51:1وَالذَّارِيَاتِ ذَرْوًا
By the scattering [winds] that scatter [the clouds];
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 51:1
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:1]
As in the case of As Saffat the first four verses of this surah also begin with a swearing in the name of the entities or energies of nature, which discharge different functions in the working of the universe.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
It is said that once Imam Ali ibn abi Talib was asked by a (kharaji) critic, while he was delivering a sermon from the pulpit: "What is dhariyat?" He said: "The winds." "What is hamilat?" He said:
"The clouds carrying rain." "What is jariyat that flow with ease?" He said: "The ships". "What is muqassimat?" He said: "The angels."
There is scattering of matter, carrying of energy and weight and flowing of bodies in the universe, which are controlled and administered by various agencies appointed by the supreme creator. Even the microscopic corpuscles in the blood of living beings, which distribute sustenance, are controlled and regulated by such agencies. So man's attention is drawn to the reality of an universal plan, not haphazard but governed by precise laws, and a purpose pointed out in verses 5 and 6.
51:2فَالْحَامِلَاتِ وِقْرًا
by the [rain] bearing [clouds] laden [with water];
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 51:2
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:2] (see commentary for verse 1)
51:3فَالْجَارِيَاتِ يُسْرًا
by [the ships] which move gently [on the sea];
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 51:3
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:3] (see commentary for verse 1)
51:4فَالْمُقَسِّمَاتِ أَمْرًا
by [the angels] who dispense [livelihood] by [His] command:
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 51:4
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:4] (see commentary for verse 1)
51:5إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَصَادِقٌ
indeed what you are promised is true,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 51:5
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:5]
Death is not the end of life. There is resurrection, reckoning, judgement- mercy and forgiveness to those who believe and follow the religion of Allah and to those who have sinned but turned to Allah in repentance and thereafter followed the right path; and punishment to the rebellious disbelievers, hypocrites and deviators. All does not end here, but there is a lasting life of hereafter, for which this life is but a preparation.
51:6وَإِنَّ الدِّينَ لَوَاقِعٌ
and indeed the retribution will surely come to pass!
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 51:6
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:6] (see commentary for verse 5)
51:7وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الْحُبُكِ
By the sky full of adornment [with stars],
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 51:7
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:7]
The study of the numerous orbits of the planets and the various motions, visible or invisible, of the stars form in themselves an enquiry of a highly scientific nature, in the world of today after so many years since the revelation of the Quran, conducted by the mathematicians and scientists who have barely reached its fringe. There are yet several unknown frontiers to cross.
Ya Sin: 38 says that the sun runs to its appointed term; Anbiya: 33 says that the sun and the moon float in an orbit; and Rad: 2 says that the sun and the moon run to a predetermined course.
In contrast to the harmony and order prevalent in the universe under Allah's dispensation, the confused medley of doctrines, views and conjectures put forward by the disbelievers are referred to in verses 8 to 12. They are in the abyss of ignorance. He who turns away from the truth in fact rejects order, harmony, unity and goodness. Denial of the Holy Prophet, the Quran and the hereafter come in the wake of false conjectures the disbelievers believe in by not understanding the modus operandi of the creation and the laws governing the creation.
51:8إِنَّكُمْ لَفِي قَوْلٍ مُّخْتَلِفٍ
indeed you are of different opinions!
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 51:8
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:8] (see commentary for verse 7)
51:9يُؤْفَكُ عَنْهُ مَنْ أُفِكَ
He who has been turned away [from the truth] is turned away from it.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 51:9
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:9] (see commentary for verse 7)
51:10قُتِلَ الْخَرَّاصُونَ
Perish the liars,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:10] (see commentary for verse 7)
51:11الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي غَمْرَةٍ سَاهُونَ
who are heedless in a stupor!
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:11] (see commentary for verse 7)
51:12يَسْأَلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ الدِّينِ
They ask, ‘When will be the Day of Retribution?’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:12] (see commentary for verse 7)
51:13يَوْمَ هُمْ عَلَى النَّارِ يُفْتَنُونَ
It is the day when they will be tormented in the Fire,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:13]
51:14ذُوقُوا فِتْنَتَكُمْ هَذَا الَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ
[and will be told]: ‘Taste your torment. This is what you used to hasten.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:14]
51:15إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ
Indeed the Godwary will be amid gardens and springs,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:15]
Gardens and springs are the two most frequent symbols, used in the Quran, for the highest satisfaction and bliss.
