Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
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1
١
wal-ʿādiyāti ḍabḥan
By the racers, panting,
2
٢
fal-mūriyāti qadḥan
And the producers of sparks [when] striking
3
٣
fal-mughīrāti ṣub'ḥan
And the chargers at dawn,
4
٤
fa-atharna bihi naqʿan
Stirring up thereby [clouds of] dust,
5
٥
fawasaṭna bihi jamʿan
Arriving thereby in the center collectively,
6
٦
inna l-insāna lirabbihi lakanūdun
Indeed mankind, to his Lord, is ungrateful.
7
٧
wa-innahu ʿalā dhālika lashahīdun
And indeed, he is to that a witness.
8
٨
wa-innahu liḥubbi l-khayri lashadīdun
And indeed he is, in love of wealth, intense.
9
٩
afalā yaʿlamu idhā buʿ'thira mā fī l-qubūri
But does he not know that when the contents of the graves are scattered
10
١٠
waḥuṣṣila mā fī l-ṣudūri
And that within the breasts is obtained,
11
١١
inna rabbahum bihim yawma-idhin lakhabīrun
Indeed, their Lord with them, that Day, is [fully] Aware.
Surah Al-'Adiyat (The Courser) — Full Text
Ayah 1
وَٱلْعَـٰدِيَـٰتِ ضَبْحًا
By the racers, panting,1
Allah opens this surah with an incredibly cinematic image: war horses galloping so hard they're literally panting and breathing heavy. The Arabic word for this panting (dabh) is the actual sound a horse makes when it's pushing itself to the limit. This is the start of a series of five vivid oaths, and the whole point is to build up to a powerful truth about human nature. But there's a deeper layer here too — these horses are risking everything for their riders, giving total loyalty and obedience. Keep that in mind, because it's about to become a very uncomfortable contrast.
Ayah 2
فَٱلْمُورِيَـٰتِ قَدْحًا
And the producers of sparks [when] striking1
Now picture this: these horses are charging so fast over rocky ground that their hooves are literally striking sparks of fire in the darkness. It's a raw, intense image — iron horseshoes hitting stone, sparks flying everywhere. Allah is painting the scene of a pre-dawn battlefield to show the sheer dedication and power of these animals. They don't question their riders, they don't hesitate — they just go all in. The contrast that's coming will hit even harder because of how vivid this buildup is.
Ayah 3
فَٱلْمُغِيرَٰتِ صُبْحًا
And the chargers at dawn,1
These horses launch their attack right at dawn — the moment first light breaks. In Arab culture, attacking at dawn (instead of sneaking in at night) was considered the honorable move, a show of bravery. The Prophet (peace be upon him) would also time raids for the early morning. The point is these animals are fearlessly charging into danger the second daylight hits. They don't overthink it, they don't hold back. Their obedience to their masters is absolute.
Ayah 4
فَأَثَرْنَ بِهِۦ نَقْعًا
Stirring up thereby [clouds of] dust,
As the horses charge, they kick up massive clouds of dust that fill the air. Imagine the ground shaking, visibility dropping, dust everywhere — this isn't a calm morning stroll, it's full-on chaos. The Quran is capturing the raw intensity of a cavalry charge to make you feel it. All of this buildup — the panting, the sparks, the dawn raid, the dust — is leading somewhere, and the destination is a mirror being held up to you and me.
Ayah 5
فَوَسَطْنَ بِهِۦ جَمْعًا
Arriving thereby in the center1 collectively,
The final image: the horses plunge right into the center of the enemy forces without an ounce of fear or hesitation. They don't stop at the edges — they dive straight into the thick of it. Now think about this: Allah didn't create these horses, feed them, or give them intelligence. Their riders did relatively little for them — just provided some food. Yet the horses repay that small favor with total loyalty, even risking their lives. And that's the setup for the gut punch that's coming next.
Ayah 6
إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لِرَبِّهِۦ لَكَنُودٌ
Indeed mankind, to his Lord, is ungrateful.
Here's the whole point of those five intense oaths: humans are deeply ungrateful to their Lord. The word used is "kanud" — someone who keeps a mental tally of every bad thing that happens to them but conveniently forgets all the good. Think about how a horse gives its life for a rider who just feeds it, while you and I have been given literally everything — our bodies, minds, senses, food, family — by Allah, and we still complain and forget to be thankful. That contrast is supposed to sting.
Ayah 7
وَإِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ لَشَهِيدٌ
And indeed, he is to that a witness.1
And the thing is, deep down, we know it. This ayah says man himself is a witness to his own ingratitude — it's not like this is some hidden secret. Your actions, your words, your priorities all testify against you. You know when you're taking blessings for granted, you know when you're being ungrateful. There's also the understanding that Allah is a witness to all of it too. Either way, there's no hiding from this truth — it's written all over how we live our lives.
Ayah 8
وَإِنَّهُۥ لِحُبِّ ٱلْخَيْرِ لَشَدِيدٌ
And indeed he is, in love of wealth, intense.
So what's behind all this ingratitude? An obsessive love for wealth and material things. The Quran isn't saying money is evil — having resources is actually necessary and even encouraged. The problem is when the love of it takes over your heart, when chasing the bag becomes your whole identity and you lose sight of everything else. It's like water and a boat: water under the boat helps it sail, but water inside the boat sinks it. Wealth around you is fine, but wealth consuming your heart? That's what blinds you from seeing truth.
But does he not know that when the contents of the graves are scattered
Now the surah shifts to a wake-up call: doesn't this person realize what's coming? A day when the graves will be turned inside out and everyone who ever lived will be brought back. All that wealth you hoarded, all that status you chased — none of it comes with you. The dead will be raised, and suddenly every single person has to face what they did with the life they were given. This is meant to shake you out of that materialistic trance.
Ayah 10
وَحُصِّلَ مَا فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ
And that within the breasts is obtained,1
And it gets even more intense: everything hidden inside your heart will be fully exposed. Every secret intention, every hidden jealousy, every moment of genuine sincerity — all of it gets brought out into the open. You can fake it in this life, put on a good image, curate your reputation. But on that Day, your chest cracks open like a book and there's nowhere to hide. The things you kept locked away in your heart become public knowledge.
Ayah 11
إِنَّ رَبَّهُم بِهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّخَبِيرٌۢ
Indeed, their Lord with them, that Day, is [fully] Aware.1
The surah closes with a firm reminder: on that Day, your Lord will be completely and fully aware of everything about you. Not a single deed, thought, or intention escapes Him. He knows what you did, why you did it, and what you were really feeling when you did it. And He will give each person exactly what they deserve — no injustice, not even by an atom's weight. The whole surah circles back to one message: be grateful, don't let worldly obsessions blind you, because a Day of full accountability is absolutely coming.