NAME: الذاريات, Adh-Dhariyat.
Name taken from Verse 1 where there is a mention of the word “Dhariyat”.
١ وَالذَّارِيَاتِ ذَرْوًا
1 By those [winds] scattering [dust] dispersing
But It does not mean that this name is the actual topic discussed in the whole Surah. It is just a reference and mark/symbol to distinguish this Surah from others as is with most other Surahs of Quran. While there are diversified topics discussed in these Surahs.
ENGLISH NAME: The Scattering Winds.
CHAPTER NUMBER: 51
SURAH DHARIYAT TOTAL VERSES: 60
SURAH DHARIYAT TOTAL WORDS: 360
TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 265
TOTAL LETTERS: 1,546
REVELATION PERIOD:
Meccan, Approx. 613 – 615 AD.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
God, Angels, Ibrahim, Stranger Guests, Lut, Moses, Pharaoh, Ad, Thamud, Jinn And Mankind.
SURAH DHARIYAT MAIN TOPICS:
Tidings Of Punishment And Reward, Heaven Is Full Of Paths, Provision For Earthly Life And Future Promise Both Are In The Heaven, Ibrahim Story: Angel Guests Tidings of Son and Same Angels Went To Lut’s people For Punishment, Lut’s people Dwelling Place A Token For Mankind, Jinn And Mankind Created Only To Worship God Alone.
SURAH DHARIYAT KEY VERSES:
٢٢ وَفِي السَّمَاءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ
22 And in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised.
٢٣ فَوَرَبِّ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ لَحَقٌّ مِثْلَ مَا أَنَّكُمْ تَنْطِقُونَ
23 Then by the Lord of the heaven and earth, indeed, it is truth – just as [sure as] it is that you are speaking.
٤٧ وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ
47 And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.
٥٦ وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
56 And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
SUMMARY OF TOPICS
1-6(Swear By Angels Or Beings Having Diverse Tasks That The Recompense You Are Promised Is True), 7(Heaven Is Full Of Paths), 8-19(Tidings Of Punishment And Reward), 20-23 (Portents/Signs In Yourself, Your Provision For Earthly Life And Future Promise Both Are In The Heaven, This Is Truth Just As You Speak), 24-30(Ibrahim Story: Stranger Guests, Angels, Ibrahim Brought A Fatted Calf Verse26, Felt Fear Verse27, Tiding Of Son, Ibrahim Wife Cry That How is This Possible Verse29) 31-37 (Same Angels Went To Lut, Only One Home Saved in That Town of Lut, All Destroyed By Marked Stones Verse34, Lut’s people Dwelling Place A Token For Mankind Verse37), 38-40(Prophet Moses, Sent To Pharaoh, Pharaoh Denied, Drowned), 41-42(Ad Destroyed By Barren Dry Wind), 43-45 (Thamud Destroyed By Blast/Thunderbolt), 47-60(God Constructed Heaven With Hands And Created Expanse, All In Pairs, Jinn And Mankind Created Only To Worship God Alone, God Do not Need Anything From Us)
SURAH DHARIYAT BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACK GROUND:
This Surah has 60 verses divided into 3 Rukus/Sections. It takes its name from verse 1. This Surah was revealed in Mecca almost the same time period as that of Surah Qaf around 3rd to 5th year after Prophet Muhammad’s declaration of his prophethood. Name taken from verse 1: وَالذَّارِيَاتِ ذَرْوًا. Where there is mention of word الذَّارِيَاتِ that means “Scattering Winds.”
The Surah mainly deals with those topics which were part and parcel of all Meccan Surah that is Oneness of God, Resurrection, and hereafter. It also briefly mentions the story of Nations of Lut and Moses to teach a lesson that what was their end when they denied their messengers and true teachings of religion.
