Al-Adiyat (ٱلْعَادِيَات)

Surah Al-Adiyat is the 100th surah of the Quran and comprises 11 verses. With 1 ruku, this surah can be read in 30th juz (para). The surah got its name from the word 'Adiyat' in the first verse, which means 'The Assaulters or The Racers.' This word is commonly used to describe the galloping hooves of horses as they charge into battle. Just like horses gallop on in a war, so do human beings in greedy pursuit of worldly affairs. Allah Azzawajal uses this vivid imagery to describe the ungrateful nature of human beings and the surety with which the day of judgment is coming closer. 

Surah Al-Adiyat is a Makki Surah and was revealed during the very early phase of Prophet Muhammad’s صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ mission in Mecca. Some Quran commentators view it as a Madani Surah, but most scholars consider it Makki. The content, style, and subject matter of this Surah also support the view that it was revealed during the early phase of the Prophetic mission of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.

Shaan e Nazool (Historical Background)

Surah Al-Adiyat is one of the earliest revealed Makki Surahs of the Quran. The subject and theme of this Surah suggest it was revealed to emphasize core Islamic beliefs, such as life after death (Hereafter), the Day of Resurrection, and the final accountability of all humankind based on their deeds and actions in this world. It served as a stern warning to the disbelievers that the Day of Resurrection is certain to come, when every human will be thrown out of their graves, and their deeds will be visible; even the deeds that are not apparently visible but hidden in their hearts.

The time of revelation of this Surah is very important. It was sent down at the time when the entire Arab world was passing through a phase of chaos and confusion. Tribes were in a continuous state of war against each other. No tribe felt safe. The invaders would often choose the very early morning, just before sunrise, to attack their rivals. Usually, this type of attack would catch the enemies by surprise. The attackers would come, complete their mission as quickly as possible, and go back. In that era, horses were the primary means of travel and attack, specifically raised and trained for swift assault.

With that historical context, Surah Al-Adiyat was revealed. Just like other Makki Surahs of that particular time, it starts with powerful oaths, specifically relevant to the norms and traditions of that era. Hence, the Surah swears by horses, the popular means of travel and warfare. The Surah takes an oath on the following most relevant attributes of battlefield horses:

• The galloping and panting horses
• The spark created by the hoofs of the horses when they strike the earth with full force
• The time of early morning or pre-dawn, when the fighter horses attack the enemies
• The cloud of dust stirred up by the force of their hoofs
• The fearlessness and bravery of horses, when they intrude into the ranks of the enemy

By taking an oath on these five qualities of fighter horses, the attention of the disbelievers is drawn to the loyalty of horses towards their owners, who had raised them with love and care, and trained them for the exclusive purpose of battling with enemies. Immediately after these oaths, the Surah turns towards the attitude of humans, who remain ungrateful to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, Who had not only created them but also showered His countless blessings on them. Contrary to the fighting horses, who fearlessly enter the enemy lines, just on the command of their owners, disbelievers’ attitude towards Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ is that of a thankless and ungrateful person. The Surah also declares that humankind, instead of obeying Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ and worshipping Him, are mostly indulged in the love for worldly wealth and benefits.  

Then the Surah turns towards the Day of Resurrection, when humankind will be given a second life, when they will come out of their graves, and when their hearts will reveal all their hidden deeds. The deeds of humankind, whether apparent and visible or hidden deep in their hearts, will be revealed to them. On that Day, they will be presented before Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, Who is All-Aware of their deeds, apparent, visible, or hidden. This implies that final accountability on the Day of Judgment will be based on the deeds humans committed during their worldly lives.

Makki or Madni Surah

The vast majority of scholars consider Surah Al-Adiyat a Makki Surah, though some scholars argue it was revealed in Medina. However, scholars widely accept it as a Makki Surah, revealed during the early phase of the Prophet Muhammad’s صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ mission in Mecca.

Place in the Quran

Surah Al-Adiyat is the 100^th Surah of the Quran and is placed in the 30^th Juzz (Para). It comes after Surah Az-Zalzala and before Surah Al-Qari'ah. It is the 14^th Surah in the order of revelation and is placed at number 100 in the sequence of recitation.

• Number of Verses: Surah Al-Adiyat has 11 verses.
• Number of Ruku (Sections): The verses of Surah Al-Adiyat are grouped into 1 Ruku (section).

Significance of Surah Al-Adiyat  

Surah Al-Adiyat has great religious and spiritual significance in Islamic teachings. Some of the most important lessons learned from this Surah are as follows:

• The Day of Resurrection – It deals with some of the most important beliefs and concepts of Islamic theology, including the Hereafter and final accountability on the Day of Resurrection.
• Comparison of Humans with Horses – The Surah compares humankind to battlefield horses. Owners raise the horses with love and care. Their owners then train them to fight fearlessly on the battlefield at the owners' single command. They enter the enemy lines with full force, even risking their safety. On the contrary, as narrated in this Surah, humans are thankless and ungrateful towards Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, who created them and provided everything for their well-being, but they do not obey His Commands. Instead of worshipping Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ and thanking Him for His countless blessings, they disobey Him and remain indulged in love of worldly wealth and benefits. This is the most important lesson of this Surah.
• Accountability on the Day of Resurrection – The Surah reminds us of the Day of Resurrection and accountability on that Day. On that Day, every human will be brought out of their graves, and their hearts will reveal even their hidden deeds. By relating the Resurrection of humans and opening up their hearts to disclose their secret deeds, the Surah reminds us that the final accountability on the Day of Judgment will be based on the deeds committed in this world.

Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ is All-Knowing – The Surah also reminds us that Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ is well aware of every deed of ours, whether visible and apparent, or hidden deep in our hearts, or kept secret by us from others. But Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ is All-knowing, All-Aware; nothing can be held secret from Him. The lesson learned is that we should try to do good deeds and refrain from committing sins in this worldly life, for a better Hereafter.

Theme and Subject Matter of Surah Al-Adiyat (ٱلْعَادِيَات)

Despite the brevity of Surah Al-Adiyat, it delivers a meaningful message. It touches upon several key concepts shaping the central theme of Islam. A very proactive yet poetic language is used to convey the message. The surah serves as a powerful reminder that humans are responsible for their actions and that they will be judged accordingly. In the start, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ swears by the horses that are used in battles. These horses are driven with purpose, and they fulfill their purpose. When they run in the cause of Allah and strike their hooves with rocks, fire sparks occur. This symbolizes the efforts that mere horses are putting in the way of Allah. 

Right after this, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ talks about raids at dawn. It is a signal towards the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who used to perform raids in the early morning. Allah takes the oath of all these things to deliver the message that man is an ungrateful creature. Humans are so mesmerized by the beauty of the worldly life that they often forget their Lord. Man forgets that life and all the blessings he is currently enjoying are gifts from the Omnipotent. If He has given the things, He holds the power to take them away, too.

There is no end to the wishes of a human. Humans are always hungry, needing one thing after another. Surah Al-Adiyat presents a stark indictment of human nature, focusing particularly on the pervasive trait of ingratitude. Despite receiving countless blessings, humans are obsessed with wealth. This tenacious love for wealth and excessive desire to possess material things often overshadow gratitude towards the giver, i.e., Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎. 

This surah strikes a contrast between the dedication of horses that are run through the battlefield. They are fed by humans and trained with a purpose, yet like an obedient slave, they tirelessly serve their masters, charging into the battle without any hesitation. On the other hand, there is the man who receives limitless blessings from the king of the world. Yet, he remains ungrateful. The surah implicitly suggests that humans often take the bounties of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ for granted, failing to recognize the divine source of their blessings.

An alarming reminder is given at the end of this surah about the day of judgment. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ warns man that in the quest for material wealth, he is becoming oblivious to eternal perspective. On the final day, when every soul will be brought in front of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ with his record, no wealth will save man from his fate. Through Surah Al-Adiyat, Allah advises readers to be grateful to Allah and oblige Him. People who are thankful to the gloried God will be placed in paradise, while the ungrateful people will become the fuel of hellfire. 

This surah implies that every person is accountable for his deed. When the day of Resurrection arrives, every soul will taste the result of what it used to do in this world. In essence, Surah Al-Adiyat is a call to reflection and introspection, urging humans to consider their actions and prepare for the inevitable Day of Reckoning.

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Al-Adiyat (ٱلْعَادِيَات)

Surah Al-Adiyat gives a deep insight into Allah's ability to bestow His divine blessings upon us or revive them. Regular recitation of this surah strengthens the relationship with our Mighty Lord. It forces readers to have a look at the favors of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ and devote themselves to worship Him. This surah helps in improving life by being more thankful. It increases the prosperity and sustenance of the listeners. Quran was revealed as a guidance and protection from evil. Just like that, reciting surah al-Adiyat will increase good deeds and it will protect readers from hell on Doomsday. 

Listen to the Recitation of Surah Al-Adiyat by Renowned Qaris

The Quran was revealed upon the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ in Arabic, the language of its first listeners. Arabic is a vast language, where pronunciation matters a lot. One word may have one meaning when recited in a specific way, but the meaning may entirely change when pronounced in another way. The Quran comprises the words of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, and was sent down with a specific message and purpose. Every Surah, including Surah Al-Adiyat, carries a specific context and therefore needs to be recited exactly in the same way as was taught by the Prophet to his companions. But the correct pronunciation of the Quranic words might sometimes be difficult even for Arabic-speaking people, whereas a non-Arabic-speaking person mostly faces problems with the correct recitation of the Quran.  

The art of correct Quranic recitation is highly important, especially for non-Arabic speakers. You can learn this with the help of a qualified Arabic teacher or a renowned, authentic Quran reciter (Qari). One of the best practical ways to learn correct Quran recitation is to listen to authentic, renowned Qaris (reciters). Even the most difficult or complicated Quranic words can be learned by listening to the recitation of authentic Qaris. One can easily learn how to pronounce a particular Quranic phrase correctly, including the words of Surah Al-Adiyat. Consistently listening to an authentic Qari's recitation helps listeners pronounce Quranic words correctly with Tajweed. It also supports those who want to listen to the Quran instead of reading it themselves.   

The MuslimandQuran mobile app lets you listen to Quran recitation. Recitations by different renowned and authentic Qaris are available on our website and mobile app, and you can listen on your mobile devices or laptop whenever you like. You can select a Qari of your preference to listen to and learn the correct recitation of the Quran. You only need to download the MuslimandQuran mobile application to listen to any Surah of the Quran, including Surah Al-Adiyat.

You can download our mobile app for both Android and iOS by clicking the links given below:

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Surah Al-Adiyat PDF

The MuslimandQuran mobile app lets you read the Quran online. If you want to read offline, you can also download any Surah of the Quran, including Surah Al-Adiyat, as a PDF.

You can download Surah Al-Adiyat in PDF by following these simple steps:

• Press Ctrl + P on your keyboard.
• In the Destination dropdown menu, choose Save as PDF.
• Click Save to download Al-Adiyat to your device.

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