Alim - Islamic software for Quran and Hadith
Back arrow Back
Bookmark iconBookmarks
Bookmark iconTranslation settings
Bookmark iconArabic font settings
Bookmark iconEnglish font settings
Bookmark iconReset global font settings
  • Al-Qur'anKids Qur'anAl Qur'an RecitersAl Qur'an VideosAl Qur'an TranslationsAl Qur'an Compare TranslationAl Qur'an TafsirAl-Quran Surah InformationAppendix
  • Hadith CollectionAl-Muwatta HadithFiqh-us-SunnahSahih Bukhari HadithSahih Muslim HadithNawawi HadithAl-TirmidhiHadith QudsiSunan of Abu Dawood HadithSunan an-Nasai HadithSunan Ibn Majah Hadith
  • Islamic HistoryAbout IslamKhalifa Abu BakrKhalifa Umar bin al-KhattabKhalifa Uthman ibn AffanKhalifa Ali bin Abu TalibProphet CompanionsStories of ProphetsHistory TimelineIslam PostersIslamic Terms DictionaryProphet's Last SermonPilgrimage
  • Duas CollectionQur'anic DuasMasnoon (Prophetic) DuasRamadan Days
  • Discussions
  • Search
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
What's new Donate Contact Us Alim Mobile App
mobile app svg

Donate

Donate & Earn Sadaqah Jariyah

DonateMuharram 2025

Surah 51. Az-Zariyat

Home ➜
Al-Qur'an ➜
Previous Next
Your browser does not support the audio element.

Qur'an

Translation

Home ➜
Al-Qur'an ➜
Alim - Islamic software for Quran and Hadith
Loding surahs.
Loding juz list.
Loding page list.

Your search did not yield any results.

Print
51:16
ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ A khi th eena m a a t a hum rabbuhum innahum k a noo qabla tha lika mu h sineen a
enjoying all that their Sustainer will have granted them [because], verily, they were doers of good in the past:10
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "before that [Day]".

joyfully receiving what their Rabb shall give them; for they were before that (during their life on earth) righteous people,
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'joyfully' receiving what their Lord will grant them. Before this 'reward' they were truly good-doers 'in the world':
  - Mustafa Khattab
Taking that which their Lord giveth them; for lo! aforetime they were doers of good;
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Taking joy in the things which their Lord gives them because before then they lived a good life.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:17
كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ K a noo qaleelan mina allayli m a yahjaAAoon a
they would lie asleep during but a small part of the night,
  - Mohammad Asad
They used to sleep but little in the night time,
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
they used to sleep only little in the night,
  - Mustafa Khattab
They used to sleep but tittle of the night,
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
They were in the habit of sleeping but little by night 4999
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They were engaged most of the night in worship and in the planning of good deeds. They preferred activity to idleness, the service of Allah and His creatures to the indulgence of Self.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:18
وَبِٱلْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ Wabi a las ha ri hum yastaghfiroon a
from their innermost hearts;11
  - Mohammad Asad

See note [10] on 3:17 .

pray for forgiveness in the early morning,
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
and pray for forgiveness before dawn.1
  - Mustafa Khattab

 Optional prayers before dawn are recommended, and are more likely to be accepted.

And ere the dawning of each day would seek forgiveness,
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And in the hours of early dawn They (were found) praying for Forgiveness; 5000
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They were up early before dawn, ready for their devotions. The praying for Forgiveness and Mercy does not necessarily imply that they had committed fresh sins. Indeed they began the day with such devotions, showing their great humility before Allah and their anxious care for others, for whom they prayed as much as for themselves. See the last sentence of n. 21 to i. 5.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:19
وَفِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ Wafee amw a lihim h aqqun li l ss a ili wa a lma h room i
and [would assign] in all that they possessed a due share unto such as might ask [for help] and such as might suffer privation.12
  - Mohammad Asad

Sc., "but could not beg" - and this applies to all living creatures, whether human beings or mute animals (Razi), irrespective of whether the need is of a physical or an emotional nature.

