Al-Adiyat


Al-Adiyat or The War Horses which run swiftly is the 100th chapter of the Qur'an, with 11 āyāt or verses. Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation, it is an earlier "Meccan surah", which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, rather than later in Medina.

Summary

Text and meaning

In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.



By the racers, panting,



And the producers of sparks striking



And the chargers at dawn,



Stirring up thereby dust,



Arriving thereby in the center collectively,



Indeed mankind, to his Lord, is ungrateful.



And indeed, he is to that a witness.



And indeed he is, in love of wealth, intense.



But does he not know that when the contents of the graves are scattered



And that within the breasts is obtained,



Indeed, their Lord with them, that Day, is Aware.

Translation: Sahih International

Period of revelation

Whether this Surah Al-Adiyat is a Makki or a Madani is disputed. But the subject matter of the Surah and its style clearly indicate that it is not only Makki, but was revealed in the early stage of Makkan period. Abdullah bin Masud, Jabir, Hasan Basri, Ikrimah, and Ata say that it is Makki. Anas bin Malik, and Qatadah say that it is Madani; and from Ibn Abbas two views have been reported, first that it is a Makki Surah, and second that it is Madani. But the subject matter of the Surah and its style clearly indicate that it is not only Makki but was revealed in the earliest stage of Makkah. So the surah is considered to be Meccan conclusively.

Hadith

According to hadith, this surah is recommended in Maghrib prayer.
  • Hisham ibn Urwah said that his father used to recite the surahs like Al-Adiyat, which was recited. Abu Dawud said: This indicates that those are abrogated, and this is more sound tradition.