فَأَثَرْنَ بِهِۦ نَقْعًا 4
Translations
Stirring up thereby [clouds of] dust,
Transliteration
Fa-atharna bihi naq'an
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the horses, when ridden by their masters, raise clouds of dust as they gallop swiftly. The word 'naq'a' (نَقْعًا) refers to the dust or smoke that rises from their hooves striking the ground. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as part of Allah's oath regarding the horses' capabilities and speed, setting the stage for the surah's reflection on human gratitude and denial of divine blessings.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-'Adiyat is a Meccan surah that begins with an oath by Allah regarding horses running at night with sparks flying from their hooves. This ayah continues that vivid imagery, describing the natural consequence of their vigorous movement. The surah uses these powerful visual descriptions to redirect human attention toward accountability before Allah and the importance of gratitude.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly references this ayah, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest blessing after women is horses' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1956), reflecting the importance horses held in Islamic tradition as noble animals worthy of mention in divine speech.
Themes
Key Lesson
Just as horses fulfill their nature by running swiftly and powerfully, humans should fulfill their purpose by being grateful to Allah and maintaining righteousness—our actions and their consequences are visible signs of our accountability.