and share their wealth with the needy who asked for it, and those who could not ask.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And in their wealth there was a rightful share 'fulfilled' for the beggar and the poor.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And in their wealth the beggar the outcast had due share.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And in their wealth and possessions (was remembered) the right of the (needy) him who asked and him who (for some reason) was prevented (from asking). 5001
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

True charity remembers not only those in need who ask, but also those who are prevented by some reason from asking. The man of true charity seeks out the latter. There may be various reasons which prevent a man from asking for help: (1) he may be ashamed to ask, or his sense of honour may prevent him from asking; (2) he may be so engrossed in some great ideal that he may not think of asking; (3) he may even not know that he is in need, (4) he may not know that you possess the things that can supply his needs; and (5) he may be a dumb and helpless creature, whether a human being or a dumb animal, or any creature within your ken or power. Charity in the higher sense includes all help, from one better endowed to one less well endowed. Cf. n. 179 to ii. 177; also ii. 273-274, and notes 322 and 323.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:20
وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ءَايَـٰتٌ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ Wafee alar d i a y a tun lilmooqineen a
AND ON EARTH there are signs [of God's existence, visible] to all who are endowed with inner certainty,
  - Mohammad Asad
In the earth, there are signs for the firm believers,
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
There are 'countless' signs on earth for those with sure faith,
  - Mustafa Khattab
And in the earth are portents for those whose faith is sure,
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
On the earth are Signs for those of assured Faith
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:21
وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ Wafee anfusikum afal a tub s iroon a
just as [there are signs thereof] within your own selves:13 can you not, then, see?
  - Mohammad Asad

See note [3] on 45:4 .

and also in your own selves; can you not see?
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
as there are within yourselves. Can you not see?
  - Mustafa Khattab
And (also) in yourselves. Can ye then not see?
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
As also in your own selves: will ye not then see? 5002
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Signs and Evidence of Allah are in all nature and within the body and soul of man, if man has but the spiritual eyes to see. Cf. xli. 53.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:22
وَفِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ Wafee a l ssam a i rizqukum wam a tooAAadoon a
And in heaven is [the source of] your sustenance [on earth]14 and [of] all that you are promised [for your life after death]:
  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., both physical (rain) and spiritual (truth and guidance).

In heaven is your sustenance and all that you are promised.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
In heaven is your sustenance and whatever you are promised.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And in the heaven is your providence and that which ye are promised;
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And in heaven is your Sustenance as (also) that which ye are promised. 5003
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Sustenance", here as elsewhere, includes physical sustenance, as well as spiritual sustenance. Similarly heaven or sky has both the physical and the spiritual meaning. The physical sustenance grows from rain from the sky; the spiritual sustenance comes from divine aid, grace, and mercy, and includes the Good News and the Warning which come from Revelation about the Hereafter.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:23
فَوَرَبِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُۥ لَحَقٌّ مِّثْلَ مَآ أَنَّكُمْ تَنطِقُونَ Fawarabbi a l ssam a i wa a lar d i innahu la h aqqun mithla m a annakum tan t iqoon a
for, by the Sustainer of heaven and earth, this [life after death] is the very truth - as true as that you are endowed with speech!15
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "even as you speak" or "are able to speak": an allusion to man's ability to think conceptually and to express himself - that is, to something of which man is absolutely, axiomatically conscious.

I swear by the Rabb of heaven and earth that this is true, as certain as you are speaking now!
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Then by the Lord of heaven and earth! 'All' this is certainly as true as 'the fact that' you can speak!
  - Mustafa Khattab
And by the Lord of the heavens and the earth, it is the truth, even as (it is true) that ye speak.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Then by the Lord of heaven and earth this is the very Truth as much as the fact that ye can speak intelligently to each other. 5004
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Attention having been called to the Signs or Evidences of Allah's working on the earth, within ourselves, and in the heavens, in verses 20-22, an appeal is made to our own inner conscience, in the name of the Lord of heaven and earth, to acknowledge and act up to the truth of Revelation, and turn to the spiritual Realities. For they are as real as our own conscious and self-intelligent existence, on which is based all our knowledge. As a philosopher (Descartes) has said: "I think; therefore I am."