The qualities of the muttaqin described in these verses are found in the Ahl ul Bayt to the maximum degree. Refer to the commentary of Baqarah: 2. Therefore we are asked to follow in their footsteps, taking them as our guides, and disregarding all others who have defective character and conduct. For our benefit the Holy Prophet spoke these words:
"I leave behind me two very important things-the word of Allah (the Quran) and my Ahl ul Bayt. If you attach yourself to these two, you will never never go astray. These two shall never be separated from each other until they meet me at the 'fountain of kawthar' in paradise ."
"The likeness of my Ahl ul Bayt is that of the ark of Nuh. He who enters it would be saved, while he who turns away from it would be drowned and lost."
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
The wicked and the pious are identified by how they receive the grace of Allah.
51:16آخِذِينَ مَا آتَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ
receiving what their Lord has given them, for they had been virtuous aforetime.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:16] (see commentary for verse 15)
51:17كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ
They used to sleep a little during the night,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:17] (see commentary for verse 15)
51:18وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ
and at dawns they would plead for forgiveness,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:18] (see commentary for verse 15)
51:19وَفِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ
and there was a share in their wealth for the beggar and the deprived.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:19] (see commentary for verse 15)
51:20وَفِي الْأَرْضِ آيَاتٌ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ
In the earth are signs for those who have conviction,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:20]
There are signs and evidences of the existence of a supreme being in all nature and within the body and soul of man. He who understands his self, in fact, understands Allah.
For example, the differences in the sexes and their mysterious attachment to each other, and the mental faculties by which the human mind understands the secrets of the natural forces and discovers new methods and means for further advancement in knowledge and its application. See Sajdah: 53.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
These verses refer to the subjective and the objective phenomena giving evidence of the existence of the creator.
(223
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
This verse refers to the sublime regions proceeding from the absolute in the arc of descent, and not to the physical heavens.
51:21وَفِي أَنفُسِكُمْ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ
and in your souls [as well]. Will you not then perceive?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:21] (see commentary for verse 20)
51:22وَفِي السَّمَاءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ
And in the sky is your provision and what you are promised.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:22]
51:23فَوَرَبِّ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ لَحَقٌّ مِّثْلَ مَا أَنَّكُمْ تَنطِقُونَ
By the Lord of the sky and the earth, it is indeed the truth, just as [it is a fact that] you speak.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:23]
The truth is as doubtless as the people's guaranteed ability to talk to each other.
Asma-yu relates that once he was returning from the masjid at Basra, where he met a Bedouin Arab highway man, with a sword and a bow.
The Arab asked Asma-yu his identity and where he was coming from. Asmayu replied: "I have come from the place where the word of Allah is recited." The Arab asked: "What is such word of Allah that men can recite it?" Asma-yu replied: "Yes, it is so." The Arab said: "Recite it." Asma-yu began to recite surah adh Dhariyat and when he reached verse 22 and said: "In the heavens is your sustenance", the Arab jumped down from his camel and slew the animal saying: "Help me to distribute this to the needy." He then broke his sword into pieces, buried his bow and arrows and ran away into the desert reciting this verse.
Asma-yu relates that he began to condemn himself: "Alas! a single recitation of this verse reformed the Bedouin Arab, but until now it has not affected me." After a long time Asma-yu met the Bedouin for the second time, during the hajj, in Makka. The Bedouin had been reduced to a skeleton by constant prayers and fasting. He led Asma-yu to the place of Ibrahim and requested him to recite the same surah once more. When Asma-yu recited verse 22 he said: "Certainly I had the promised sustenance." When Asma-yu began to recite the next verse "The Lord of the heavens and the earth" the Bedouin shouted aloud three times: "Who would defy such a Lord and enrage Him?" He died then and there.
Abu Khudri relates that the Holy Prophet said: "If any of you were to run away from your destined sustenance, it would follow you and reach you as death follows and overtakes its victim."
Imam Ali ibn abi Talib said: "There is a sustenance that you seek which may or may not be made available; but there is another which seeks you and always reaches you."
