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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
🐎 Five Oaths by War Horses — To Condemn the Human Who Forgets Allah
Surah Al-Adiyat is unlike any other Surah in Juz Amma in its opening energy. Verses 1–5 describe a war horse charging at dawn in five vivid oaths: panting · striking sparks · raiding at dawn · raising dust · charging into the enemy. Then Allah uses these loyal, fearless animals as a mirror: these horses give everything for their rider — yet the human being is utterly ungrateful to his Lord. The Surah ends with the Day of Judgement when every secret is exposed.
Welcome to Lesson 16! Surah Al-Adiyat is one of the most energetic and cinematic Surahs in Juz Amma. Its opening five verses read like a high-speed scene: the pre-dawn silence, the horses charging forward, sparks flying from hooves striking stone, dust clouds rising, the enemy line breached.
Then the pivot: these horses are completely loyal and fearless. They give everything. But the human being — for whom Allah does infinitely more — is kanud: ungrateful, withholding, heedless. The contrast is devastating. And on the Day of Judgement, every secret of the heart will be revealed and judged.
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Surah Overview & Key Facts
نظرة عامة على سورة العاديات
Detail
Information
Surah Name
الْعَادِيَات — Al-Adiyat (The Charging Ones / The War Horses that Run / The Gallopers)
Surah Number
100
Verses
11 verses
Words
40 words
Letters
166 letters
Revelation
Majority say Makki. Ibn Masud and others say Madani. Both positions have strong evidence.
Juz
Juz 30 — Juz Amma
The Five Oaths
Verses 1–5 contain five consecutive oaths by war horse actions: (1) Panting/snorting as they charge. (2) Striking sparks from hooves on stone. (3) Raiding at dawn (the most dangerous attack time). (4) Raising a dust cloud in their charge. (5) Penetrating into the middle of the enemy.
The Pivot Word: Kanud
v.6: “Inna l-insāna li-rabbihī la-kanūd.” — Indeed the human being is kanud to his Lord. Kanud = violently ungrateful, withholding gratitude, one who denies blessings. The Arabic root carries active, deliberate ingratitude — stronger than simply forgetting.
Hubb al-Khayr
v.8: “Wa-innahum li-ḥubbi l-khayri la-shadīd.” — Their love of khayr (good/wealth) is intense. The person who is kanud to Allah is the same person who intensely loves accumulation.
Day of Judgement
v.9–11: On that Day, the graves are overturned, what is in the chests is brought out, and the Lord is fully aware of all of it.
🐎
Why Are War Horses the Oath?
The war horse is the most loyal, courageous, and self-sacrificing creature in the Arabian world. It charges into battle without hesitation, gives its energy fully, and obeys its rider completely. Allah swears by these horses to make a powerful contrast: the horse gives EVERYTHING to its rider. The human gives almost NOTHING to the Lord who gave him life, health, sustenance, and every blessing. The oath is simultaneously beautiful and devastating.
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Full Surah — Arabic, Transliteration & Translation
السورة الكاملة
︶ ︷
Surah Al-Adiyat — Complete Text (Surah 100)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
١
وَالْعَادِيَاتِ ضَبْحًا
Wal-'ādi yāti ḍabḥā
“By the charging ones panting (the war horses).”
٢
فَالْمُورِيَاتِ قَدْحًا
Fal-mūri yāti qadḥā
“And those who strike sparks of fire.”
٣
فَالْمُغِيرَاتِ صُبْحًا
Fal-mughīrāti ṣubḥā
“And those who raid at dawn.”
٤
فَأَثَرْنَ بِهِ نَقْعًا
Fa-a tharna bihī naq'ā
“Raising thereby a cloud of dust.”
٥
فَوَسَطْنَ بِهِ جَمْعًا
Fa-wasat na bihī jam'ā
“And charging into the midst of the enemy.”