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:24
هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْمُكْرَمِينَ Hal at a ka h adeethu d ayfi ibr a heema almukrameen a
AND HAS the story of Abraham's honoured guests ever come within thy ken?16
  - Mohammad Asad

This story (as well as the subsequent mention of what happened to Lot's people and to the tribes of 'Ad and Thamud, of Moses and Pharaoh's people, and of Noah's people) is connected with the preceding references to the "signs", visible and conceptual, of God's existence and almightiness and the inflexible moral causality apparent in what the Qur'an describes as "the way of God" (sunnat Allah). The story of Abraham's angelic guests appears also in 11:69 ff. and - in a somewhat shorter version - in 15:51 ff. as well.

Have you heard the story of Ibrahim's honored guests?
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Has the story of Abraham's honoured guests reached you 'O Prophet'?
  - Mustafa Khattab
Hath the story of Abraham's honored guests reached thee (O Muhammad)?
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Has the story reached thee of the honored guests of Abraham? 5005
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xi. 69-73 and notes, where further details of the story will be found. Cf. also xv. 51-56.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:25
إِذْ دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا۟ سَلَـٰمًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَـٰمٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ I th dakhaloo AAalayhi faq a loo sal a man q a la sal a mun qawmun munkaroon a
When those [heavenly messengers] came unto him and bade him peace, he answered, "[And upon you be] peace!" - [saying to himself,] "They are strangers."17
  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "unknown people' - i.e., not realizing that they were angels.

When they came to him and said: "Peace be upon you!" "Peace be upon you also!", he answered, and seeing that they were strangers,
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'Remember' when they entered his presence and greeted 'him with', 'Peace!' He replied, 'Peace 'be upon you'!' 'Then he said to himself,' ''These are' an unfamiliar people.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
When they came in unto him and said: Peace! he answered, Peace! (and thought): Folk unknown (to me).
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Behold they entered His presence and said: "Peace!" He said "Peace!" (and thought "these seem) unusual people." 5006 5007
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They were angels, who appeared suddenly before him at his tent-door in the guise of men, and saluted him with the salutation of peace. He returned the salutation, but felt, from their appearance and their manner, that they were unusual, not ordinary, strangers.

Munkar: unknown, uncommon, unusual, not customary, (hence by derived meaning, not applicable here, not fair or just); opposite in both primary and secondary meanings to maraf, well-known, usual, customary, just. Cf. xv. 62.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:26
فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ Far a gha il a ahlihi faj a a biAAijlin sameen in
Then he turned quietly to his household, and brought forth a fat [roasted] calf,
  - Mohammad Asad
he went quietly to his family, brought a roasted calf
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Then he slipped off to his family and brought a fat 'roasted' calf,1
  - Mustafa Khattab

 Abraham (ﷺ) did not want his guests to know that he was going to prepare a meal for them so they would not ask him not to.

Then he went apart unto his housefolk so that they brought a fatted calf;
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
Then he turned quickly to his household brought out a fatted calf. 5008
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They seemed unusual strangers, but he said nothing and quietly proceeded to perform the rites of hospitality. He brought a roast fatted calf and placed it before them to eat. But the strangers did not eat (xi. 70). This disconcerted him. According to the laws of hospitality, a stranger under your roof is under your protection, but if he refuses to eat, he refuses your hospitality and keeps himself free from any ties of guest and host. "What were their designs?" thought Abraham, and he felt some distrust. But they were angels and could not eat. They declared themselves, and announced the birth to Abraham of a son endowed with wisdom,-in other words that Abraham was to be the head of a long line of Prophets! (xv. 53).

