Tafsir of Ad-Dhariyat 51:34

Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51): Verse 34

"...مُسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ..." (Marked/Designated with your Lord...)

There are several interpretations regarding the meaning of "مُسَوَّمَةً" (musawwamatan):

1. Designated by Name: Each stone is inscribed with the name of the specific person it is destined to kill.
2. Created for Punishment: They were created specifically for their torment, unlike other stones used for construction or benefit.
3. Sent Forth (Irsal): The term relates to being sent forth, similar to how livestock are described as being "sent out to graze" (أرسلها لترعى). Thus, sumūhā (سَوَّمُوها) can mean "send them forth." This interpretation is supported by the verse about "marked horses" (الخيل المسومة) (Al 'Imran: 14), suggesting they were set aside (perhaps not for riding) to indicate immense wealth.

The phrase "لِّلْمُسْرِفِينَ" (for the extravagant/transgressors) indicates that this event was not a random occurrence, contrary to what naturalists might claim—that stones falling and hitting someone is mere coincidence based on their natural trajectory.

If we accept that the stones were designated (musawwama), this designation was established from the moment they were created and sent forth, specifically intended for the destruction of the transgressors.

Addressing the Apparent Contradiction:

If the stones were designated for the Musrifin (transgressors), why did the angels say: "إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَى قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ * لَنُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ..." (We have been sent to a criminal people to send down upon them...) (Adh-Dhariyat: 32-33)? (The issue is the difference between Musrif and Mujrim in language.)

• Al-Mujrim (The Criminal): One who commits a great sin. The root Jurm (جرم) implies magnitude.
• Al-Musrif (The Extravagant/Transgressor): One who commits a major sin (kabīra). Even if one exceeds limits in minor sins, they become Musrif, because small sins accumulate into a large one.

Therefore, anyone who commits a major sin (Mujrim) has necessarily transgressed limits (Asrafa), even if it was in a single act. Thus, both descriptions applied to them.

A Subtle Meaning (Latifa Ma'nawiyya):

Allah designated the stones for the Musrif who persists in sin and does not cease. Allah, knowing the future, commanded the angels to send the stones upon them. The angels, however, based their knowledge on the present reality, seeing them as Mujrimin (criminals).

The angels' statement implies: "We are sent to a people we know to be criminals, and we will send down stones created for those who persist in disbelief and transgression." This implies that if they had lived longer, they would have continued escalating in their criminality.

Regarding the Definite Article (Al-Lam):

Is the definite article (لـ) in "لِّلْمُسْرِفِينَ" for generic definition (genus) or for specific reference (the specific known ones)?

We say it is for specific reference (Al-'Ahd), meaning the stones were designated specifically for these transgressors (the people of Lot), as not every transgressor has stones designated for them.

What was their Transgression (Israf)?

Their transgression is indicated by Allah's statement: "مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ" (No one among the worlds has preceded you in this) (Al-'Ankabut: 28), meaning no one reached the extent of their actions.

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