Surah 51. Az-Zariyat

And in 'the story of' 'Âd 'was another lesson,' when We sent against them the devastating wind.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 lit., ‘a barren wind,’ since the wind was not productive—it did not carry rain or fertilize trees.

And in the `Ad (people) (was another Sign): Behold We sent against them the devastating Wind: ⁵⁰¹⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xlvi. 21-26. The point here is that the 'Ad were a gifted people: Allah had given them talents and material wealth: but when they defied Allah, they and all their belongings were destroyed in a night, by a hurricane which they thought was bringing them the rain to which they were looking forward. How marvellously Allah's Providence works, to help the good and destroy the wicked!

There was nothing it came upon that it did not reduce to ashes.

  - Mustafa Khattab

It left nothing whatever that it came up against but reduced it to ruin and rottenness.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And in 'the story of' Thamûd 'was another lesson,' when they were told, 'Enjoy yourselves 'only' for a 'short' while.'¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Meaning, you have only three days to live. See 11:65.

And in the Thamud (was another Sign): Behold they were told "Enjoy (your brief day) for a little while!" ^{5019 5020}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See the story of the Thamud and their prophet Salih in vii. 73-79. Here the point is the suddenness of their punishment and its unexpected nature.

Salih their prophet gave them three days' clear warning for repentance (xi. 65). But they heeded him not. On the contrary they flouted him and continued in their evil courses.

Still they persisted in defying the commands of their Lord, so they were overtaken by a 'mighty' blast while they were looking on.

  - Mustafa Khattab

But they insolently defied the command of their Lord: so the stunning noise (of an earthquake) seized them even while they were looking on. ^{5021 5022}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They had already defied the order to preserve the She-camel, which was a sign from Allah. See xi. 64-65 and n. 1560. They continued to flout the warnings of the prophet until the earthquake came on them with a stunning noise and buried them where they were: vii. 78; and xi. 67.

Sa'iqat: a stunning sound like that of thunder and lightning (ii. 55); such a sound often accompanies an earthquake (see xli. 17, n. 4485, and vii. 78 and n. 1047).

Then they were not able to rise up, nor were they helped.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Then they could not even stand (on their feet) nor could they help themselves. ⁵⁰²³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They were swept off in the earthquake.

And the people of Noah 'had also been destroyed' earlier. They were truly a rebellious people.

  - Mustafa Khattab

So were the people of Noah before them: for they wickedly transgressed. ⁵⁰²⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The generation of Noah was swept away in the Flood for their sins: vii. 59-64. The point is that such a Flood seemed so unlikely to them that they thought Noah was "wandering in his mind" when he delivered Allah's Message: vii. 60.

We built the universe with 'great' might, and We are certainly expanding 'it'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

With the power and skill did We construct the Firmament: for it is We Who create the vastness of Space. ⁵⁰²⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If you do not wish to go back to the wonderful things in the past, which show the power and goodness of Allah, and His justice supreme over all wrong-doing, look at the wonderful things unfolding themselves before your very eyes! (1) The space in the heavens above! Who can comprehend it but He Who made it and sustains it? (2) The globe of the earth under your feet! How great its expanse seems over sea and land, and spread out for you like a wonderful carpet or bed of rest! (3) All things are in twos: sex in plants and animals, by which one individual is complementary to another; in the subtle forces of nature, Day and Night, positive and negative electricity, forces of attraction and repulsion: and numerous other opposites, each fulfilling its purpose, and contribution to the working of Allah's Universe: and in the moral and spiritual world, Love and Aversion, Mercy and Justice, Striving and Rest, and so on;-all fulfilling their functions according to the Artistry and wonderful Purpose of Allah. Everything has its counterpart, or pair, or complement. Allah alone is One, with none like Him, or needed to complement Him. These are noble things to contemplate. And they lead us to a true understanding of Allah's Purpose and Message.

As for the earth, We spread it out. How superbly did We smooth it out!¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 The globe was spread out to accommodate Allah’s creation. The spherical shape of the earth is expressed in 39:5.

And We have spread out the (spacious) earth: how excellently We do spread out!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And We created pairs of all things¹ so perhaps you would be mindful.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 For example, male and female, sweet and bitter, day and night, plains and mountains, heat and cold, light and darkness.

And of everything We have created pairs: that ye may receive instruction. ⁵⁰²⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See (3) in the last note. Cf. xxxvi. 36, n. 3981.

So 'proclaim, O Prophet': 'Flee to Allah! I am truly sent by Him with a clear warning to you.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Hasten ye then (at once) to Allah: I am from Him a warner to you clear and open! ⁵⁰²⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If you understand Nature and yourselves aright, you will know that Allah is the Truth, and you will fly at once to Him. This is the teaching which the Prophet of Allah has come to give you, in clear terms and openly to all.

And do not set up another god with Allah. I am truly sent by Him with a clear warning to you.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And make not another an object of worship with Allah: I am from Him a Warner to you clear and open! ⁵⁰²⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Verses 50 and 51, ending with the same clause to emphasize the connection between the two, should be read together. The Prophet's mission was (and is): (1) to show us the urgent need for repentance; and (2) to wean us from the precipice of false worship. The one convinces us of sin and opens the door to the Mercy of Allah; the other cures us of the madness of paying court to idle or worthless objects of desire; for in the worship of Allah, the One True God is included the best service to ourselves and our fellow-creatures. If fully understood, this sums up the whole duty of man: for it leads us by the right Path to the love of Allah and the love of man and of all creatures.

Similarly, no messenger came to those before them without being told: 'A magician or a madman!'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Similarly no apostle came to the Peoples before them but they said (of him) in like manner "A sorcerer or one possessed"! ⁵⁰²⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They said this of Moses: li. 39. And they said this of the holy Prophet: xxxviii. 4; xliv. 14.

Have they passed this 'cliché' down to one another? In fact, they have 'all' been a transgressing people.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Is this the legacy they have transmitted one to another? Nay they are themselves a people transgressing beyond bounds! ⁵⁰³⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There is a tradition of Evil as there is a tradition of Good. The ways of Evil in dealing with the teachers of Truth are similar in all ages. But such evil traditions would have no effect, were it not that the generation following them is itself ungodly, "transgressing beyond bounds."

So 'now' turn away from them 'O Prophet', for you will not be blamed.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Since you have already delivered the message clearly.

So turn away from them: not thine is the blame. ⁵⁰³¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When the Prophet freely proclaims his Message, it is not his fault if obstinate wickedness refuses to listen. He can leave them alone, but he should continue to teach for the benefit of those who have Faith.

But 'continue to' remind. For certainly reminders benefit the believers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

But teach (thy Message): for teaching benefits the Believers.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali