وَٱلْعَـٰدِيَـٰتِ ضَبْحًا 1
Translations
By the racers, panting,
Transliteration
Wa-al-'ādiyāti dabḥā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah begins Surah Al-'Adiyat with an oath by the horses that gallop panting and snorting in battle or pursuit. The word 'ādiyāt refers to swift-running horses, and dabḥ describes their heavy breathing and snorting sounds as they run. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that Allah swears by these horses as a sign of His creative power and mastery over creation, introducing a surah focused on human ingratitude and the certainty of the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
This Meccan surah was revealed during the early Meccan period and serves as a powerful reminder to the polytheists of Mecca about accountability on the Day of Judgment. The surah begins with vivid oaths about horses and natural phenomena, then transitions to condemning human greed and denial of the afterlife—themes central to early Meccan preaching.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly explains this specific oath, Surah Al-'Adiyat's theme of accountability connects to the hadith: 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent' (Sahih Bukhari 6018), emphasizing the moral accountability highlighted throughout the surah.
Themes
Key Lesson
The surah opens by drawing our attention to the remarkable creation of horses—creatures of strength and endurance—to remind us that the same God who designed such magnificent beings certainly has power over human affairs and will bring all to account. This teaches us to reflect on Allah's creation as evidence of His absolute authority and justice.