The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, John Martin
Adh-Dhariyat (Arabic: الذاريات, adh-dhāriyāt; meaning: The Winnowing Winds) is the 51st chapter (surah) of the Qur'an with 60 verses (ayat). It mentions Abraham, Noah, and the day of judgment, and reiterates the essential Quranic message.
Structure
According to Angelika Neuwirth's literary analysis,[1] as related through Carl Ernst,[2] sura 51, like many early Meccan suras, consists of a tripartite structure: I, 1– 23; II, 24– 46; III, 47– 60. These three sections can be seen in a 2016 translation, The Clear Quran, which breaks the entire Quran into smaller thematic sections. The sura can be further broken down as follows:
Rider oaths (9 verses) and end-times with double portraits (14 verses), including four thematic sections in the Clear Quran entitled, "Judgement is inevitable", "Warning to the Deniers", "Good News for the Devout", and "God's Signs in creation".[3]
The discourse of guests of Abraham (14 verses) and four other prophets (9 verses), including six thematic sections in the Clear Quran titled according to the prophet mentioned in the corresponding verses.[3]
God's creation (7 verses) and a warning (7 verses), including five thematic sections in the Clear Quran such as "God's Power of Creation" and "Warning to the Deniers".[3]
^Ernst, Carl W. (2011-12-05). How to Read the Qur'an: A New Guide, with Select Translations (p. 213). The University of North Carolina Press. Kindle Edition.
^Wherry, Elwood Morris (1896). A Complete Index to Sale's Text, Preliminary Discourse, and Notes. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
