Adh-Dhariyat

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said in the interpretation of Allah's saying (By those that winnow with a winnowing): '(By those that winnow with a winnowing) He says: Allah swears by the blowing winds and that which they carry into the homes of people,

(And those that bear the burden (of the rain)) and He swears by the heavy clouds which carry rain,

(And those that glide with ease (upon the sea)) and He swears by the ships which easily sail on the sea,

(And those who distribute (blessings) by command) and swears by the angels Gabriel, Michael, Seraphiel and the angel of death who apportion [provisions] for people: Allah swore by all these,

(Lo! that wherewith ye are threatened) regarding the resurrection (is indeed true) will indeed take place,

(And lo! the judgement) reckoning, judgement and retaliation in it (will indeed befall) and happen.

(By the heaven full of paths) this is another oath; Allah swears by the seemly and beautiful heaven that has paths; it is also said that full of paths means: it has stars, the sun, the moon; and it is also said that full of paths means: full of waves like those of water upon being hit by the wind, or like the waves of sand upon being blown by the wind, or like the waves of curly hair or the waves of armour made of iron; and it is also said this refers to the seven heaven by which Allah has sworn.

(Lo! Ye) O people of Mecca, (forsooth, are of various opinion (concerning the Truth)) some of you believe in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an and some of you disbelieve in them.

(He is made to turn away from it) he is made to turn away from Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an (who is (himself) averse) who is barred from the Truth and guidance, i.e. al-Walid Ibn al-Mughirah al-Makhzumi, Abu Jahl Ibn Hisham, Ubayy Ibn Khalaf, Umayyah Ibn Khalaf and Munbih and Nabih the sons of al-Hajjaj. They turned people away from Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an and so Allah cursed them.

Allah said: (Accursed be the conjecturers) accursed are the liars of the Banu Makhzum: al-Walid Ibn al-Mughirah and his host

(Who are careless) oblivious to believing in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an (in an abyss!) in ignorance and blindness concerning the Hereafter.

(They) the Banu Makhzum (ask) you, O Muhammad: (When is the Day of Judgement) in which we will be chastised?

Allah said: ((It is) the day) the Day of Judgement (when they will be tormented at the Fire) they will be burnt in the Fire; it is also said this means: they will be made to roast in the Fire; and it is also said that this means: they will be dragged into the Fire,

The angels of the Fire will say to them: (Taste your torment. This) chastisement (is what ye sought to hasten) in the life of the world.

Then Allah explained the abode of the believers, like Abu Bakr and his fellow believers, saying: (Lo! those who keep from evil) those who ward off disbelief, idolatry and indecencies (will dwell amid Gardens and watersprings) of pure water.

(Taking) content and pleased with (that which their Lord giveth them) in the Garden and it is also said that this means: they act upon that which their Lord commands them in the life of the world; (for lo! aforetime) before they were given this reward and honour (they were doers of good) they were good in their speech and action in the life of the world;

(They used to sleep but little of the night) He says: they hardly slept at night,

(And ere the dawning of each day would seek forgiveness) and at dawn they would pray,

(And in their wealth the beggar) who asks from people (the outcast) he who does not beg from people nor is he given and nor do people realise he is in need; it is also said that the outcast means: the one whose wage and spoils are denied; and it is said that this means: the one who has a trade but whose life is hard and cannot earn his day's sufficiency (had due share) had an acknowledged right.

(And in the earth are portents) signs and lessons, like the trees, beasts, mountains and seas (for those whose faith is sure) for those who have certainty in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an,

(And (also) in yourselves) there are signs and lessons such as pain, sickness and misfortune. A person for example administers his food and drink from one place but they come out from two different places. (Can ye then not see?) Do you then not perceive such that you reflect upon that which Allah has created?

(And in the heaven is your providence) and from the heaven comes your provision, i.e. rain (and that which ye are promised) i.e. the Garden; your provision is upon the Lord of heaven just as what you are promised of reward and punishment is upon Allah;

(And by the Lord of the heavens and the earth) Allah swore by Himself, (it) that which I have related to you concerning provision (is the Truth) it will surely happen, (even as (it is true) that ye speak) even as you say: there is no deity except Allah.

(Hath the story of Abraham's honoured guests) has the event of the guests of Abraham who were honoured by being offered a calf to eat (reached thee) O Muhammad?

(When they) Gabriel and two other angels with him; and it is also said: Gabriel and 12 other angels with him (came in unto him) to Abraham (and said: Peace!) they gave the greetings of peace to Abraham (he answered, Peace!) Abraham answered their greetings of peace, ((and thought): Folk unknown (to me)) he did not recognize them and did not see that their greeting of peace was unknown at the time and place where he was.

(Then he went apart unto his housefolk so that they brought a fatted calf) a roasted, fatted calf to his guests;

(And he set it before them) but when he saw that they did not reach to it, (saying: Will ye not eat) the food?

(Then he conceived a fear of them) Abraham concealed his fear of them when they did not eat his food. He thought they were thieves. This is because, in his time, to eat of the food of another person was a sign of coming with a good intention. When the angels realised his fear. (They said: Fear not!) Fear us not, O Abraham! We are the messengers of your Lord (and gave him tidings of (the birth of) a wise son) a son who is wise in his childhood, great when he grows older: this is Isaac.

