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

Mecca Period 67

Asad’s Translation:

51:15 [But,] behold, the God-conscious will find themselves amid gardens and springs,

(51:16) enjoying all that their Sustainer will have granted them [because], verily, they were doers of good in the past: 10

(51:17) they would lie asleep during but a small part of the night,

(51:18) and would pray for forgiveness from their innermost hearts;"

(51:19) 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

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Translation:

إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ ﴿١٥﴾

51: 15.  As to the Righteous, they will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs,

آخِذِينَ مَا آتَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ

51: 16.  Taking joy in the things which their Lord gives them,

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٦﴾

because, before then, they lived a good life.

كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ ﴿١٧﴾

51: 17.  They were in the habit of sleeping but little by night,

وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ ﴿١٨﴾

51: 18.  And in the hours of early dawn, They (were found) praying for Forgiveness;

وَفِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ ﴿١٩﴾

51:19: 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).

Yuksel’s trnaslation:

51:15 The righteous are in paradises and springs.

51:16 Receiving what their Lord has bestowed to them, for they were before that pious.

51:17 They used to rarely sleep the whole night.

51:18 Before dawn, they would seek forgiveness.

51:19 An in their money was a portion for the beggar and the needy.

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Ali’s comments

5001. 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:

-         he may be ashamed to ask, or his sense of honour may prevent him from asking;

-         he may be so engrossed in some great ideal that he may not think of asking;

-         he may even not know that he is in need,

-         he may not know that you possess the things that can supply his needs; and

-         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 2:177; also 2:273-274, and notes 322 and 323.

Asad’s comments –

10 Lit., "before that [Day]".

11 See note 10 on 3:17.

12 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.