Surah Az Zariyat Notes (1-11)

Source: Ibn Kathir

Which was revealed in Makkah

Affirming the News of the Resurrection The Commander of the faithful,

(1) By (the winds) that scatter dust.

(2) And (the clouds) that bear heavy weight of water;

(3) And (the ships) that float with ease and gentleness;

(4) And those (angels) who distribute (provisions, rain, and other blessings) by (Allah's) Command;

Ali bin Abi Talib may Allah be pleased with him, ascended the Minbar in Kufah and declared, "Any Ayah in the Book of Allah the Exalted and any Sunnah from Allah's Messenger you ask me about today, I will explain them.'' Ibn Al-Kawwa stood up and said, "O Leader of the faithful! What is the meaning of Allah's statement,

(By the scattering Dhariyat),'' and `Ali said, "The wind.'' The man asked,

"(And the laden Hamilat)'' `Ali said, "The clouds.'' The man again asked,

"(And the steady Jariyat)'' `Ali said, "The ships.'' The man asked,

"(And the distributors of command)'' `Ali said, it refers to "The angels.''

 Some scholars said that Al-Jariyat Yusra refers to the stars that float in their orbits with ease. This would mean that the things mentioned were ascendant in their order, beginning with the lower, then mentioning the higher one after that, etc. The winds bring the clouds, the stars are above them and the angels who distribute by Allah's order are above that, and they descend with Allah's legislative orders and the decrees He determines. These Ayat contain a vow from Allah that Resurrection shall come to pass. 

(5) Verily, that which you are promised (i.e. Resurrection in the Hereafter and receiving the reward or punishment of good or bad deeds, etc.) is surely true.

(Verily, that which you are promised is surely true.), it is a truthful promise,

(6) And verily, the Recompense is sure to happen.

(And verily, Ad-Din) the Recompense,

(will occur), it will surely come to pass.

(7) By the heaven full of paths,

(By the heaven full of Hubuk,) Ibn `Abbas said; "Full of beauty, grace, magnificence and perfection.'' 

Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Malik, Abu Salih, As-Suddi, Qatadah, `Atiyah Al-`Awfi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and others said similarly. 

Ad-Dahhak, Al-Minhal bin `Amr and others said, "The meandering of the water, sand and plants when the wind passes over them; carving paths out of them, that is the Hubuk.'' All of these sayings return to the same meaning, that of beauty and complexity. The sky is high above us, clear yet thick, firmly structured, spacious and graceful, beautified with stars such as the sun and orbiting planets such as the moon and the planets of the solar system.

The Differing Claims of the Idolators

(8) Certainly, you have different ideas (about Muhammad SAW and the Quran).

Allah the Exalted said,

(Certainly, you have different ideas.) Allah says, `you disbelievers who deny the Messengers have different and confused opinions that do not connect or conform to each other.' Qatadah commented on the Ayah, "You have different ideas about the Qur'an. Some of you agree that it is true while some others deny this fact.'' 

(9) Turned aside therefrom (i.e. from Muhammad SAW and the Quran) is he who is turned aside (by the Decree and Preordainment of Allah).

(Turned aside therefrom is he who is turned aside.) Allah says, these confused and different opinions only fool those who are inwardly misguided. Surely, such falsehood is accepted, embraced and it becomes the source of confusion only for those who are misguided and originally liars, the fools who have no sound comprehension, as Allah said,

(So, verily you and those whom you worship cannot lead astray, except those who are predetermined to burn in Hell!)(37:161-163) 

Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and As-Suddi said:

(Turned aside therefrom is he who is turned aside.) "He who is misguided is led astray from it. '

(10) Cursed be the liars,

Allah said;

(Cursed be Al-Kharrasun), Mujahid said; "The liars. This is similar to what is mentioned in (Surah) `Abasa:

(Be cursed man! How ungrateful he is!)(80:17) 

Al-Kharrasun are those who claim that they will never be brought back to life, doubting the coming of Resurrection.'' 

`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas;

(Cursed be Al-Kharrasun), "Cursed be the doubters.'' 

Mu`adh said similarly, may Allah be pleased with him. During one of his speeches he said, "Destroyed be the doubters.'' 

Qatadah said, "Al-Kharrasun are the people of doubt and suspicion.''

(11) Who are under a cover of heedlessness (think not about the gravity of the Hereafter)

(Who are under a cover of Sahun,) Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and others said; "In disbelief and doubt, they are heedless and playful.''