Dr. Humayer Chowdhury-Sydney.: The words of Almighty Allah in the Quran represent eternal beauty, knowledge, and guidance. Every verse touches the heart like a spiritual dialogue between the Creator and His creation. Allah’s words are perfect, eternally true, and completely trustworthy. What He says is exactly as it is.
These words are not merely commands; they are sources of mercy, comfort, and hope. In times of sorrow or despair, Allah’s message strengthens the believer. As the Quran says: “Whoever calls upon Me, I respond to him.” (2:186)
The Quran shapes both the moral and spiritual life of human beings. Its guidance understands human nature and addresses the realities of life. Its language carries deep beauty and meaning, leading believers toward peace, devotion, and self-discipline.
Why does Surah Al-Adiyath begin with horses?
In Surah Al-Adiyath, Allah begins with an oath:
“By the horses that run with panting breath.”
The Quran often begins chapters with oaths by different creations: the sun, the sky, the stars, time, the night, the dawn, and the angels. But here, Allah begins with war horses.
The verses describe powerful horses whose hooves strike sparks, who charge at dawn, raise clouds of dust, and storm into enemy lines without hesitation.
Then suddenly comes a powerful statement:
“Indeed, mankind is ungrateful to his Lord.”
Why this sudden shift from horses to human ingratitude?
The deeper realization
A war horse runs through danger for its master. It becomes tired, frightened, and wounded, yet it does not retreat. It does not even understand why the battle is happening—yet it remains loyal.
Then Allah presents the contrast: humans, despite their intelligence and blessings, are ungrateful to their Lord.
The Quran uses the word “kanud,” meaning someone who ignores blessings, complains constantly, forgets the One who gave everything, and claims achievements as his own. Humans remember their hardships but forget their blessings.
The most striking verse
The Quran then says:
“And indeed, he himself is a witness to that.”
This is profound. Allah is not merely accusing humanity. Instead, He says that humans themselves are witnesses against their own ingratitude.
Every person knows deep inside who provides their sustenance, where they will return, and which actions are right or wrong. Humans do not lose their way because of ignorance—they lose their way because they betray their own inner knowledge.
The Quran reveals a powerful truth: within every person there are two selves.
The acting self – the part that desires, runs, and makes mistakes.
The witnessing self – the silent inner voice that knows when something is wrong.
After committing a wrong act, a quiet voice inside says, “This was not right.” That voice is the witness.
Judgment, therefore, does not begin only in the future. In a sense, it has already begun. Every day people gather evidence against themselves through their choices.
A person may deceive society, deny truth, or rewrite history—but no one can erase the knowledge within their own heart.
The root problem
The Quran then reveals the deeper cause:
“Indeed, he is intensely attached to the love of wealth.”
Here, the Quran describes not just love for wealth but intense attachment—a powerful obsession. Wealth, success, recognition, influence, and worldly achievements slowly take the place that should belong to Allah.
Humans do not always reject their Creator directly. Instead, they replace Him with something else.
The heart cannot hold two dominant loves at the same time. The stronger one eventually controls the person.
The logical flow of the Surah Al-Adiyath:
The horse runs loyally for its master.
Humans are ungrateful to their Lord.
Humans know they are ungrateful.
The reason is their attachment to worldly things.
Humans forget their Lord because their hearts are already occupied.
The final awakening
The Surah then describes the Day of Judgment:
“When the contents of the graves are overturned, and what is in the hearts is brought out.”
The word used here means not just resurrection but complete exposure. Hidden histories will be revealed. The deepest intentions of the heart will be brought forward.
Actions that appeared good but were driven by pride or hypocrisy will be separated and exposed.
The human heart is like an archive. Even if people think they have forgotten their past, their inner self remembers the true intentions behind every action.
On the Day of Judgment, nothing new will be added—what already exists inside will simply be revealed.
The final message
The Surah ends by saying:
“Indeed, their Lord is fully aware of them on that Day.”
Allah knows not only our actions but our intentions, emotions, fears, hopes, and desires. Nothing inside the human heart is hidden from Him.
A horse receives very little from its master—perhaps only some grass or grains—yet it obeys with complete loyalty. Humans, however, have been given countless blessings, intelligence, and freedom of thought.
Yet many still run after everything in the world while forgetting the One who gave them everything.
The real problem is not that humans run.
The problem is what they run for.
A horse does not understand its purpose, yet it gives its life for the right master.
Humans understand—but still choose the wrong master.
And if the entire race of life is run for the wrong purpose, then all the effort of life becomes meaningless.