وَٱلذَّٰرِيَـٰتِ ذَرْوًا 1
By the [winds] scattering [dust], dispersing [it]
Adh-Dhariyat
The Winnowing Winds
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Surah Adh-Dhariyat, "The Winnowing Winds," is the fifty-first chapter of the Quran, consisting of sixty verses revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced intense opposition from the Quraysh, who rejected the core tenets of monotheism, prophethood, and resurrection. The surah opens with a series of powerful oaths sworn by natural phenomena — the scattering winds, the cloud-bearing breezes, the ships that glide with ease, and the angels that distribute God's commands — all marshaled as evidence for the certainty of the Day of Judgment. This dramatic opening establishes the surah's central thesis: that the promise of resurrection, accountability, and divine recompense is as real and inevitable as the natural forces that sustain life on earth. The surah then draws a sharp contrast between the fate of the righteous, who will enjoy the gardens of Paradise as a reward for their devotion, charitable giving, and nightly prayers, and the fate of the deniers, who will face the torment they once mocked and dismissed as myth. A significant portion of the surah is devoted to retelling key narratives from the lives of earlier prophets, each serving as a historical testament to God's power and justice. The story of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) is recounted with particular warmth; honored guests — angels in human form — visit him, and he graciously serves them a roasted calf, only to learn that they bear glad tidings of a knowledgeable son and carry a grave mission to the people of Prophet Lut (Lot). The narrative then shifts to the destruction of the sinful cities of Lut's people, upon whom stones of baked clay were rained as punishment for their transgressions, leaving behind a sobering sign for those who fear God's retribution. The surah also briefly references the fates of Pharaoh and his armies, the people of the Prophet Nuh (Noah), and the ancient civilizations of 'Ad and Thamud, each destroyed for their obstinate rejection of divine guidance. These accounts are not merely historical recollections but function as urgent warnings to the Meccan disbelievers that no nation, however powerful, is beyond the reach of God's decree. The surah weaves these narratives into a broader theological meditation on the signs of God's existence embedded in creation itself. It draws attention to the heavens, built with masterful power and ever-expanding, the earth spread out as a dwelling place, and the creation of all things in pairs — male and female, heaven and earth, night and day — as evidence of purposeful divine design. This reflection on the natural world is meant to awaken the intellect and
وَٱلذَّٰرِيَـٰتِ ذَرْوًا 1
By the [winds] scattering [dust], dispersing [it]
فَٱلْحَـٰمِلَـٰتِ وِقْرًا 2
And the [clouds] carrying a load [of water]
فَٱلْجَـٰرِيَـٰتِ يُسْرًا 3
And the ships sailing with ease
فَٱلْمُقَسِّمَـٰتِ أَمْرًا 4
And the [angels] apportioning [each] matter,
إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَصَادِقٌ 5
Indeed, what you are promised is true.
وَإِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ لَوَٰقِعٌ 6
And indeed, the recompense is to occur.
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلْحُبُكِ 7
By the heaven containing pathways,
إِنَّكُمْ لَفِى قَوْلٍ مُّخْتَلِفٍ 8
Indeed, you are in differing speech.
يُؤْفَكُ عَنْهُ مَنْ أُفِكَ 9
Deluded away from it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is he who is deluded.
قُتِلَ ٱلْخَرَّٰصُونَ 10
Destroyed are the misinformers
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى غَمْرَةٍ سَاهُونَ 11
Who are within a flood [of confusion] and heedless.
يَسْـَٔلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ 12
They ask, "When is the Day of Recompense?"
يَوْمَ هُمْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ يُفْتَنُونَ 13
[It is] the Day they will be tormented over the Fire.
ذُوقُوا۟ فِتْنَتَكُمْ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ 14
[And will be told], "Taste your torment. This is that for which you were impatient."
إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ 15
Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs,
ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ 16
Accepting what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were before that doers of good.
كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ 17
They used to sleep but little of the night,
وَبِٱلْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ 18
And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness,
وَفِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ 19
And from their properties was [given] the right of the [needy] petitioner and the deprived.
وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ءَايَـٰتٌ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ 20
And on the earth are signs for the certain [in faith]
وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ 21
And in yourselves. Then will you not see?
وَفِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ 22
And in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised.
فَوَرَبِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُۥ لَحَقٌّ مِّثْلَ مَآ أَنَّكُمْ تَنطِقُونَ 23
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 24
Has there reached you the story of the honored guests of Abraham? -
إِذْ دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا۟ سَلَـٰمًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَـٰمٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ 25
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 بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ 26
Then he went to his family and came with a fat [roasted] calf.
فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ 27
And placed it near them; he said, "Will you not eat?"
فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ ۖ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَـٰمٍ عَلِيمٍ 28
And he felt from them apprehension. They said, "Fear not," and gave him good tidings of a learned boy.
فَأَقْبَلَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ فِى صَرَّةٍ فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ 29
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 30
They said, "Thus has said your Lord; indeed, He is the Wise, the Knowing."
۞ قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ 31
[Abraham] said, "Then what is your business [here], O messengers?"
قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ 32
They said, "Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals
لِنُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن طِينٍ 33
To send down upon them stones of clay,
مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ 34
Marked in the presence of your Lord for the transgressors."
فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 35
So We brought out whoever was in them [i.e., the cities] of the believers.
فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهَا غَيْرَ بَيْتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ 36
And We found not within them other than a [single] house of Muslims.
وَتَرَكْنَا فِيهَآ ءَايَةً لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ 37
And We left therein a sign for those who fear the painful punishment.
وَفِى مُوسَىٰٓ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ بِسُلْطَـٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ 38
And in Moses [was a sign], when We sent him to Pharaoh with clear authority.
فَتَوَلَّىٰ بِرُكْنِهِۦ وَقَالَ سَـٰحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ 39
But he turned away with his supporters and said, "A magician or a madman."
فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُ وَجُنُودَهُۥ فَنَبَذْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ 40
So We took him and his soldiers and cast them into the sea, and he was blameworthy.
وَفِى عَادٍ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلْعَقِيمَ 41
And in ʿAad [was a sign], when We sent against them the barren wind.
مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَىْءٍ أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا جَعَلَتْهُ كَٱلرَّمِيمِ 42
It left nothing of what it came upon but that it made it like disintegrated ruins.
وَفِى ثَمُودَ إِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ 43
And in Thamūd, when it was said to them, "Enjoy yourselves for a time."
فَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ 44
But they were insolent toward the command of their Lord, so the thunderbolt seized them while they were looking on.
فَمَا ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ مِن قِيَامٍ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنتَصِرِينَ 45
And they were unable to arise, nor could they defend themselves.
وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا فَـٰسِقِينَ 46
And [We destroyed] the people of Noah before; indeed, they were a people defiantly disobedient.
وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيْنَـٰهَا بِأَيْي۟دٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ 47
And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.
وَٱلْأَرْضَ فَرَشْنَـٰهَا فَنِعْمَ ٱلْمَـٰهِدُونَ 48
And the earth We have spread out, and excellent is the preparer.
وَمِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَا زَوْجَيْنِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ 49
And of all things We created two mates [i.e., counterparts]; perhaps you will remember.
فَفِرُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ 50
So flee to Allāh. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner.
وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ ۖ إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ 51
And do not make [as equal] with Allāh 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 52
Similarly, there came not to those before them any messenger except that they said, "A magician or a madman."
أَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ طَاغُونَ 53
Did they suggest it to them? Rather, they [themselves] are a transgressing people.
فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِمَلُومٍ 54
So leave them, [O Muḥammad], for you are not to be blamed.
وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 55
And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ 56
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ 57
I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ ٱلْمَتِينُ 58
Indeed, it is Allāh who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.
فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ذَنُوبًا مِّثْلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصْحَـٰبِهِمْ فَلَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونِ 59
And indeed, for those who have wronged is a portion [of punishment] like the portion of their companions [i.e., predecessors], so let them not impatiently urge Me.
فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن يَوْمِهِمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ 60
And woe to those who have disbelieved from their Day which they are promised.
Practice memorizing Surah Adh-Dhariyat. Choose how much of the Arabic text to hide, then tap each ayah to reveal it.