Revealed in Makkah, Surah Al-'Adiyat (The Courser) opens with a vivid, rhythmic oath swearing by charging war-horses panting and striking sparks of fire to grab human attention. It uses this imagery of horses loyal to their masters to expose the deep ingratitude of humans to their Creator, their intense love of wealth, and warns of the secrets of hearts being exposed.
Transliteration
WaalAAadiyati dabhan
Translation
By the racers panting
God swears an oath by swift war steeds sprinting at full gallop with heavy, audible panting breaths.
Transliteration
Faalmooriyati qadhan
Translation
Igniting sparks
God swears by the horses' iron hooves striking against flint and granite stones, igniting sparks in the predawn darkness.
Transliteration
Faalmugheerati subhan
Translation
Raiding at dawn
God swears by the dawn cavalry charge, launching surprise maneuvers before sunrise.
Transliteration
Faatharna bihi naqAAan
Translation
Raising clouds of dust
God swears by the dense plumes of dust kicked up into the morning air by the thundering hooves.
Transliteration
Fawasatna bihi jamAAan
Translation
Storming into the midst
God swears by the brave riders storming boldly into the heart of the enemy lines to defend justice.
Transliteration
Inna alinsana lirabbihi lakanoodun
Translation
Indeed, the human being is ungrateful to his Lord
A sobering psychological diagnosis: 'Indeed, man is ungrateful to his Lord' ('Inna al-insana li-Rabbihi la-kanud')—dwelling constantly on life's difficulties and setbacks while forgetting thousands of uncounted daily blessings.
Transliteration
Wainnahu AAala thalika lashaheedun
Translation
And he bears witness to that
Transliteration
Wainnahu lihubbi alkhayri lashadeedun
Translation
And he is fierce in his love of wealth
Exposes the intense, consuming human obsession with accumulating material wealth and financial security ('Wa-innahu li-hubbi al-khayri la-shadid').
Transliteration
Afala yaAAlamu itha buAAthira ma fee alquboori
Translation
Does he not know? When the contents of the graves are scattered around
Transliteration
Wahussila ma fee alssudoori
Translation
And the contents of the hearts are obtained
Reminds humanity of the Day when all buried corpses are raised from graves, and all hidden intentions and secret motives locked within human chests are laid completely bare ('Hussila ma fi as-sudur').
Transliteration
Inna rabbahum bihim yawmaithin lakhabeerun
Translation
Their Lord, on that Day, is fully informed of them