Makkah LiveSurah Al-‘Adiyat (The Charging Steeds) — Full Text in Clear Arabic Script
11 ayahs · Meccan· Hafs ‘an ‘Asim · reading time ~1 minute · the twenty-third surah of Juz ‘Amma
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By Saad Al-Ghamdi
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
About Surah Al-‘Adiyat
Surah Al-‘Adiyat is the 100th surah in the order of the mushaf, and one of the Meccan surahs — revealed to the Prophet ﷺ before the migration to Madinah. It contains 11 ayahs, and it is the twenty-third surah of Juz ‘Amma, the final part of the Quran that most Muslims begin their memorisation with.
The surah opens with a dramatic oath — «wal-‘adiyati dabha» (“by the war-horses charging, panting”) — one of the most vivid openings in the Quran. Five swift strokes paint the scene of a raid: horses charging with panting breath, striking sparks with their hooves, raiding at dawn, stirring up clouds of dust, and penetrating into the midst of the enemy. From that scene the surah turns inward, describing man as ungrateful to his Lord and intense in his love of wealth, before closing with a reminder that the graves will be overturned, what lies within the breasts will be brought out, and their Lord, that Day, is fully acquainted with them.
The text shown on this page is the narration of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim, the reading used in most of the Muslim world, in the Uthmani script that follows the Madinah mushaf. The audio recitation is by Sheikh Saad Al-Ghamdi.
Virtues and place of Surah Al-‘Adiyat
1. Among the Quran’s most dramatic openings
The surah opens with five swift strokes that paint the war-horses of a raid at full charge — panting, striking sparks, raiding at dawn, raising dust, and driving into the enemy’s midst. Few passages in the Quran build a scene so vividly in so few words.
2. A mirror held up to man’s ingratitude
After the oath, the surah turns the mirror on man himself: ungrateful to his Lord, and intense in his love of wealth. It is a short, piercing reminder that calls the reader to examine their own gratitude and attachment to worldly things.
3. A reminder that hidden motives will be brought out
The surah closes with the graves overturned and what is within the breasts disclosed — a reminder that what people conceal in their hearts does not remain hidden forever, for their Lord is fully acquainted with them that Day.
Themes of the Surah
1. The Oath by the Charging Steeds (ayahs 1–5)
An oath by the war-horses of a raid — charging with panting breath, striking sparks with their hooves, raiding at dawn, stirring up clouds of dust, and penetrating into the midst of the enemy.
Read from ayah 1 →2. Man’s Ingratitude (ayahs 6–8)
Man is described as ungrateful to his Lord — and he himself is witness to that — and he is intense in his love of wealth.
Read from ayah 6 →3. When the Graves Are Overturned (ayahs 9–11)
Does he not know that when the contents of the graves are scattered and what is within the breasts is obtained, their Lord, that Day, is fully acquainted with them?
Read from ayah 9 →Tips for reading and memorising
- With only 11 ayahs, Surah Al-‘Adiyat can usually be memorised in a sitting or two.
- Read the three sections in order — the oath, then man’s ingratitude, then the graves — to follow how the surah builds its argument.
- Listen to the recitation above by Sheikh Saad Al-Ghamdi and repeat after him.
- Reflect on your own gratitude and attachment to wealth as you read ayahs 6–8.
- Use the “font size” buttons at the top of the page for a comfortable read.
- You can print the surah from your browser (Ctrl+P) for a clean paper copy.
Frequently asked questions
How many ayahs are in Surah Al-‘Adiyat?
Surah Al-‘Adiyat has 11 ayahs. It is the 100th surah in the order of the mushaf, and it is a Meccan surah.
Why is it called Surah Al-‘Adiyat?
It is called Surah Al-‘Adiyat (“The Charging Steeds”) after the opening oath «wal-‘adiyati dabha» — “by the war-horses charging, panting” — the vivid image with which the surah begins.
What is Surah Al-‘Adiyat about?
It opens with a dramatic five-part oath by the war-horses of a raid — charging, striking sparks with their hooves, raiding at dawn, stirring up dust, and penetrating into the midst of the enemy. It then turns to man’s ingratitude and love of wealth, and closes with a reminder that the graves will be overturned and hidden thoughts disclosed before a Lord who is fully acquainted with them.
What does «kanud» mean in ayah 6?
The commentators explain «kanud» as one who is ungrateful — someone who counts their misfortunes but forgets their blessings. Ayah 6 describes man in this state before his Lord.
What does “that within the breasts is obtained” (ayah 10) mean?
