Surah al-Adiyat is one of the great surahs of the Mufassal that carries many meanings and lessons that need contemplation and reflection. Surah al-Adiyat is considered Meccan according to the sayings of many interpreters, although some scholars believe that it is Medinan. The number of its verses is 11 verses and it was revealed after Surah al-Asr at the beginning of the revelation and the migration of Muslims to Abyssinia. It is ranked 100 in the Qur’an and comes after Surah al-Zalzalah. In this article, Sheikh Saleh Academy presents the meaning of surah al adiyat, the reasons for the revelation of the surah, and its most important features.
What does “”Al-Adiyat”” mean?
If you are wondering about the meaning of surah al adiyat, al-Adiyat is the name of one of the horses used by the Mujahideen in war. Horses had a great position among the Arabs due to their characteristics of courage, strength, and loyalty. Allah swore in Surah al-Adiyat by horses as they run on the battlefield, their breathing increases, their voice rises, they strike the ground with their hooves, and they produce fire from its friction with the stone due to its great speed.
It also attacks the enemy early in the morning, raises dust around it and storms the enemy ranks. In this oath, the importance of horses is magnified and that they are ready to sacrifice themselves on the battlefield in loyalty to the human being who provided them with food, unlike the human being who denies the many blessings of his Lord that are countless. This is the meaning of Surah Al-Adiyat in some detail.
Date and Reasons for the Revelation of Surah Al-Adiyat
After learning the meaning of Surah Al-Adiyat, it is important to know that the surah was revealed because the Prophet sent a secret mission led by Amr bin Al-Mundhir Al-Ansari. The army was delayed for a long time from their scheduled arrival in Mecca, so the hypocrites began to spread rumors and lies, and they said that the fighters died on the battlefield. Therefore, Allah revealed Surah Al-Adiyat which contains an indication that the Muslims’ horses will return to Mecca.
وَٱلۡعَٰدِيَٰتِ ضَبۡحٗا (1) فَٱلۡمُورِيَٰتِ قَدۡحٗا (2) فَٱلۡمُغِيرَٰتِ صُبۡحٗا (3) فَأَثَرۡنَ بِهِۦ نَقۡعٗا (4) فَوَسَطۡنَ بِهِۦ جَمۡعًا (5)
Wa al-‘aadiyaati dhabhan, fa al-muuriyaati qadhan, fa al-mughiyaati subhan, fa-atharna bihi naq’an, fa-wasatna bihi jam’an
By the charging horses breathing heavily, by the horses that strike sparks with their hooves, by the horses that attack at dawn, raising dust in their wake, charging into the middle of a group
Meanings of Surah Al-Adiyat
It is important to contemplate the meaning of Surah Al-Adiyat so that we can apply it in our daily lives, and so that our connection with Allah SWT increases. It is also necessary to understand the benefits of Surah Al-Fatiha because it is the best Surah in the Quran and is repeated in every Raka’ah in prayer. Surah Al-Adiyat contains many great lessons and meanings, as is evident in the following:
1- Emphasizing the Greatness of Allah
The greatness of Allah SWT appears in Surah Al-Adiyat through contemplating His creations, including horses, what they carry of attributes of beauty and greatness and that He has subjugated them to serve man. Also, the blessings that man lives in day and night, starting with the land he walks on, the air he breathes, His creation in the best form and other blessings that we cannot count. This matter is repeated in several Surahs in the Quran and is one of the most important benefits of Surah Tin, and all of this is from the greatness and power of Allah.
وَإِن تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Wa in ta‘uddoo ni‘mata Allahi laa tuhsuhaa; innal laaha Ghafoorur Raheem
“And if you count the blessings of Allah, you will not be able to enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
In addition to that He has mercy on us, forgives our sins and shortcomings, and knows what we hide in our souls, He is also able to revive the dead, as he will raise them from their graves, because he is the Owner of the Day of Judgment. Every person will be held accountable for his deeds. In this thing, there is glorification of Allah SWT that he is capable of everything. This explains the meaning of Surah Al-Adiyat and its great benefits.
2- Describing Human Characteristics
إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لِرَبِّهِ لَكَنُودٌ
Inna al-insāna lirabbihi lakanūd
“Indeed, man is ungrateful to his Lord.”
This verse explains that man is ungrateful, meaning he remembers the affliction and forgets the blessings of Allah SWT, so he is unjust, ungrateful and denies the blessings of Allah. This characteristic is found instinctively in humans, as within man there is piety and immorality.
