51. Surah Adh-Dhariyat (The Dust-Scattering Winds)

Mecca Period 67

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَفِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ ...

51: 50.  Hasten ye then (at once) to Allah:

C5027. 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.

... إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٥٠﴾

I am from Him a warner to you, clear and open!

وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ

51: 51.  And make not another an object of worship with Allah:

C5028. 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):

• to show us the urgent need for repentance; and

• 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.

إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٥١﴾

I am from Him a Warner to you, clear and open!

Asad’s Version:

(51:50) And so, [O Muhammad, say unto them:] "Flee I unto God [from all that is false and evil] ! Verily, I am a plain warner to you from Him!

(51:51) And do not ascribe divinity to aught 35 side by side with God: verily, I am a plain warner to you from Him! "