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Surah Adh-Dhariyat

الذاريات

Surah Adh-Dhariyat is a Meccan surah of 60 verses that swears by the winds that judgment is certain, recalls Abraham's guests and earlier nations, and states the purpose of human life.

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Meaning
The Winnowing Winds
Surah
51 of 114
Verses
60
Revealed in
Mecca
Found in
Juz 26–27

What Surah Adh-Dhariyat is about

Surah Adh-Dhariyat is the 51st surah of the Quran, a Meccan surah of 60 verses. Its name, "The Winnowing Winds" or "The Scattering Winds", comes from the oath in its first verse. Most commentators understand the first four oaths as winds that scatter dust, clouds that carry rain, ships that move easily, and angels who distribute matters by Allah's command.

These oaths lead to a plain statement: what you are promised is true, and the judgment will happen (51:5-6). The surah describes those who ask mockingly when the Day of Judgment will be (51:12), then turns to those mindful of Allah in gardens and springs (51:15-19). They slept little at night, sought forgiveness before dawn, and recognized a right in their wealth for the one who asks and the one who is deprived. Verses 20-23 point to signs in the earth and within people themselves, and say that provision is in the heaven.

From verse 24 the surah tells of the honored guests of Abraham (Ibrahim). He greets them with peace, quietly prepares a fattened calf, and grows uneasy when they do not eat. They give him good news of a knowledgeable son, and his wife, old and barren, strikes her face in astonishment (51:24-30). The guests reveal that they are sent to Lot's people, from whom only one household of believers is saved (51:31-37). Brief reminders follow of Moses and Pharaoh, Aad, Thamud and Noah's people (51:38-46).

The final part speaks of Allah building the heaven with power and creating everything in pairs (51:47-49), and calls people to flee to Allah (51:50). Verse 56 gives one of the Quran's clearest statements of purpose: Allah created jinn and humans only to worship Him. He wants no provision from them, for He is the Provider (51:57-58).

Main themes

  1. Oaths and a promise

    The surah swears by winds, clouds, ships and angels that the promise of judgment is true. It contrasts this certainty with people who speak in confusion and ask when the Day will be.

    Verses 1–14

  2. Short nights and open hands

    The righteous are described by their habits: little sleep at night, seeking forgiveness before dawn, and giving the needy a rightful share of their wealth. This passage is often quoted as a portrait of quiet devotion.

    Verses 15–19

  3. Signs on earth and within

    There are signs in the earth for those with certainty, and in people's own selves. Provision is in the heaven, and the surah swears that this is as true as the fact that people speak.

    Verses 20–23

  4. Abraham's guests

    Abraham hurries to honor unknown guests, and they bring news of a son to him and his elderly wife. They are angels on their way to the people of Lot, where only one household of believers is found and saved.

    Verses 24–37

  5. Created to worship

    After recalling Moses, Aad, Thamud and Noah, the surah tells people to flee to Allah. It then gives the purpose of creation: jinn and humans were created to worship Him, while He needs nothing from them.

    Verses 47–58

Verses to know

كَانُواْ قَلِيلٗا مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ مَا يَهۡجَعُونَ ﴿١٧﴾ وَبِٱلۡأَسۡحَارِ هُمۡ يَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَ ﴿١٨﴾ وَفِيٓ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ حَقࣱّ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِ ﴿١٩﴾

17They used to sleep a little at night. 18And at dawn, they would pray for pardon. 19And in their wealth, there was a share for the beggar and the deprived.
Adh-Dhariyat 51:17–19

Three short verses describe the righteous: little sleep at night, prayers for forgiveness before dawn, and a share for the needy in their wealth.

وَفِيٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡۚ أَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُونَ ﴿٢١﴾

And within yourselves. Do you not see?
Adh-Dhariyat 51:21

It points to signs within people themselves and asks whether they do not see, inviting reflection on one's own creation.

فَفِرُّوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنۡهُ نَذِيرࣱ مُّبِينࣱ ﴿٥٠﴾

“So flee towards Allah. I am to you from Him a clear warner.”
Adh-Dhariyat 51:50

A short call to flee to Allah, often taken to mean turning back to Him from whatever one is running toward instead.

وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ ﴿٥٦﴾

I did not create the jinn and the humans except to worship Me.
Adh-Dhariyat 51:56

Perhaps the Quran's most direct statement of why jinn and humans exist: to worship Allah.

Surah Adh-Dhariyat in Arabic and English

All 60 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  1. 1

    وَٱلذَّـٰرِيَٰتِ ذَرۡوٗا

    Waalththariyati tharwan

    By the spreaders spreading.

  2. 2

    فَٱلۡحَٰمِلَٰتِ وِقۡرٗا

    Faalhamilati wiqran

    And those carrying loads.

  3. 3

    فَٱلۡجَٰرِيَٰتِ يُسۡرٗا

    Faaljariyati yusran

    And those moving gently.

  4. 4

    فَٱلۡمُقَسِّمَٰتِ أَمۡرًا

    Faalmuqassimati amran

    And those distributing as commanded.

  5. 5

    إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَصَادِقࣱ

    Innama tooAAadoona lasadiqun

    What you are promised is true.

  6. 6

    وَإِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ لَوَٰقِعࣱ

    Wainna alddeena lawaqiAAun

    Judgment will take place.

  7. 7

    وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلۡحُبُكِ

    Waalssamai thati alhubuki

    By the sky that is woven.

  8. 8

    إِنَّكُمۡ لَفِي قَوۡلٖ مُّخۡتَلِفٖ

    Innakum lafee qawlin mukhtalifin

    You differ in what you say.

  9. 9

    يُؤۡفَكُ عَنۡهُ مَنۡ أُفِكَ

    Yufaku AAanhu man ofika

    Averted from it is he who is averted.

  10. 10

    قُتِلَ ٱلۡخَرَّـٰصُونَ

    Qutila alkharrasoona

    Perish the imposters.

  11. 11

    ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ فِي غَمۡرَةٖ سَاهُونَ

    Allatheena hum fee ghamratin sahoona

    Those who are dazed in ignorance.

  12. 12

    يَسۡـَٔلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوۡمُ ٱلدِّينِ

    Yasaloona ayyana yawmu alddeeni

    They ask, “When is the Day of Judgment?”

  13. 13

    يَوۡمَ هُمۡ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ يُفۡتَنُونَ

    Yawma hum AAala alnnari yuftanoona

    The Day they are presented to the Fire.

  14. 14

    ذُوقُواْ فِتۡنَتَكُمۡ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسۡتَعۡجِلُونَ

    Thooqoo fitnatakum hatha allathee kuntum bihi tastaAAjiloona

    “Taste your ordeal. This is what you used to challenge.”

  15. 15

    إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّـٰتٖ وَعُيُونٍ

    Inna almuttaqeena fee jannatin waAAuyoonin

    But the pious are amidst gardens and springs.

  16. 16

    ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَبۡلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحۡسِنِينَ

    Akhitheena ma atahum rabbuhum innahum kanoo qabla thalika muhsineena

    Receiving what their Lord has given them. They were virtuous before that.

  17. 17

    كَانُواْ قَلِيلٗا مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ مَا يَهۡجَعُونَ

    Kanoo qaleelan mina allayli ma yahjaAAoona

    They used to sleep a little at night.

  18. 18

    وَبِٱلۡأَسۡحَارِ هُمۡ يَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَ

    Wabialashari hum yastaghfiroona

    And at dawn, they would pray for pardon.

  19. 19

    وَفِيٓ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ حَقࣱّ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِ

    Wafee amwalihim haqqun lilssaili waalmahroomi

    And in their wealth, there was a share for the beggar and the deprived.

  20. 20

    وَفِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ءَايَٰتࣱ لِّلۡمُوقِنِينَ

    Wafee alardi ayatun lilmooqineena

    And on earth are signs for the convinced.

  21. 21

    وَفِيٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡۚ أَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُونَ

    Wafee anfusikum afala tubsiroona

    And within yourselves. Do you not see?

  22. 22

    وَفِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزۡقُكُمۡ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ

    Wafee alssamai rizqukum wama tooAAadoona

    And in the heaven is your livelihood, and what you are promised.

  23. 23

    فَوَرَبِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِنَّهُۥ لَحَقࣱّ مِّثۡلَ مَآ أَنَّكُمۡ تَنطِقُونَ

    Fawarabbi alssamai waalardi innahu lahaqqun mithla ma annakum tantiqoona

    By the Lord of the heaven and the earth, it is as true as the fact that you speak.

  24. 24

    هَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيۡفِ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلۡمُكۡرَمِينَ

    Hal ataka hadeethu dayfi ibraheema almukrameena

    Has the story of Abraham’s honorable guests reached you?

  25. 25

    إِذۡ دَخَلُواْ عَلَيۡهِ فَقَالُواْ سَلَٰمٗاۖ قَالَ سَلَٰمࣱ قَوۡمࣱ مُّنكَرُونَ

    Ith dakhaloo AAalayhi faqaloo salaman qala salamun qawmun munkaroona

    When they entered upon him, they said, “Peace.” He said, “Peace, strangers.”

  26. 26

    فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجۡلٖ سَمِينٖ

    Faragha ila ahlihi fajaa biAAijlin sameenin

    Then he slipped away to his family, and brought a fatted calf.

