Al-'Adiyat (The Chargers): (4) Fa-atharna bihi naq'an (And thereby kicked up a cloud of dust)

Issues Discussed:

There are two main opinions:

1. It means dust (ghubār).
   • It is said that this meaning is derived from naq' al-ṣawt (the raising of a sound), so dust is called naq' because of its elevation.
   • Alternatively, it is derived from an-naq' fī al-mā' (plunging into water), as if the one raising the dust has plunged into it, similar to a person diving into water.

2. It means the noise/cries of mourning women (ṣiyāḥ an-nawā'iḥ).
   • This is based on the Prophet's saying: (Mā lam yakun naq'un wa lā laqlaqah) [Meaning: Unless there is wailing/crying and clamor].
   • Thus, it means they stirred up the cries of the mourners against the enemy in the morning.

Contextual Meaning: The phrase athāra al-ghubār (to stir up dust) or athāra al-qitā (to stir up the sandgrouse from its nest) means to raise it up. Therefore, the horses stirred up dust due to the intensity of their charge in the place where they made their raid (aghārū).

There are several views:

1. The Place of the Raid (Farrā'): It refers to the location where the charge ended and the raid took place. This is supported by the preceding verse, {Fa-l-mūghīrāti ṣubḥan} (those who charge in the morning), which implies the raid must occur in a specific location. Once the meaning is established, it is permissible to use a pronoun for something not explicitly mentioned, similar to {Innā anzalnāhu fī Laylat al-Qadr} (We sent it down on the Night of Decree).
2. The Time of the Raid: It refers to that specific time when the raid occurred, meaning: "And they stirred up dust at that time."
3. The Enemy (Al-Kisā'ī): It refers to the enemy, meaning: "And they stirred up dust with the enemy." The enemy was previously mentioned in the oath {Wa-l-'ādiyāti} (By the chargers).

It is connected to the verbal noun implied by the active participle. The implied structure is: "By those who charged, and who charged fiercely, and who made a raid in the morning, and they stirred up [dust]."

Abū Ḥaywah recited it as {Fa-aththarna} (with a shaddah on the thā'), meaning: "And they made dust apparent with it." This is because ta'thīr (making something apparent/effective) carries the meaning of iẓhār (making manifest). Alternatively, this reading might involve changing thawarna to watharna and then changing the wāw to a hamzah.

! 7 < { Fa-wassaṭna bihi jam'an } > ! (And thereby entered the midst of the host)

As for the Almighty's saying: {Fa-wassaṭna bihi jam'an}...