A Deliberation on Whether Sūrat al- Ādiyāt is Makkī or Madanī

Dating the sūras of the Holy Qur’an is very effective in cognizing them properly, choosing exegetic opinions, and rejecting the untrue statements. This task is in itself based on whether a sūra’s is Makkī or Madanī. Knowledge about the sūras’ being Makkī or Madanī takes many of the sūras to be definitely Makkī and a number of others to be undoubtedly Madanī; but it shows disagreement about a few sūras to be either Makkī or Madanī. Sūrat al-‘Ādiyāt is considered to be among the third group. Determining this sūra’s being Makkī or Madanī has on one hand faced difficulty and on the other deemed as necessary. The traditions on the order of revelation and occasions of revelation are varied for this sūra and, given the rules and regulations of distinguishing Makkī from Madanī, at first glance both seem to be probable. However, through studying the chains of transmission and texts of the traditions and careful application of the rules and regulation for identifying the sūras, it is proved that Sūrat al-‘Ādiyāt is Madanī. Considering it as being Madanī is both putting an end to the controversy about this sūra and putting a date on it, and finally, it would reveal one of the excellences of Imam Ali (A.S.), as well.