  27. 27

    فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيۡهِمۡ قَالَ أَلَا تَأۡكُلُونَ

    Faqarrabahu ilayhim qala ala takuloona

    He set it before them. He said, “Will you not eat?”

  28. 28

    فَأَوۡجَسَ مِنۡهُمۡ خِيفَةٗۖ قَالُواْ لَا تَخَفۡۖ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَٰمٍ عَلِيمٖ

    Faawjasa minhum kheefatan qaloo la takhaf wabashsharoohu bighulamin AAaleemin

    And he harbored fear of them. They said, “Do not fear,” and they announced to him the good news of a knowledgeable boy.

  29. 29

    فَأَقۡبَلَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُهُۥ فِي صَرَّةٖ فَصَكَّتۡ وَجۡهَهَا وَقَالَتۡ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمࣱ

    Faaqbalati imraatuhu fee sarratin fasakkat wajhaha waqalat AAajoozun AAaqeemun

    His wife came forward crying. She clasped her face, and said, “A barren old woman?”

  30. 30

    قَالُواْ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ

    Qaloo kathaliki qala rabbuki innahu huwa alhakeemu alAAaleemu

    They said, “Thus spoke your Lord. He is the Wise, the Knowing.”

  31. 31

    ۞قَالَ فَمَا خَطۡبُكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُرۡسَلُونَ

    Qala fama khatbukum ayyuha almursaloona

    He said, “What is your business, O envoys?”

  32. 32

    قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّآ أُرۡسِلۡنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمٖ مُّجۡرِمِينَ

    Qaloo inna orsilna ila qawmin mujrimeena

    They said, “We are sent to a people guilty of sin.”

  33. 33

    لِنُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ حِجَارَةٗ مِّن طِينٖ

    Linursila AAalayhim hijaratan min teenin

    “To unleash upon them rocks of clay.”

  34. 34

    مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ

    Musawwamatan AAinda rabbika lilmusrifeena

    “Marked by your Lord for the excessive.”

  35. 35

    فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ

    Faakhrajna man kana feeha mina almumineena

    We evacuated all the believers who were in it.

  36. 36

    فَمَا وَجَدۡنَا فِيهَا غَيۡرَ بَيۡتٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ

    Fama wajadna feeha ghayra baytin mina almuslimeena

    But found in it only one household of Muslims.

  37. 37

    وَتَرَكۡنَا فِيهَآ ءَايَةٗ لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَلِيمَ

    Watarakna feeha ayatan lillatheena yakhafoona alAAathaba alaleema

    And We left in it a sign for those who fear the painful punishment.

  38. 38

    وَفِي مُوسَىٰٓ إِذۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ بِسُلۡطَٰنٖ مُّبِينٖ

    Wafee moosa ith arsalnahu ila firAAawna bisultanin mubeenin

    And in Moses. We sent him to Pharaoh with a clear authority.

  39. 39

    فَتَوَلَّىٰ بِرُكۡنِهِۦ وَقَالَ سَٰحِرٌ أَوۡ مَجۡنُونࣱ

    Fatawalla biruknihi waqala sahirun aw majnoonun

    But he turned away with his warlords, and said, “A sorcerer or a madman.”

  40. 40

    فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُ وَجُنُودَهُۥ فَنَبَذۡنَٰهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡيَمِّ وَهُوَ مُلِيمࣱ

    Faakhathnahu wajunoodahu fanabathnahum fee alyammi wahuwa muleemun

    So We seized him and his troops, and threw them into the sea, and he was to blame.

  41. 41

    وَفِي عَادٍ إِذۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلۡعَقِيمَ

    Wafee AAadin ith arsalna AAalayhimu alrreeha alAAaqeema

    And in Aad. We unleashed against them the devastating wind.

  42. 42

    مَا تَذَرُ مِن شَيۡءٍ أَتَتۡ عَلَيۡهِ إِلَّا جَعَلَتۡهُ كَٱلرَّمِيمِ

    Ma tatharu min shayin atat AAalayhi illa jaAAalathu kaalrrameemi

    It spared nothing it came upon, but rendered it like decayed ruins.

  43. 43

    وَفِي ثَمُودَ إِذۡ قِيلَ لَهُمۡ تَمَتَّعُواْ حَتَّىٰ حِينٖ

    Wafee thamooda ith qeela lahum tamattaAAoo hatta heenin

    And in Thamood. They were told, “Enjoy yourselves for a while.”

  44. 44

    فَعَتَوۡاْ عَنۡ أَمۡرِ رَبِّهِمۡ فَأَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَهُمۡ يَنظُرُونَ

    FaAAataw AAan amri rabbihim faakhathathumu alssaAAiqatu wahum yanthuroona

    But they defied the command of their Lord, so the lightning struck them as they looked on.