٦
إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لِرَبِّهِ لَكَنُودٌ
Inna l-insāna li-rabbihī la-kanūd
“Indeed the human being is violently ungrateful to his Lord.”
“Does he not know that when the contents of the graves are scattered—”
٪
وَحُصِّلَ مَا فِيْ الصُّدُورِ
Wa-ḥuṣṣila mā fī l-ṣudūr
“And what is in the chests is brought forth—”
٫
إِنَّ رَبَّهُمْ بِهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَخَبِيرٌ
Inna rabbahum bihim yawma'idhin la-khabīr
“Indeed their Lord is fully aware of them on that Day.”
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Word by Word Complete Breakdown
الشرح كلمة بكلمة
#
Arabic
Transliteration
Meaning
Root
Type
1
وَالْعَادِيَاتِ
Wal-'ādiyāt
By the charging war horses (from 'adw = to run/charge)
ع د و
Active Participle Pl.
2
ضَبْحًا
ḍabḥā
Panting / Snorting (the sound of heavy breathing in a hard gallop)
ض ب ح
Verbal Noun (Hal)
3
فَالْمُورِيَاتِ
Fal-mūriyāt
And those who strike sparks (from awra = to kindle, produce fire)
و ر ي
Active Participle Pl.
4
قَدْحًا
Qadḥā
Producing fire / Striking to make sparks (hooves on stone)
ق د ح
Verbal Noun
5
فَالْمُغِيرَاتِ
Fal-mughīrāt
And those who raid / Make sudden attack (from ghāra = to raid, plunder)
غ ي ر
Active Participle Pl.
6
صُبْحًا
Ṣubḥā
At dawn / At daybreak (the most strategic and feared time for raids)
ص ب ح
Time Adverb
7
فَأَثَرْنَ
Fa-a tharna
So they stir up / They raise (dust)
ث و ر
Verb (past)
8
نَقْعًا
Naq'ā
Dust / A cloud of dust (raised by galloping hooves)
ن ق ع
Noun
9
فَوَسَطْنَ
Fa-wasat na
And they penetrate / They charge into the middle of
و س ط
Verb (past)
10
جَمْعًا
Jam'ā
A gathered group / The assembled enemy (penetrated into the midst)
ج م ع
Noun
11
إِنَّ
Inna
Indeed / Certainly (strong emphasis)
ا ن ن
Emphasis Particle
12
الْإِنسَانَ
l-insān
The human being / All of humanity (al = definite = all humans)
ا ن س
Noun (definite)
13
لِرَبِّهِ
li-rabbihī
To his Lord / Toward his Lord
ر ب ب
Prep + Noun + Pronoun
14
لَكَنُودٌ
la-kanūd
Is surely kanud — violently ungrateful, withholding, denying blessings
ك ن د
Adjective
15
لَشَهِيدٌ
la-shahīd
Is surely a witness (he himself testifies against himself)
ش ه د
Adjective
16
لِحُبِّ
li-ḥubb
For the love of / Out of love for
ح ب ب
Prep + Noun
17
الْخَيْرِ
l-khayr
Wealth / Good things / Material goods (khayr here = wealth)
خ ي ر
Noun (definite)
18
لَشَدِيدٌ
la-shadīd
Is surely intense / Extreme / Powerful (love of wealth is extreme)
ش د د
Adjective
19
بُعْثِرَ
bu'thira
Is scattered / Overturned / Brought out (the graves are turned upside down)
ب ع ث
Verb Passive
20
الْقُبُورِ
l-qubūr
The graves (plural of qabr)
ق ب ر
Noun Plural
21
حُصِّلَ
ḥuṣṣila
Is collected / Gathered out / Brought forth (everything hidden in the chest)
ح ص ل
Verb Passive
22
الصُّدُورِ
l-ṣudūr
The chests / The hearts (plural of ṣadr — what is hidden inside)
ص د ر
Noun Plural
23
لَخَبِيرٌ
la-khabīr
Is fully aware / Well-acquainted / Has complete knowledge of them
خ ب ر
Adjective of Allah
🐎
The Key Word: “Kanūd” — More Than Ungrateful
The Arabic word “kanūd” is stronger than simply “ungrateful.” It comes from a root meaning to withhold, to deny, to actively suppress acknowledgement of a blessing. A kanūd person knows they have been given blessings, but refuses to acknowledge the giver, refuses to be thankful, and even uses those blessings selfishly. It is not forgetfulness — it is deliberate ingratitude. This is why the next verse says he is a “shahid” — a witness against himself. He knows.