It refers to what is hidden within people’s hearts — their intentions, beliefs, and secret thoughts — being brought out, disclosed, and made known on the Day the graves are overturned.
What position does Surah Al-‘Adiyat hold in Juz ‘Amma?
Surah Al-‘Adiyat is the twenty-third surah of Juz ‘Amma — the 30th and final juz of the Quran, and the part most Muslims begin their memorisation with.
How long does it take to read the full surah?
A complete recitation of Surah Al-‘Adiyat takes about 1 minute. With only 11 short ayahs, it is one of the quickest surahs to read from start to finish.
Which recitation is the text on this page based on?
The text shown on this page is the narration of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim — the most widely used reading in the Muslim world — written in the Uthmani script that follows the Madinah mushaf. The audio recitation on this page is by Sheikh Saad Al-Ghamdi.
How can I memorise Surah Al-‘Adiyat easily?
Because it is so short, Surah Al-‘Adiyat can usually be memorised in a sitting or two. Listen to the recitation above repeatedly, recite it back from memory, and review it in your prayers to fix it firmly.
More surahs to read
- Surah Al-Fatihah — full text — Mother of the Book — recited in every rakah of every prayer
- Surah Al-Kahf — full text — recommended to read on Fridays
- Surah As-Sajdah — full text — recited in the Fajr prayer on Fridays and every night before sleep
- Surah Yasin — full text — the Heart of the Quran
- Surah Ar-Rahman — full text — the Bride of the Quran
- Surah Al-Waqi‘ah — full text — the terrors of the Day of Judgment and the three groups of people
- Surah Al-Mulk — full text — recommended every night before sleep
- Surah Al-Insan — full text — recited with As-Sajdah in the Fajr prayer on Fridays
- Surah An-Naba — full text — the first surah of Juz ‘Amma — a powerful proof of the Resurrection
- Surah An-Nazi‘at — full text — the angels who pull out souls, the story of Musa and Pharaoh, and the Great Calamity
- Surah ‘Abasa — full text — the blind man who came seeking, and the Day a man flees from his own brother
- Surah At-Takwir — full text — “when the sun is wrapped up” — as if witnessing the Day of Resurrection
- Surah Al-Infitar — full text — “O man, what has deceived you concerning your Generous Lord?”
- Surah Al-Mutaffifin — full text — woe to those who give short measure — honesty as a matter of faith
- Surah Al-Inshiqaq — full text — contains a verse of prostration — “you will surely ride stage upon stage”
- Surah Al-Buruj — full text — the People of the Ditch — steadfastness of the believers tested by fire
- Surah At-Tariq — full text — the piercing star — every soul has a keeper over it
- Surah Al-A‘la — full text — recited in the Eid and Friday prayers — “glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High”
- Surah Al-Ghashiyah — full text — recited with Al-A‘la in the Eid and Friday prayers — the two kinds of faces on the Last Day
- Surah Al-Fajr — full text — “O reassured soul, return to your Lord well-pleased”
- Surah Al-Balad — full text — the steep path — freeing the enslaved and feeding the hungry
- Surah Ash-Shams — full text — “he has succeeded who purifies the soul”
- Surah Al-Layl — full text — your striving is diverse — the path of ease and the path of hardship
- Surah Ad-Duha — full text — consolation after the pause in revelation — “your Lord has not forsaken you”
- Surah Ash-Sharh — full text — “indeed, with hardship comes ease” — the companion of Ad-Duha
- Surah At-Tin — full text — man created in the best of stature — “is not Allah the most just of judges?”
- Surah Al-‘Alaq — full text — the first revelation — “Read in the name of your Lord” — contains a verse of prostration
- Surah Al-Qadr — full text — Laylat al-Qadr — the Night of Decree, better than a thousand months
- Surah Al-Bayyinah — full text — the clear evidence — the best of creation and their reward
- Surah Az-Zalzalah — full text — “whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it”
- Surah Al-Qari‘ah — full text — the Striking Calamity — the day the scales are set
- Surah At-Takathur — full text — rivalry in worldly increase — “until you visit the graves”
- Surah Al-‘Asr — full text — by time, man is in loss — the surah ash-Shafi‘i said would suffice the people
Selected verses
- Ayat al-Kursi — the greatest verse of the Holy Quran
- Khawatim Surah Al-Baqarah — “whoever recites them at night, they will suffice him”
- Allah does not burden a soul — the closing verse of Surah Al-Baqarah
Listen and watch
- Saudi Quran Radio — listen to recitations of the Holy Quran
- Live broadcast of Masjid al-Haram