(1–11) “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. By the racers, panting * then striking sparks * then raiding at dawn * then raising clouds of dust * then penetrating into the midst of a host * surely the human being is ungrateful to his Lord * and he is surely a witness to that * and he is truly intense in his love of wealth * Does he not know that when whatever is in the graves is cast forth”

Allah, Mighty and Majestic, swore by the horses because they contain such magnificent signs of Allah and manifest blessings as are well known to creation.

He [the Exalted] swore by them in a state that no other kind of animal shares with them [therein]. He said: “By the racers, panting.” That is, the racers galloping powerfully and vigorously, thereby producing a panting sound—the sound of their breath in their chests when their gallop intensifies (1).

“Then those striking sparks”—with their hooves from the stones upon which they tread. That is, when they gallop, they strike (2) fire because of the hardness [and strength] of their hooves. “Then those raiding” the enemy “at dawn.” This is generally the case, for raids usually take place in the morning. “Then raising thereby”—through their galloping and their raid—“clouds of dust”; “then penetrating thereby”—with their riders—“into the midst of a host.” That is, they penetrate with their riders into the midst of the enemy forces they raided.

The matter sworn to is His statement: “Surely the human being is ungrateful to his Lord.” That is, he withholds the good that ⦗933⦘ he owes his Lord (3).

The nature and innate disposition of [the human being] are such that his soul is not inclined to render the rights incumbent upon him fully and completely. Rather, its nature is laziness and the withholding of the financial and bodily duties incumbent upon it—except for one whom Allah guides and brings out of this trait into the trait of willingly fulfilling those rights.

“And he is surely a witness to that.” That is, the human being is himself a witness to the withholding and ingratitude he knows within himself. He neither denies nor rejects it, for it is plain and evident. The pronoun may also refer to Allah, the Exalted; that is, the servant is ungrateful to his Lord, and Allah is witness to that. This contains a warning and a severe threat to anyone who is ungrateful to his Lord: Allah is a witness over him.

“And he”—that is, the human being—“is truly intense in his love of wealth.” That is, his love of wealth is great.

His love of it is what leads him to neglect the obligatory rights incumbent upon him. He gives his own desire precedence over the right (4) of his Lord. All of this is because he confines his gaze to this worldly abode and remains heedless of the Hereafter. Therefore, urging him to fear the Day of Warning, He says:

“Does he not know”—that is, does this deluded person not know?—“that when whatever is in the graves is cast forth”? That is, when Allah brings the dead out of their graves for their gathering and resurrection.