  45. 45

    فَمَا ٱسۡتَطَٰعُواْ مِن قِيَامٖ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُنتَصِرِينَ

    Fama istataAAoo min qiyamin wama kanoo muntasireena

    They could not rise up, nor could they find help.

  46. 46

    وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٖ مِّن قَبۡلُۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَوۡمٗا فَٰسِقِينَ

    Waqawma noohin min qablu innahum kanoo qawman fasiqeena

    And before that, the people of Noah. They were immoral people.

  47. 47

    وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيۡنَٰهَا بِأَيۡيْدٖ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ

    Waalssamaa banaynaha biaydin wainna lamoosiAAoona

    We constructed the universe with power, and We are expanding it.

  48. 48

    وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَرَشۡنَٰهَا فَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡمَٰهِدُونَ

    Waalarda farashnaha faniAAma almahidoona

    And the earth—We spread it out—how well We prepared it!

  49. 49

    وَمِن كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَا زَوۡجَيۡنِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ

    Wamin kulli shayin khalaqna zawjayni laAAallakum tathakkaroona

    We created all things in pairs, so that you may reflect and ponder.

  50. 50

    فَفِرُّوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنۡهُ نَذِيرࣱ مُّبِينࣱ

    Fafirroo ila Allahi innee lakum minhu natheerun mubeenun

    “So flee towards Allah. I am to you from Him a clear warner.”

  51. 51

    وَلَا تَجۡعَلُواْ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَۖ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنۡهُ نَذِيرࣱ مُّبِينࣱ

    Wala tajAAaloo maAAa Allahi ilahan akhara innee lakum minhu natheerun mubeenun

    “And do not set up any other god with Allah. I am to you from Him a clear warner.”

  52. 52

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

    Kathalika ma ata allatheena min qablihim min rasoolin illa qaloo sahirun aw majnoonun

    Likewise, no messenger came to those before them, but they said, “A sorcerer or a madman.”

  53. 53

    أَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِهِۦۚ بَلۡ هُمۡ قَوۡمࣱ طَاغُونَ

    Atawasaw bihi bal hum qawmun taghoona

    Did they recommend it to one another? In fact, they are rebellious people.

  54. 54

    فَتَوَلَّ عَنۡهُمۡ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِمَلُومٖ

    Fatawalla AAanhum fama anta bimaloomin

    So turn away from them; you are not to blame.

  55. 55

    وَذَكِّرۡ فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ

    Wathakkir fainna alththikra tanfaAAu almumineena

    And remind, for the reminder benefits the believers.

  56. 56

    وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ

    Wama khalaqtu aljinna waalinsa illa liyaAAbudooni

    I did not create the jinn and the humans except to worship Me.

  57. 57

    مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنۡهُم مِّن رِّزۡقٖ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطۡعِمُونِ

    Ma oreedu minhum min rizqin wama oreedu an yutAAimooni

    I need no livelihood from them, nor do I need them to feed Me.

  58. 58

    إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلۡقُوَّةِ ٱلۡمَتِينُ

    Inna Allaha huwa alrrazzaqu thoo alquwwati almateenu

    Allah is the Provider, the One with Power, the Strong.

  59. 59

    فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ ذَنُوبٗا مِّثۡلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصۡحَٰبِهِمۡ فَلَا يَسۡتَعۡجِلُونِ

    Fainna lillatheena thalamoo thanooban mithla thanoobi ashabihim fala yastaAAjiloona

    Those who do wrong will have their turn, like the turn of their counterparts, so let them not rush Me.

  60. 60

    فَوَيۡلࣱ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن يَوۡمِهِمُ ٱلَّذِي يُوعَدُونَ

    Fawaylun lillatheena kafaroo min yawmihimu allathee yooAAadoona

    So woe to those who disbelieve because of that Day of theirs which they are promised.

Surah Adh-Dhariyat PDF

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Questions about Surah Adh-Dhariyat

How many verses are in Surah Adh-Dhariyat?

Surah Adh-Dhariyat has 60 verses. It is the 51st surah of the Quran and was revealed in Mecca.

Which verse says I created jinn and mankind only to worship Me?

Verse 56 of Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51:56) says that Allah created the jinn and humans only to worship Him.

What does Adh-Dhariyat mean?

Adh-Dhariyat means "the scattering winds" or "the winds that winnow". It refers to the oath in the first verse.

Who were Abraham's guests in Surah Dhariyat?

They were angels in human form. They gave Abraham news of a son and then explained they were sent to punish the people of Lot (51:24-37).