In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. 'Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammar.
Surah al-Dhariyat.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
By those [winds] that scatter dust in all directions.
And those [clouds] that carry a heavy load [of water].
And those [ships] that sail with ease.
And those [angels] that distribute the command [of Allah].
Indeed, that which you are promised is certainly true.
And indeed, the Recompense is surely to occur.
[It refers to] the winds that scatter the dust in all directions.
[It refers to] the clouds that carry their heavy burden of water.
[It refers to] the ships that sail the seas with ease and smoothness.
[It refers to] the angels who distribute the command of Allah among His creation.
Indeed, that which you are promised, O people, regarding the coming of the Hour,
And the resurrection of the dead,
Is a certain and absolute truth.
And indeed, the reckoning, the reward, and the punishment are inevitable.
And [by] the sky, with its beautiful creation.
Indeed, you, O people, are in conflicting speech regarding this Qur'an;
Some believe in it, while others deny it.
Whoever is turned away from faith in this Qur'an is truly diverted.
Cursed are the liars,
Who fabricate falsehood and untruth,
And conjecture about it.
Those who are immersed in the depths of misguidance, persisting in it.
And they are heedless of the truth with which Allah sent Muhammad,
Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
They have been distracted from it.
These liars ask,
"When is the Day of Recompense and Reckoning?"
[It is] the day they are tested by the Fire.
“(And it will be said unto them): Taste your torment (which ye inflicted). This is what ye sought to hasten.” (51:14)
The day they are tormented in the fire of Hell by being burned.
It is said to them,
"Taste your punishment and your burning."
This punishment that you are receiving today,
Is the very punishment you were impatient for in the worldly life.
Indeed, the righteous will be within gardens and springs.
“Taking that which their Lord giveth them; for lo! aforetime they were doers of good;” (51:16)
“Taking that which their Lord giveth them; for lo! aforetime they were doers of good;” (51:16)
Indeed, those who feared Allah by obeying Him and avoiding His disobedience,
Will be in gardens and springs of water in the Hereafter,
Acting upon what their Lord commanded them,
Fulfilling His obligatory duties.
They were, before the obligations were imposed upon them, obedient,
“They used to sleep but little of the night,” (51:17)
And in the hours before dawn, they would seek forgiveness.
“And in their wealth the beggar and the outcast had due share.” (51:19)
They used to sleep but little of the night,
Thus He described them by their abundance of deeds and staying awake at night,
And their struggle in what draws them closer to Him.
And in the hours before dawn, they would pray.
It is also said that they delayed seeking forgiveness for their sins until the dawn.
And in the wealth of these righteous ones,
There is a right for the seeker who is in need of what they possess,
And for the deprived who is denied sustenance and is in need.
“And in the earth are portents for those whose faith is sure.” (51:20)
And in your own selves, do you not see?
“And in the heaven is your providence and that which ye are promised;” (51:22)
And on the earth are signs and lessons for those who have certainty,
Regarding the truth of what they witnessed and saw when they traveled through it.
And within yourselves, too, O people, are signs and lessons,
That point you toward the oneness of your Creator.
Do you not look at that and reflect upon it?
And in the sky is the rain and the snow,
By which the earth brings forth your sustenance,
And [it contains] what you are promised of good or evil.
So, by the Lord of the heaven and the earth,
That which I have told you, O people,
That your sustenance and what you are promised is in the heaven, is the truth,
Just as it is true that you speak.
“Then he went apart unto his housefolk so that they brought a fatted calf;” (51:26)
“And he set it before them, saying: Will ye not eat?” (51:27)
And he felt apprehension of them.
They said, "Do not fear."
And they gave him glad tidings of a knowledgeable boy.
Has the story of the honored guests of Ibrahim, the Friend of the Most Merciful, reached you, O Muhammad?
When the guests of Ibrahim entered upon him,
They said to him, "Peace."
Ibrahim said to them,
"Peace be upon you,
A people whom I do not recognize."
Then he turned to his family and returned,
And brought his guests a fat roasted calf.
He placed it before them, but they refrained from eating it.
He said, "Will you not eat?"
Ibrahim felt apprehension in his heart regarding his guests,
And he concealed it.
They said, "Do not fear."
And they gave him glad tidings of a boy who would be knowledgeable when he grew up.
“Then his wife came forward, making moan, and smote her face, and cried: A barren old woman!” (51:29)
“Then his wife came forward, making moan, and smote her face, and cried: A barren old woman!” (51:29)
“They said: Even so saith thy Lord. Lo! He is the Wise, the Knower.” (51:30)
“They said: Even so saith thy Lord. Lo! He is the Wise, the Knower.” (51:30)
Then his wife, Sarah, approached with a cry,
And she struck her forehead in astonishment,
And said, "Will I give birth while I am an old, barren woman?"
They said, "Thus has your Lord said, just as We have informed you."
Indeed, He is the All-Wise in His management of His creation,
The All-Knowing of their interests.