“By the charging ones panting — And those who strike sparks — And those who raid at dawn — Raising a dust cloud — And charging into the midst of the enemy.”
Five consecutive oaths paint a cinematic pre-dawn battle scene. Scene 1 — Ḍabḥ: the panting, snorting sound of horses in full gallop — breath coming fast and heavy. Scene 2 — Qadḥ: iron hooves strike flint stone, sparks fly — visible in the darkness before dawn. Scene 3 — Ṣubḥ: the raid strikes at dawn when the enemy is least ready — the most feared military tactic in Arabia. Scene 4 — Naq': the dust cloud billows up, announcing the charge. Scene 5 — Jam': the horses penetrate deep into the enemy formation. These five images build a sequence from breath → spark → timing → dust → impact. And then the answer to what all this swearing is for…
“Indeed the human being is violently ungrateful to his Lord — and he himself witnesses this — and his love of wealth is intense.”
The pivot comes in v.6 with a devastating contrast. After five verses of the loyal war horse — charging, giving everything, holding nothing back — now: the human is kanūd. Not just forgetful — actively withholding gratitude from the Lord who gives life, health, food, safety, and time. V.7: “La-shahīd” — he himself is a witness against himself. He KNOWS he has been given blessings. He KNOWS he is ungrateful. His own conscience testifies. V.8 reveals the reason: “li-ḥubbi l-khayr la-shadīd” — because his love of wealth/good things is intense. He is too busy loving the gifts to thank the Giver.
“Does he not know that when the contents of the graves are scattered — and what is in the chests is brought forth — that their Lord is fully aware of them on that Day?”
The Surah closes with a rhetorical question aimed directly at the kanūd person: “Aflā ya'lamu” — does he not KNOW? Two earth-shattering events: Bu'thira mā fī l-qubūr — the graves are overturned and their contents scattered. Death is not the end — the dead will emerge. Ḥuṣṣila mā fī l-ṣudūr — what is in the chests (hearts/minds) is brought forth and laid out. Every secret thought, every intention, every hidden deed. The person who was kanūd KNOWING he was ungrateful — that knowledge in his chest is now exposed. “La-khabīr” — Allah is fully, completely, intimately aware of ALL of it on that Day.
Double the letter fully. “IN-na”, “Rab-BIHĪ”, “Ḥus-ṢI-la”
—
Heavy Letters
تَفْخِيم
Ṣudūr (Ṣ heavy Sad), Ḥuṣṣila (ṣ heavy Sad)
Deep back resonance. “SṢU-dūr” not “su-dūr.”
—
Waqf
وَقْف
End of each verse; Khabīr at v.11
Drop final vowel/Tanween. Sukoon. Madd Aarid on final Khabīr.
—
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Pronunciation — Syllable by Syllable
النطق مقطعًا مقطعًا
🗣️ The 5 Oath Words — Verses 1–5
Each of the 5 oath-verbs ends in ā (Tanween Fath). The names all have long vowels: ādiyāt, mūriyāt, mughīrāt. Practice these patterns carefully.
الْعَادِيَاتِal-'ādiyāt2 long ās
ضَبْحًاḍabḥā-nfinal ā+Tanween
الْمُورِيَاتِal-mūriyātū + ā
قَدْحًاqadḥā-nā+Tanween
الْمُغِيرَاتِal-mughīrātī + ā
صُبْحًاṣubḥā-ndawn raid
🗣️ The Pivot Verse 6 & Closing Verse 11
Kanūd has Madd Asli on Waw (ū). Khabīr = Madd Aarid at Surah end on the Ya (ī).
