Surah Al-Adiyat – Mohamed Abdel Hakim Saad Al Abdullah

Al-Adiyat ("The Chargers") is the 100th surah of the Quran, in Juz' Amma. Meccan, it has 11 verses and is the 14th surah in the traditional order of revelation, after Al-Asr. It takes its name from the oath of its first verse, by the charging steeds, panting as they run (100:1).

The oath depicts a raid at dawn: horses striking sparks with their hooves, attacking at daybreak, raising clouds of dust and plunging into the midst of the enemy (100:1-5). Most commentators, including Ibn Abbas, understood them as war horses; Ali ibn Abi Talib saw in them the camels of the pilgrims running from Arafat to Muzdalifa.

The oath leads to a reproach: "Indeed, man is ungrateful to his Lord" (100:6); he is himself a witness to it, and his love of wealth is intense (100:7-8). The surah closes with a question: does he not know that when the contents of the graves are scattered and what lies in the hearts is brought out, their Lord will on that day be fully aware of them? (100:9-11)