are the three: the Qur’an, then the Torah, and then the Gospel; and the same ranked order holds for the prophets. He therefore swore by them in ascending degrees, just as in His words:

“By the scattering winds, then those that bear heavy loads, then those that glide with ease, then those that apportion affairs” (51:1–4).

Here He swore by successive tiers of created things, one above the other: first the winds that scatter, then the rain-laden clouds—which stand above the winds—then al-jāriyāt yusrā, “those that glide with ease.”

Some have said that these are the ships, yet it is more fitting to understand them as the heavenly bodies mentioned in His saying:

“I swear by the retreating stars, those that run and hide” (81:15–16),

for He calls them jāriyāt, “coursers,” just as He calls the ships jāriyāt in His statement:

“And among His signs are the ships that sail upon the sea like mountains” (42:32).

And the stars are above the clouds.