(Then his wife came forward) his wife Sarah came, (making moan) and wailing, (and smote her face) she gathered the extremities of her fingers and hit her face and forehead, (and cried: A barren old woman!) A barren old woman giving birth, how is this possible?

(They said) Gabriel and the angels with him said: (Even so) just as we have said to you, O Sarah, (saith thy Lord. Lo! He is the Wise) He decrees the birth of children from those who are barren and those who are not, (the Knower) what will come out of both you in the future.

((Abraham) said: And (afterward) what is your errand) what is happening and why have you come, (O ye sent (from Allah)?

(They said: Lo! we are sent unto a guilty folk) idolatrous folk who brought ruin upon themselves because of engaging in an abominable act; referring here to the folk of Lot,

(That we may send upon them stones of clay) cooked like bricks,

(Marked) black in red (by thy Lord) these stones will come from your Lord (for (the destruction of) the wanton) for the destruction of the idolatrous folk.

(You We brought forth) from the townships of Lot's folk (such believers as were there) who believed in Allah's divine Oneness.

(But We found there) in the townships of Lot's folk (but one house) but the inhabitants of one house (of those surrendered (to Allah)) of those close to Allah: Lot and his two daughters, Za'ura and Raytha.

(And We left behind therein) in the townships of Lot's folk (a portent) a sign and lesson (for those who fear a painful doom) in the Hereafter such that they do not emulate their abominable act.

(And in Moses (too, there is a portent) when We sent him unto Pharaoh with clear warrant) with clear proof: the hand and the staff,

(But he withdrew (confiding) in his might) pharaoh refused to believe in the proof or in Moses, relying instead on his troops, (and said: A wizard or a madman) bewitched.

(So We seized him and his hosts and flung them) and drowned them (in the sea, for he was reprobate) blameworthy in the sight of Allah, and he will also blame himself.

(And in (the tribe of) 'Aad) the people of Hud ((there is a portent) when We sent) We set on them (the fatal wind against them) the severe wind in which there was no comfort for them, this is the west wind.

(It spared naught) neither them nor their belongings (that it reached) that the wind reached to, (but made it (all) as dust.

And in (the tribe of) Thamud) the folk of Salih ((there is a portent) when it was told them) Salih told them after they hamstrung the she-camel: (Take your ease awhile) enjoy your life until the advent of the chastisement.

(But they rebelled against their Lord's decree) they refused to comply to their Lord's command, (and so the thunderbolt) the cry of doom (overtook them even while they gazed) while looking at the torment descending upon them;

(And they were unable to rise up) following Allah's chastisement, (nor could they help themselves) nor could their bodies avert the chastisement.

(And the folk of Noah) We had also destroyed them (aforetime) before the folk of Salih. (Lo! they were licentious folk) they were disbelieving folk.

(We have built) created (the heaven with might, and We it is who make the vast extent (thereof)) as We will; it is also said that this means: we expand the provision thereof.

(And the earth have We laid out) on water, (how gracious was the Spreader (thereof)!

And all things We have created by pairs) in the earth, (that haply ye may reflect) on the creation of Allah.

(Therefore flee unto Allah) flee from Allah unto Allah; it is also said that this means: flee from contravening against Allah to obeying Him; (lo! I am a plain warner unto you from Him) I am a warning messenger who explains matters to you in a language you understand.

(And set not any other god along with Allah) refrain from saying: Allah has a son or partner; (lo! I am a plain warner) in a language you understand (unto you from Him) from Allah.

(Even so) just as your own people accused you of being a wizard and madman (there came no messenger) calling to Allah (unto those before them) before your people (but they said) to that messenger: (A wizard or a madman!

Have they handed down (the saying) as an heirloom one unto another) did all these folks conspire to say to their respective messenger: you are a wizard or madman? (Nay, but they are froward folk) disbelieving folk.

(So withdraw from them) so turn away from them, O Muhammad, (for thou art in nowise blameworthy) in Our sight; you have left them with no excuse and you have indeed conveyed the message. After this, Allah commanded him to fight them

(And warn) admonish by means of the Qur'an, (for warning) admonition by means of the Qur'an (profiteth believers) increases the righteousness of the believers.

(I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me) to worship me; this concerns only His obedient servants; and it is also said: had Allah created them for worship, they would not have disobeyed him for a blink of an eye. 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib said: I have not created them except to command them and entrust them with legal responsibility; and it is also said that this means: I created the jinn and humankind only that they might declare My divine Oneness and worship Me.

(I seek no livelihood from them) I have not made them responsible to provide sustenance for themselves, (nor do I ask that they should feed Me) nor do I ask them to help Me to provide their provisions.

(Lo! Allah! He it is that giveth livelihood) to His slaves, (the Lord of unbreakable might) against His enemies, Who has in store a severe chastisement for them.

(And lo! for those who (now) do wrong) the disbelievers of Mecca (there is an evil day) torment after torment (like unto the evil day (which came for) their likes (of old)) like the torment which befell the nations who came before them; (so let them not ask Me to hasten) chastisement and destruction (on (that day).

And woe) severe punishment (unto those who disbelieve) in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an, (from (that) their day which they are promised) from the torment with which they are threatened and which was explained in surah the Mount (al-Tur)'.