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:27
فَقَرَّبَهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ Faqarrabahu ilayhim q a la al a takuloon a
and placed it before them, saying, "Will you not eat?"
  - Mohammad Asad
and placed it before them saying: "Will you not eat?"
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
and placed it before them, asking, 'Will you not eat?'
  - Mustafa Khattab
And he set it before them, saying: Will ye not eat?
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And placed it before them... He said "Will ye not eat?"
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:28
فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ ۖ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَـٰمٍ عَلِيمٍ Faawjasa minhum kheefatan q a loo l a takhaf wabashsharoohu bighul a min AAaleem in
[And when he saw that the guests would not eat,] he became apprehensive of them;18 [but] they said, "Fear not" - and gave him the glad tiding of [the birth of] a son who would be endowed with deep knowledge.19
  - Mohammad Asad

See note [101] on 11:70 .

I.e., with prophethood (cf. 15:53 ).

When he saw them not eating, he became afraid of them. They said: "Have no fear," and they gave him good news of a son endowed with knowledge.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
'They did not eat,' so he grew fearful of them.1 They reassured 'him', 'Do not be afraid,' and gave him good news of a knowledgeable son.2
  - Mustafa Khattab

 As mentioned in 11:69-70, the angels came to Abraham in the form of men and when he offered them food, they did not eat. In ancient Middle Eastern culture, if a guest refused to eat the food provided by their host, it was a sign of ill-will.

 Prophet Isaac (ﷺ).

Then he conceived a fear of them. They said: Fear not! and gave him tidings of (the birth of) a wise son.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
(When they did not eat) He conceived a fear of them. They said "Fear not" and they gave him glad tidings of a son endowed with knowledge.
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:29
فَأَقْبَلَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ فِى صَرَّةٍ فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ Faaqbalati imraatuhu fee s arratin fa s akkat wajhah a waq a lat AAajoozun AAaqeem un
Thereupon his wife approached [the guests] with a loud cry, and struck her face [in astonishment] and exclaimed: "A barren old woman [like me]!"
  - Mohammad Asad
Hearing this his wife came forward, with astonishment she smote her forehead and said: "A son to a barren old woman!"
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
Then his wife came forward with a cry, clasping her forehead 'in astonishment', exclaiming, ''A baby from' a barren, old woman!'
  - Mustafa Khattab
Then his wife came forward, making moan, and smote her face, and cried: A barren old woman!
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
But his wife came forward (laughing) aloud: she smote her forehead and said: "a barren old woman!" 5009
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Abraham's wife Sarah was old and barren. This news seemed to her too good to be true. She came forward, clamoured (xi. 71), struck her forehead with her hands, indicative of her amusement and incredulity as "a barren old woman": xi. 72.

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Print
51:30
قَالُوا۟ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ Q a loo ka tha liki q a la rabbuki innahu huwa al h akeemu alAAaleem u
They answered: "Thus has thy Sustainer decreed; and, verily, He alone is truly wise, all-knowing!"
  - Mohammad Asad
They replied: "Thus has said your Rabb: surely He is the Wise, the Knowledgeable."
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
They replied, 'Such has your Lord decreed. He is truly the All-Wise, All-Knowing.'
  - Mustafa Khattab
They said: Even so saith thy Lord. Lo! He is the Wise, the Knower.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
They said "Even so has thy Lord spoken: and He is full of Wisdom and Knowledge." 5010
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The angels said: "What may sound improbable to human beings will yet come to pass if Allah commands. And Allah thy Lord has spoken. So shall it be. For all His promises are full of wisdom and knowledge." So the angels on that occasion. But the application is for all time and to all human affairs. Never despair. However much Truth may be in the shade, it will shine with full splendour. And the Judgment will come, when good will come to its own!

No translation has been selected yet. Please click on the (Compare) link at the top and enable the translations of your choice.

Previous Next

Tafsir

Az-Zariyat

Loading tafsir.

Comments for Surah 51

Loading Comments.

Your Notes

Please wait...

Grammar

Az-Zariyat

Scroll to top arrow

Do you want to resume from last visited ayah?

Do you want to resume tafsir of surah

Alim logo

Related Islamic Resources

Loading...

Resources

Insights

  • Funeral Services
  • Arabic Playhouse
  • Collaborations
  • Alim Mobile App
  • Get Involved
  • Ad Plans
  • Blog Pricing
  • Blogs
  • Insight of the Day
  • Hadith of the Day
  • Infographics
  • References
  • FAQ
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us