51:24هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ
Did you receive the story of Abraham’s honoured guests?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:24]
Refer to the commentary of Hud: 69 to 83 and Hijr: 51 to 77 for prophets Ibrahim and Lut and the people of Lut.
51:25إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا قَالَ سَلَامٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ
When they entered into his presence, they said, ‘Peace!’ ‘Peace!’ He answered, ‘[You are] an unfamiliar folk.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:25] (see commentary for verse 24)
51:26فَرَاغَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ فَجَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ
Then he retired to his family and brought a fat [roasted] calf,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:26] (see commentary for verse 24)
51:27فَقَرَّبَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ
and put it near them. He said, ‘Will you not eat?’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:27] (see commentary for verse 24)
51:28فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً قَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ
Then he felt a fear of them. They said, ‘Do not be afraid!’ and they gave him the good news of a wise son.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:28] (see commentary for verse 24)
51:29فَأَقْبَلَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ فِي صَرَّةٍ فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ
Then his wife came forward crying [with joy]. She beat her face, and said, ‘A barren old woman!’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:29] (see commentary for verse 24)
51:30قَالُوا كَذَلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْعَلِيمُ
They said, ‘So has your Lord said. Indeed He is the All-wise, the All-knowing.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:30] (see commentary for verse 24)
51:31قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ
He said, ‘O messengers, what is now your errand?’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:31] (see commentary for verse 24)
51:32قَالُوا إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَى قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ
They said, ‘We have been sent toward a guilty people,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:32] (see commentary for verse 24)
51:33لِنُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن طِينٍ
that We may rain upon them stones of clay,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:33] (see commentary for verse 24)
51:34مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ
sent for the transgressors from your Lord.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:34] (see commentary for verse 24)
51:35فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
So We picked out those who were in it of the faithful,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:35] (see commentary for verse 24)
51:36فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهَا غَيْرَ بَيْتٍ مِّنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
but We did not find there other than one house of Muslims,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:36] (see commentary for verse 24)
51:37وَتَرَكْنَا فِيهَا آيَةً لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ
and We have left therein a sign for those who fear a painful punishment.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:37] (see commentary for verse 24)
51:38وَفِي مُوسَى إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ
And in Moses [too there is a sign] when We sent him to Pharaoh with a manifest authority.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:38]
Refer to the commentary of Dukhan: 17 to 31 and other references mentioned therein for Musa and Firawn.
51:39فَتَوَلَّى بِرُكْنِهِ وَقَالَ سَاحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ
But he turned away assured of his might, and said, ‘A magician or a crazy man!’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:39] (see commentary for verse 38)
51:40فَأَخَذْنَاهُ وَجُنُودَهُ فَنَبَذْنَاهُمْ فِي الْيَمِّ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ
So We seized him and his hosts, and cast them into the sea, while he was blameworthy.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:40] (see commentary for verse 38)
51:41وَفِي عَادٍ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّيحَ الْعَقِيمَ
And in ‘Ad when We unleashed upon them a barren wind.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:41]
Refer to the Dukhan: 21 to 26 for the people of Ad.
51:42مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَيْءٍ أَتَتْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا جَعَلَتْهُ كَالرَّمِيمِ
It left nothing that it came upon without making it like decayed bones.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:42] (see commentary for verse 41)
51:43وَفِي ثَمُودَ إِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَمَتَّعُوا حَتَّى حِينٍ
And in Thamud, when they were told, ‘Enjoy for a while.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:43]
See commentary of Araf: 73 to 79 for the people of Thamud.
51:44فَعَتَوْا عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّاعِقَةُ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ
Then they defied the command of their Lord; so the thunderbolt seized them as they looked on.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:44] (see commentary for verse 43)
51:45فَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا مِن قِيَامٍ وَمَا كَانُوا مُنتَصِرِينَ
So they were neither able to rise up, nor to come to one another’s aid.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:45] (see commentary for verse 43)
51:46وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ
And the people of Noah aforetime. Indeed, they were a transgressing lot.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:46]
Refer to the commentary of Araf: 59 to 64 for the people of Nuh.
51:47وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ
We have built the heaven with might, and indeed it is We who are its expanders.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:47]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Although the frontiers of space are confined, they are not fixed. They can be expanded.
51:48وَالْأَرْضَ فَرَشْنَاهَا فَنِعْمَ الْمَاهِدُونَ
And We have spread out the earth, so how excellent spreaders We have been!
