INTRODUCTION:
The Sura has been so entitled after the word al adiyat with which it opens.
Whether it is a Makki or a Madani Surah is disputed. Hadrat Abdullah bin Masud, Jabir, Hasan Basri, Ikrimah, and Ata say that it is Makki. Hadrat Anas bin Malik, and Qatadah say that it is Madani; and from Hadrat Ibn Abbas two views have been reported, first that it is a Makki Surah, and second that it is Madani. But the subject matter of the Surah and its style clearly indicate that it is no only Makki but was revealed in the earliest stage of Makkah.
Its object is to make the people realize how evil man becomes when he denies the Hereafter, or becomes heedless of it, and also to warn them that in the Hereafter not only their visible and apparent deeds but even the secrets hidden in their hearts too will be subjected to scrutiny.
For this purpose the general chaos and confusion prevailing in Arabia, with which the whole country was in turmoil, has been presented as an argument. Bloodshed, loot and plunder raged on every side. Tribes were subjecting tribes to raids, and no one could have peaceful sleep at night from fear that some enemy tribe might raid his settlement early in the morning. Every Arab was fully conscious of this state of affairs and realized that it was wrong. Although the plundered bemoaned his miserable, helpless state and the plunderer rejoiced, yet when the plunderer himself was plundered, he too realized how abject was the condition in which the whole nation was involved. Referring to this very state of affairs, it has been said: Unaware of the second life after death and his accountability before God in it, man has become ungrateful to his Lord and Sustainer. He is using the powers and abilities given by God for perpetrating tyranny and pillage; blinded by the love of worldly wealth he tries to obtain it by every means, however impure and filthy, and his own state itself testifies that by abusing the powers bestowed by his Lord he is being ungrateful to Him. He would never have behaved so, had he known the time when the dead will be raised from the graves, and when the intentions and motives with which he had done all sorts of deeds in the world, will be exposed and brought out before everyone to see. At that time the Lord and Sustainer of men shall be well informed of what one had done and what punishment or reward one deserved.
Maududi
THE HOLY QUR'AAN
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
100 : 1
1. WaalAAadiyati dabhan
By the snorting coursers -
100 : 2
2. Faalmooriyati qadhan
Striking fiery sparks with their hooves -
100 : 3
3. Faalmugheerati subhan
On way to the foray at dawn -
100 : 4
4. Faatharna bihi naqAAan
Then raising a cloud of dust -
100 : 5
5. Fawasatna bihi jamAAan
Crash through the enemy ranks!
100 : 6
6. Inna al-insana lirabbihi lakanoodun
Verily man is ever ungrateful to his Lord!
100 : 7
7. Wa-innahu AAala thalika lashaheedun
And verily he himself bears witness to this!
100 : 8
8. Wa-innahu lihubbi alkhayri lashadeedun
And verily when it comes to acquiring wealth, he is ever so strong!
100 : 9
9. Afala yaAAlamu itha buAAthira ma fee alquboori
Knows he not that when the contents of the graves are evacuated -
100 : 10
10. Wahussila ma fee alssudoori
And the secrets of the hearts are exposed -
100 : 11
11. Inna rabbahum bihim yawma-ithin lakhabeerun
Verily on that Day their Lord will be aware of everything about them! (R)
1. By the (steeds) that run, with panting (breath),
2. Striking sparks of fire (by their hooves),
3. And scouring to the raid at dawn
4. And raise the dust in clouds the while,
5. Penetrating forthwith as one into the midst (of the foe);
6. Verily! Man (disbeliever) is ungrateful to his Lord;
7. And to that fact he bears witness (by his deeds);
8. And verily, he is violent in the love of wealth.
9. Knows he not that when the contents of the graves are brought out and poured forth (all mankind is resurrected).
10. And that which is in the breasts (of men) shall be made known.
11. Verily, that Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) their Lord will be Well-Acquainted with them (as to their deeds), (and will reward them for their deeds).
100.001
YUSUFALI: By the
(Steeds) that run, with panting (breath),
PICKTHAL: By the
snorting courses,
SHAKIR: I swear by the
runners breathing pantingly,
100.002
YUSUFALI: And strike
sparks of fire,
PICKTHAL: Striking
sparks of fire
SHAKIR: Then those
that produce fire striking,
100.003
YUSUFALI: And push
home the charge in the morning,
PICKTHAL: And scouring
to the raid at dawn,
SHAKIR: Then those
that make raids at morn,
100.004
YUSUFALI: And raise
the dust in clouds the while,
PICKTHAL: Then,
therewith, with their trail of dust,
SHAKIR: Then thereby
raise dust,
100.005
YUSUFALI: And
penetrate forthwith into the midst (of the foe) en masse;-
PICKTHAL: Cleaving, as
one, the centre (of the foe),
SHAKIR: Then rush
thereby upon an assembly:
100.006
YUSUFALI: Truly man
is, to his Lord, ungrateful;
PICKTHAL: Lo! man is
an ingrate unto his Lord
SHAKIR: Most surely
man is ungrateful to his Lord.
100.007
YUSUFALI: And to that
(fact) he bears witness (by his deeds);
PICKTHAL: And lo! he
is a witness unto that;
SHAKIR: And most
surely he is a witness of that.
100.008
YUSUFALI: And violent
is he in his love of wealth.
PICKTHAL: And lo! in
the love of wealth he is violent.
SHAKIR: And most
surely he is tenacious in the love of wealth.
100.009
YUSUFALI: Does he not
know,- when that which is in the graves is scattered abroad
PICKTHAL: Knoweth he
not that, when the contents of the graves are poured forth
SHAKIR: Does he not
then know when what is in the graves is raised,
100.010
YUSUFALI: And that
which is (locked up) in (human) breasts is made manifest-
PICKTHAL: And the
secrets of the breasts are made known,
SHAKIR: And what is in
the breasts is made apparent?
100.011
YUSUFALI: That their
Lord had been Well-acquainted with them, (even to) that Day?
PICKTHAL: On that day
will their Lord be perfectly informed concerning them.
SHAKIR: Most surely
their Lord that day shall be fully aware of them.