An-Nazi'at

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said concerning the interpretation of Allah's saying (By those who drag forth): '(By those who drag forth) He says: Allah swears by the angels who take away the souls of the disbelievers (to destruction) the souls of the disbelievers,

(By the meteors rushing) and it is also said that He is here swearing by the angels who busy the disbelievers with grief and anxiety; it is also said that this refers to the souls of the believers which hasten to come out of their bodies in order to go to the Garden.

(By the lone stars floating) and it is also said that He is here swearing by the angels who take away the souls of the righteous slowly and gently and then let them rest; it is also said this refers to the souls of the believers,

(By the angels hastening) and He swears by the angels who hasten to Paradise with the souls of the believers and to the Fire with the souls of the disbelievers; it is also said this refers to the souls of the believers that hasten to Paradise,

(And those who govern the event) and He swears by the angels who govern the matters of the slaves, meaning Gabriel, Michael, Seraphiel and the angel of death. It is said that (those who govern the event) refers to the spears of soldiers, (the meteors rushing) refers to the ropes of soldiers and (the lone stars floating) refers to the ships of soldiers who fight at sea, (the ones who do the hastening) refers to the horses of soldiers, while (those who govern the event) refers to the generals of soldiers; it is also said that (the lone stars floating) refer to the sun, the moon, the day and the night. Allah swore by all these that the two blowings of the trumpet will take place, with an interval of 40 years separating the two blowings.

So Allah said: (On the day when the first trump resoundeth) this refers to the first blowing of the trumpet when everything will quake.

(And the second followeth it) this is the final blowing on the trumpet,

(On that day) which is the Day of Judgement (hearts beat painfully) the hearts are fearful

(While eyes are downcast) abased

((Now) they) the disbelievers of Mecca: al-Nadr Ibn al-Harith and his host (are saying: Shall we really be restored to our first state) to the life of the world; and it is also said: from the graves

(Even after we are crumbled bones?) Will Allah resurrect us? How is this possible?

The Prophet (pbuh) said to them: �Indeed, Allah will raise you again from the dead�. (They say: Then that would be a vain proceeding) that would be a failed attempt, because it will never happen.

And so Allah said: (Surely it will need but one shout) one blow which does not require a second one, and this is the blow of the resurrection,

(And lo! they will be awakened) on the face of the earth; and it is also said: in the land of the gathering.

(Hath there come unto thee) O Muhammad (the history of Moses) the story of Moses? Meaning: the story of Moses has already come to you; and it is also said this means: the story of Moses has not yet come to you.

(How his Lord called him in the holy vale of Tuwa) the name of the valley; it was called so because it was traversed by so many prophets; it is also said: tread (Ta'), O Moses, with your feet on this valley because of its goodness and grace.

((Saying:) Go thou) O Moses (unto Pharaoh. Lo! he hath rebelled) he is arrogant and too proud and has refused to believe in Allah

(And say (unto him): Hast thou) O Pharaoh ((will) to grow (in grace)) will become righteous, surrender and believe in Allah's divine Oneness?

(Then I will guide thee) I will call you (to thy Lord and thou shalt fear (Him)) and therefore surrender to Him.

(And he) Moses (showed him the tremendous token) the hand and the staff.

(But be denied) and said: this is not from Allah (and disobeyed) he refused the message,

(Then turned he away) from faith; and it is also said: from Moses (in haste) to his folk; and it is also said: to think what to do about Moses,

(Then gathered he) his army (and summoned) and delivered a sermon

(And proclaimed: �I (Pharaoh) am your Lord the Highest�.) I am your Highest Lord and the Lord of your idols, therefore, do not leave the worship of these idols.

(So Allah seized him) Allah punished him ((and made him) an example for the after (life) and for the former) the punishment that he suffered in the life of the world is drowning and the punishment of the Hereafter will be in the Fire; it is also said that this means: Allah has punished him because of his former and latter pronouncements. His first pronouncement being: �I do not know of any other god for you except Me� and the second being (I am your Lord the Highest) and it is said that there is an interval of 40 years between the first and second pronouncements.

(Lo! Herein) in that which We did to Pharaoh and his host (is indeed a lesson) an admonition (for him who feareth) that which has been done to them.

(Are ye) O people of Mecca (the harder to create) harder to resurrect and more perfect in your creation, (or is the heaven that He built?

He raised the height) its ceiling (thereof and ordered it) above the earth;

(And He made dark the night thereof, and He brought forth the morn thereof) and He made its day and sun clear.

(And after that He spread the earth) even then He spread it on the water; it is also said: 2,000 years after that He spread it on the water,

(And produced therefrom) from the earth (the water thereof) running water as well as the water buried deep in the belly of the earth (and the pasture thereof,

And He made fast the hills) and He made the mountains firm,

(A provision for you) water of benefit to you (and for your cattle) water and pasture benefit your cattle.

(But when the great disaster cometh) but when the Hour comes, it will tower above everything and nothing will escape it,

(The day when man will call to mind) when the disbeliever, al-Nadr Ibn al-Harith and his host, will remember and know (his (whole) endeavour) the works he did in his state of disbelief,

(And hell will stand forth visible to him who seeth) to him who is ordained to enter it,

(Then, as for him who rebelled) him who was too arrogant and proud and disbelieved in Allah, i.e. al-Nadr Ibn al-Harith Ibn 'Alqamah

(And chose the life of the world) rather than the Hereafter and also chose disbelief rather than faith,

(Lo! Hell will be his home) the Fire is the home of him who is thus.

(But as for him who feared) upon committing a sin (to stand before his Lord) his standing before his Lord and abstains from engaging in sin (and restrained his soul from lust) from that which is unlawful, even though he desires it, this refers to Mus'ab Ibn 'Umayr.

(Lo! the Garden will be his home) Paradise will be the home of him who is thus.

(They ask thee) the disbelievers of Mecca ask you, O Muhammad, (of the Hour) about the advent of the Hour: (when will it come to port?) When is it going to happen? Because they disbelieved in it.

(Why (ask they)? What hast thou to tell thereof?) What has it to do with you that you should mention it to them?

(Unto thy Lord belongeth (knowledge of) the term thereof) the knowledge of its timing belongs to Allah.

(Thou art but a warner) you are but a warning messenger by means of the Qur'an (unto him who feareth it) to him who fears its advent.

(On the day when they behold it) i.e. the Hour, (it will be as if they had but tarried) in the graves (for an evening) the duration of an evening (or the morn thereof) or the duration of one morning'.