إِنَّinna“IN-na” Shaddah
الْإِنسَانَl-insāna“al-in-SĀ-na”
لَكَنُودٌla-kanūd“la-ka-NŪD” ū2
الصُّدُورِl-ṣudūrheavy Sad ū2
لَخَبِيرٌla-khabīrMadd Aarid ī
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The 5 Oaths — The Dawn Charge Scene
الاقسام الخمسة
🐎 Five Consecutive Oaths — One Cinematic Sequence
Verses 1–5 build scene by scene from pre-dawn stillness to the heart of battle
v.1
وَالْعَادِيَاتِ ضَبْحًا
🐎 PANTING — The horses breathe hard in full gallop. Pre-dawn. The first sound.
v.2
فَالْمُورِيَاتِ قَدْحًا
⚡ SPARKS — Iron hooves strike flint stone. Sparks fly in the darkness. Visible light.
v.3
فَالْم)ُغِيرَاتِ صُبْحًا
🌜 DAWN RAID — Strike at daybreak when enemy is unprepared. The most feared tactic.
v.4
فَأَثَرْنَ بِهِ نَقْعًا
💨 DUST CLOUD — Hooves raise a great cloud of dust. The enemy sees the charge coming.
v.5
فَوَسَطْنَ بِهِ جَمْعًا
⚔️ CHARGE INTO THE MIDST — Horses penetrate the enemy line. Battle joined. Total commitment.
🐎
Why This Specific Sequence?
The five oaths trace a complete battle scene from sound (panting) → light (sparks) → timing (dawn) → visibility (dust) → impact (charge). Each sense is engaged. Each stage builds tension. And this is all sworn by to answer ONE verdict: “Inna l-insāna li-rabbihī la-kanūd.” The horse builds up to the conclusion with maximum dramatic force. The contrast then strikes: the horse holds nothing back — the human withholds everything.
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Kanūd — The Disease of Ingratitude
الكنود — جحود النعمة
🐎 What Makes Someone a Kanūd?
1
They enjoy the blessing but deny the Giver: Kanūd is not forgetting Allah — it is knowing He gave you something and choosing not to acknowledge it. The person who eats food, enjoys health, and lives in safety without saying Alhamdulillah — despite knowing these came from Allah — is kanūd.
2
They enumerate difficulties, forget blessings: The Prophet ﷺ said: “The kanūd is the one who, when afflicted, says: such and such happened to me — and when blessed, says: it was my own effort.” Ingratitude shows itself in how we talk about our life.
3
They are shahid against themselves: V.7 says “la-shahīd” — he himself testifies against himself. His own conscience knows he is ungrateful. This is the most chilling aspect: the kanūd cannot claim ignorance. He knows. He chooses ingratitude anyway.
4
Their intense love of wealth is the cause: V.8: “li-ḥubbi l-khayr la-shadīd.” The root of kanūd is the same as At-Takathur (L14) — obsessive love of worldly accumulation. When the heart is full of love for things, it has no room to be grateful for the Giver of those things. The treatment: redirect the love.
After every meal — to combat Kanūd: Recite v.6 after eating: “Inna l-insāna li-rabbihī la-kanūd.” Ask: am I being kanūd right now? Did I say Alhamdulillah? Did I acknowledge the Giver? The Surah is a daily mirror for gratitude.
📱
When success tempts you toward self-credit: When you receive a raise, close a deal, or achieve a goal — recite Al-Adiyat and remember: the horse that charged had its rider. You have your Lord. The effort was yours; the ability and opportunity were His.
📅
As a weekly audit of gratitude: At the end of each week, recite Al-Adiyat and list 5 blessings you received but may not have properly thanked Allah for. What was your inner conversation about those blessings? Were you a shahid against yourself?
