Allah swears by the horses when they are made to gallop into battle in His path (i.e., Jihad), and thus they run and pant, which is the sound that is heard from the horse when it runs.

﴿فَالمُورِيَـتِ قَدْحاً ﴾

(Striking sparks of fire.) meaning, the striking of their hooves on the rocks, which causes sparks of fire to fly from them.

﴿فَالْمُغِيرَتِ صُبْحاً ﴾

(And scouring to the raid at dawn.) meaning, the raid that is carried out in the early morning time. This is just as the Messenger of Allah used to perform raids in the early morning. He would wait to see if he heard the Adhan (call to prayer) from the people. If he heard it he would leave them alone, and if he didn't hear it he would attack. Then Allah says,

﴿فَأَثَرْنَ بِهِ نَقْعاً ﴾

(And raise the dust in clouds the while.) meaning, dust at the place of the battle with the horses.

﴿فَوَسَطْنَ بِهِ جَمْعاً ﴾

(And penetrating forthwith as one into the midst.) means, then are all in the middle of that spot, together. Allah's saying;

﴿فَالْمُغِيرَتِ صُبْحاً ﴾

(And scouring to the raid at dawn.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah, all said, "This means the invasion of the horses in the morning in the way of Allah.'' And His statement,

﴿فَأَثَرْنَ بِهِ نَقْعاً ﴾

(And raise the dust in clouds the while.) This is the place in which the attack takes place. The dust is stirred up by it. And His statement,

﴿فَوَسَطْنَ بِهِ جَمْعاً ﴾

(And penetrating forthwith as one into the midst.) Al-`Awfi narrated from Ibn `Abbas, `Ata, `Ikrimah, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak that they all said, "This means into the midst of the disbelieving enemy.'' Concerning Allah's statement,

﴿إِنَّ الإِنسَـنَ لِرَبِّهِ لَكَنُودٌ ﴾

(Verily, man is ungrateful (Kanud) to his Lord.) This is the subject what is being sworn about, and it means that he (man) is ungrateful for the favors of His Lord and he rejects them. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Abu Al-Jawza', Abu Al-`Aliyah, Abu Ad-Duha, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Muhammad bin Qays, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Ibn Zayd all said, "Al-Kanud means ungrateful.'' Al-Hasan said, "Al-Kanud is the one who counts the calamities (that befall him) and he forgets Allah's favors.''