270

CHAPTER C.

ENTITLED SURAT AL ADIYAT (THE WAR-HORSES WHICH RUN SWIFTLY).

Revealed at Makkah.

INTRODUCTION.

SOME Muslim writers, imagining that the first verses of this chapter refer to the camels employed by Muhammad in warfare, have erroneously classified it as Madinic.

The purport of the revelations is that God will certainly bring to light the secret thoughts of covetous and worldly men.

Probable Date of the Revelations.

On this subject nothing more can be said than that this chapter belongs to an early period of the ministry of Muhammad at Makkah.

Principal Subjects.

Oaths that man is ungrateful to his God ... 1-6
Man loves the things of this world ... 7, 8
Man's secret thoughts shall be discovered in the judgment-day . ..9-11

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

R 1/26.

(1) By the war-horses which run swiftly to the battle, with a panting noise; (2) and by those which strike fire,

(1-5) "Some will have it that not horse but the camels which went to the battle of Badr, are meant in this passage. Others in-


271

by dashing their hoofs against the stones; (3) and by those which make a sudden incursion on the enemy early in the morning, (4) and therein raise the dust, (5) and therein pass through the midst of the adverse troops: (6) verily man is ungrateful unto his LORD; (7) and he is witness thereof; (8) and he is immoderate in the love of worldly good. (9) Doth he not know, therefore, when that which is in the graves shall be taken forth, (10) and that which is in men's breasts shall be brought to light, (11) that their LORD will, on that day, be fully informed concerning them?

terpret all the parts of the oath of the human soul; but their explications seem a little forced, and therefore I choose to omit them."— Sale, Yahya, Baidhawi.


Table of Contents
Answering Islam Home Page