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Memorize Al-Adiyat in 20 Minutes
احفظ سورة العاديات
1
The Structure: 5 Oaths → Verdict → Day of Judgement
Verses 1–5 = the five war horse oaths. Verses 6–8 = the verdict (kanūd + shahid + love of wealth). Verses 9–11 = the Day of Judgement (graves overturned, chests exposed, Allah aware). Three clear movements.
2
Verses 1–5: The Five Oaths
All five share the same pattern: “Wal/Fal + [noun] + [action in ā].” The ā ending rhyme makes them flow: ḍabḥā / Qadḥā / Ṣubḥā / Naq'ā / Jam'ā. Picture the five scenes: panting → sparks → dawn → dust → charge. Repeat the chain 15 times.
“Inna l-insāna li-rabbihī la-kanūd.” This is the heart of the Surah. Inna + insāna + li-rabbihī + la-kanūd. Shaddah on Inna and Rabbihī. Madd Asli on insāna (ā), rabbihī (ī), kanūd (ū). Repeat 15 times. This verse alone is worth memorizing as a daily reminder.
⏱️ Total: 20 minutes. The ā rhyme of v.1–5 and the īd rhyme of v.6–8 make this Surah very musical and memorable.
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Kids Corner 🐎
ركن الأطفال
🐎 For Children — The Brave Horse & the Ungrateful Human!
Parents and teachers — these ideas work for ages 5–12
🐎
The Loyal Horse Story: “Imagine a brave horse that charges into battle for its rider — panting hard, sparks flying from its hooves, dust rising behind it. The horse gives EVERYTHING for its rider. It never holds back, never complains, never asks for a reward. Allah swears by this horse — and then says: the HUMAN is not like this horse toward Allah. Even though Allah gave you life, food, health, parents, everything — do you give Allah everything back? Or do you forget to say thank you?”
🙏
The Kanūd Test: Ask children: “If someone gives you a gift and you don't say thank you — even though you enjoyed the gift — is that nice? Allah gives us gifts EVERY SINGLE DAY. Surah Al-Adiyat says the human who doesn't thank Allah is called 'kanūd.' How can we make sure we are NOT kanūd? (Answer: say Alhamdulillah! Every day, for everything.)”
⚡
The 5 Scenes Activity: Act out all five horse scenes together! 1. Breathe hard (panting). 2. Strike hands together (sparks). 3. Tiptoe like dawn raiders. 4. Wave arms like dust. 5. Charge forward! Then say: “Now that was the HORSE being brave. What does Allah want us to be brave about? Being grateful, being honest, praying even when tired — that is our charge!”
👀
The Chest Secret (ages 10+): “Verse 10 says: on the Day of Judgement, everything in the CHEST (heart) will be brought out. That means every thought, every intention, every feeling you had — even when you were alone. How does knowing that change how you think? What do you want to be in your chest when that Day comes?”
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Test Yourself — Interactive Quiz
اختبر نفسك
🧠 Surah Al-Adiyat — Knowledge Check
5 questions — tap the correct answer!
1. What are the five actions described in the oaths of verses 1–5, and what do they build toward?
2. What does “kanūd” mean — and how is it stronger than simply “ungrateful”?
3. Verse 7 says the human is “la-shahīd” — a witness. What does this mean?
4. What two events does the Surah describe happening on the Day of Judgement (verses 9–10)?
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Share This Lesson — Hashtags
شارك هذا الدرس
📢 Share & Tag — Reach More Learners
Copy these hashtags when sharing on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, or WhatsApp
The Great Earthquake — 8 verses about the earth shaking to its core, speaking its news, and every soul seeing even an atom's weight of good or evil. Coming soon at bilquranic.blogspot.com!
📤 Share the Loyal Horse & the Grateful Heart
Help someone be grateful before the Day comes — share this lesson today!
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