Surah Adh-Dhariyat

Introduction

It is Meccan, as has been narrated from Ibn Abbas and Ibn al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with them both), and there is no disagreement reported regarding this. It consists of sixty verses by consensus, as stated in the book Al-'Adad. Its connection to Surah Qaf is that since that surah concluded with the mention of the Resurrection and contained the mention of recompense, Paradise, Hell, and other such matters, this surah opens with oaths that what they have been promised regarding that is indeed true, and that the recompense is certainly bound to occur. Furthermore, while the destruction of many generations was mentioned there in a summary fashion, the destruction of some of them is mentioned here in detail, among other connections that become apparent to the one who contemplates.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

"And the scatterers dispersing"

That is, the winds that scatter dust and other things, derived from dhara (the weak-lettered verb), meaning to separate and disperse what it lifts from its place.