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:48]
Refer to Baqarah: 22.
51:49وَمِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَا زَوْجَيْنِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
In all things We have created pairs so that you may take admonition.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:49]
Refer to Ya Sin: 36.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
The pairing may refer to the composite nature of the created beings, or to the positive and negative aspects in creation.
51:50فَفِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
‘So flee toward Allah. Indeed, I am from Him a manifest warner to you.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:50]
If man understands nature and himself, he will know that Allah is all in all, and he will fly at once to Him. This is the teaching which the Holy Prophet had come to give in clear terms, openly to all.
51:51وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
Do not set up another god besides Allah. Indeed I am from Him a manifest warner to you.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:51] (see commentary for verse 50)
51:52كَذَلِكَ مَا أَتَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا قَالُوا سَاحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ
So it was that there did not come any apostle to those who were before them but they said, ‘A magician,’ or ‘A crazy man!’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:52]
Refer to Sad: 4 and 5; Dhariyat: 39 and Dukhan; 14
The ways of evil in dealing with the messengers of Allah were similar in all ages.
51:53أَتَوَاصَوْا بِهِ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ طَاغُونَ
Did they enjoin this upon one another?! Rather, they were a rebellious lot.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:53] (see commentary for verse 52)
51:54فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَمَا أَنتَ بِمَلُومٍ
So turn away from them, as you will not be blameworthy.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:54]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Verse 54 gives the impression that Allah might send a destructive visitation as manifestation of His wrath, but the next verse quells this apprehension. The guidance may be general in appearance, but it is directed towards man as an individual so that free from collective opinion or pressure, he may submit to the commands of Allah according to his ability and achieve success by following the divine plan.
51:55وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَى تَنفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And admonish, for admonition indeed benefits the faithful.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:55] (see commentary for verse 54)
51:56وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
I did not create the jinn and the humans except that they may worship Me.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:56]
Refer to Sad: 27. Imam Jafar bin Muhammad As Sadiq said:
"Allah created man and gave him faculties of observation and contemplation to acquire knowledge with which he understands the manifestation of His power and then submits to Him."
Without knowledge man's adoration of Allah has no real worth. The actual meaning of adoration is not the performance of rituals or a few prescribed formal prayers, recited by the mouth. Adoration involves surrender of ego, self-control and discipline, so that he acts only in consonance with the expressed will of Allah, by abiding with His commands. The whole life-activity of the individual should be nothing but the fulfilment of the will of Allah.
"Say: Verily my prayer and my sacrifice, and my life and my death (all) are for the Lord of the worlds." (An-am: 163)
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
This is the purpose of creation, as expressed in the holy book-to act according to the will and the command of Allah. The most perfect form of action is the absolute submission to His will, that is, Islam. Therefore of the creatures, whoever is better in manifesting His will and His command throughout life, will be closer to the purpose of creation, and therefore nearer to Him. The more perfect in obedience will be nearer to the creator, and the closer they are to Him, the more perfect they will be in the order of creation.
51:57مَا أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ
I desire no provision from them, nor do I desire that they should feed Me.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:57]
Allah is free from all needs. Providing sustenance to His creatures is as good as "feeding Him." Allah is the sole supplier of the means of sustenance to all. The creatures in aggregate constitute one family of Allah's creation. Therefore to serve the creation is to serve Allah.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
It clarifies that the purpose of creation (worship and obedience) is of no advantage or benefit to Allah. On the contrary, it is in the interest of the creatures to abide by His commands.
51:58إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ
Indeed it is Allah who is the All-provider, Powerful and All-strong.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:58]
51:59فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا ذَنُوبًا مِّثْلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصْحَابِهِمْ فَلَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونِ
Indeed the lot of those who do wrong [now] will be like the lot of their [earlier] counterparts. So let them not ask Me to hasten on [that fate].
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:59]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Dhanub literally means "a bucket full of water, tied to the end of a rope like a tail." Figuratively used it means the consequence of misdeeds and disobedience, tied to the rope of one's life.
Each generation, that acts like any of its predecessors, should meet a similar fate.
51:60فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن يَوْمِهِمُ الَّذِي يُوعَدُونَ
Woe to the faithless for the day they are promised!
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 51:60]
