and flung them in the sea, and he was blameworthy
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 40

وَفِي عَادٍ إِذۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلۡعَقِيمَ

And in Aad! When We sent upon them the devastating wind
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 41

مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَيۡءٍ أَتَتۡ عَلَيۡهِ إِلَّا جَعَلَتۡهُ كَٱلرَّمِيمِ

It spared nothing that it blew on and smashed it to dust
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 42

وَفِي ثَمُودَ إِذۡ قِيلَ لَهُمۡ تَمَتَّعُواْ حَتَّىٰ حِينٖ

And in Thamud! Behold, they were told, "Enjoy life for a little while
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 43

فَعَتَوۡاْ عَنۡ أَمۡرِ رَبِّهِمۡ فَأَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَهُمۡ يَنظُرُونَ

But they defied their Lord's Commandment. Whereupon the thunder seized them while they looked on
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 44

فَمَا ٱسۡتَطَٰعُواْ مِن قِيَامٖ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُنتَصِرِينَ

And they were unable even to rise up and could not help themselves a bit
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 45

وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٖ مِّن قَبۡلُۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَوۡمٗا فَٰسِقِينَ

And the people of Noah aforetime! Behold, they were a folk who drifted away from the Truth
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 46

وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيۡنَٰهَا بِأَيۡيْدٖ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ

And it is We Who have built the Universe, and behold, We are steadily expanding it
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 47

وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَرَشۡنَٰهَا فَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡمَٰهِدُونَ

And We have spread out the earth, and how excellent a Spreader We are
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 48

وَمِن كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَا زَوۡجَيۡنِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ

And all things We created in pairs and in opposites (such that one complements the other). This system has cause for you to reflect
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 49

فَفِرُّوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنۡهُ نَذِيرٞ مُّبِينٞ

(Say), "Hence, Rush unto Allah! Behold, I am a plain Warner unto you from Him." (To emphasize the urgency to do good in this unpredictable human life, the word 'say' in this verse is merged within 'Fafirru' = So, flee = Therefore, rush = Hence, go forth now)
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 50

وَلَا تَجۡعَلُواْ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَۖ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنۡهُ نَذِيرٞ مُّبِينٞ

And set up no god or Authority along with Allah. Behold, I am a plain Warner unto you from Him
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 51

كَذَٰلِكَ مَآ أَتَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا قَالُواْ سَاحِرٌ أَوۡ مَجۡنُونٌ

But, thus it is. No Messenger came to those before their time, but they said, "A wizard or a madman
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 52

أَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِهِۦۚ بَلۡ هُمۡ قَوۡمٞ طَاغُونَ

Have they handed down this (behavior) as a last will from one to another? Nay, but they have been folk who wished to live without moral bounds
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 53

فَتَوَلَّ عَنۡهُمۡ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِمَلُومٖ

Turn, then, away from them, and you shall not be blameworthy
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 54

وَذَكِّرۡ فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ

Yet continue reminding, for, verily, the believers will benefit from it and gain eminence
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 55

وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ

And I have not created the nomads or the urban but to consciously and willingly live by My Laws. ('Ibadah', usually translated, as worship is better applicable in that sense to idol-worship. And since the Qur'an consistently promotes action over ritual, 'Ibadah' of Allah is better understood as serving Him by serving His creation. That is in conformity with my rendering, 'consciously and willingly live by)
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 56

مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنۡهُم مِّن رِّزۡقٖ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطۡعِمُونِ

No sustenance do I ever require of them, nor do I ask that they feed Me
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 57

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلۡقُوَّةِ ٱلۡمَتِينُ

Verily, Allah! He it is Who is the Provider, the Lord of Might, Invincible
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 58

فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ ذَنُوبٗا مِّثۡلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصۡحَٰبِهِمۡ فَلَا يَسۡتَعۡجِلُونِ

And behold, the violators of human rights trail behind in humanity as their comrades did in the past. So they should not ask Me to hasten their full recompense
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Verse 59