Every person has a choice as to whether to purify this soul or leave it to its misguidance. If a person wants to purify his soul, he must increase the hidden good deeds such as praying at night and reading the Qur’an. This is one of the most important benefits of Surah Al-Muzzammil.
وَإِنَّهُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ لَشَهِيدٌ
Wa innahu ‘ala dhaalika la-shaheed
“And indeed, he is a witness to that.”
The verse explains that man is a witness to this, whether in his heart or through his actions, and Allah SWT is a witness to it.
وَإِنَّهُ لَحُبِّ الْخَيْرِ لَشَدِيدٌ
Wa innahu laḥubbi al-khayri lashaadeed
“And indeed, he is extremely fond of wealth.”
This verse shows the extent of man’s love for the world and money in particular, and his extreme stinginess and fear of spending. This shows the meaning of Surah Al-Adiyat and its importance in understanding the nature of the human soul.
3- Warning about the Horrors of the Day of Judgment
Surah Al-Adiyat shows the horrors of the Day of Judgment through the fact that Allah will resurrect those in the graves and will hold man accountable for every small and big thing he has committed. It also explains that whatever man has done, even the weight of an atom, he will see before his eyes, whether it was good or bad, because Allah is All-Knowing and knows the outward and inward aspects of things. Man must avoid offending others or hurting their feelings through backbiting and insinuations because they will take revenge on him on the Day of Judgment.
This shows why was surah al-humazah revealed? Allah will also hold every person accountable for his work, and this is the meaning and importance of Surah Al-Adiyat.
أَفَلَا يَعۡلَمُ إِذَا بُعۡثِرَ مَا فِي ٱلۡقُبُورِ (9) وَحُصِّلَ مَا فِي ٱلصُّدُورِ (10) إِنَّ رَبَّهُم بِهِمۡ يَوۡمَئِذٖ لَّخَبِيرُۢ (11)
afa la ya’lamu idha bu’ith ma fi al-quboor, wa husila ma fi al-sudoor, inna rabbahum bihim yawma idhin la-khabir.
Do they not know when what is in the graves is resurrected and what is in the hearts is revealed? Surely, their Lord knows about them on that Day.”
The Message Behind Surah Al-Adiyat
Surah Al-Adiyat carries many important purposes and messages, including the necessity of working for the Hereafter because nothing is hidden from Allah and so that a person does not regret wasting his life and time on something that is of no benefit because his time is the most valuable thing he owns. It explains the necessity of thanking Allah SWT for His blessings and being concerned with spending money on the poor and needy and not just being concerned with collecting money.
Many Muslims may wonder about Which Surah to Recite in Duha Prayer? There is no preference for a specific Surah to recite at this time, and you can diversify between the Surahs to achieve the maximum benefit.
Can reciting Surah Al-Adiyat have any specific benefits?
A Muslim receives a lot of reward and reward for every letter he recites from the Quran because every letter of the Quran is a good deed and a good deed is ten times its like. Surah Al-Adiyat also makes a person understand his qualities and natures and become more aware of himself so that he can change it for the better.
Therefore, every Muslim must be keen to contemplate the Quran by learning the meanings of the verses and the lessons they contain. It is preferable to start with the short surahs, such as learning about surah quraish benefits and benefits of surah al qadr and other surahs.
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: “مَن قَرَأَ سُورَةَ وَٱلۡعَادِيَٰتِ أُعْطِيَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَجۡرِ عَشۡرَ حَسَنَاتٍ بِعَدَدِ مَن بَاتَ بِٱلۡمُزۡدَلِفَةِ وَشَهِدَ جَمۡعًا.”
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: “Whoever recites Surah [Al-‘Adiyat] will be given the reward of ten good deeds for each person who spent the night at Muzdalifah and witnessed the gathering at Jam‘.”
What can be learned from the verses of Surah Al-Adiyat?
We benefit from the verses of Surah Al-Adiyat to improve our worship of Allah SWT, for He is the One who has bestowed upon us all the blessings we see, in addition to knowing the virtue of jihad in the way of Allah. Allah SWT swears by horses and their speed on the battlefield, and this shows what the mujahideen do in the way of Allah, as they sacrifice their lives for the sake of Allah’s pleasure and entry into Paradise.
In this surah, there is an incentive for people to increase good deeds and be patient in the face of adversity, because this is what will benefit people on the Day of Resurrection, the day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit.
The Importance of Parents in the Quran is that they have a major and pivotal role in teaching children the Quran so that they can be raised well. Some fun methods can be used in education, such as using some interesting methods such as Discover Fun Facts About the Quran for Kids.
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