﴾When the stars lose their light﴿: This means that they will fall, as explained by the other verse: ﴾When the stars fall, scattering﴿ [Al-Infitār: 2]. Thus, on the Day of Resurrection, the stars will scatter and leave their places.

﴾When the mountains are set in motion﴿: These immense, solid, lofty mountains will become scattered dust on the Day of Resurrection and will be driven away, as Allah Most High says: ﴾And the mountains will be set in motion, becoming a mirage﴿ [Al-Nabaʾ: 20].

﴾When pregnant she-camels are left untended﴿: This refers to she-camels that have been pregnant for ten months. They were among the Arabs’ most prized possessions. In this world, their owner watches them closely, tends them, remains close to them, and surrounds them with care. In the Hereafter, however, they will be abandoned and no attention will be paid to them, for everyone will face a dire and terrifying predicament that makes them forget everything else. Allah Most High says:

﴾On that Day a person will flee from his own brother * and from his mother and father * and from his wife and children * for then everyone will have enough concern of his own.﴿ [ʿAbasa: 34–37]

﴾When the wild beasts are gathered﴿: The expression “wild beasts” is plural, and here it refers to all animals, as indicated by the words of Allah Most High:

﴾There is no creature on earth or bird flying with its wings except that they are communities like you. We have left nothing out of the Record. Then to their Lord they will be gathered.﴿ [Al-Anʿām: 38]

Thus, the animals will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection, and people will see them. Some will receive redress from others, to the extent that redress will be secured for the hornless animal against the horned animal (1). Once justice has been exacted among these wild creatures, Allah Most High will command them, and they will become dust. He—Mighty and Majestic—does this only to manifest His justice among His creation.

﴾When the seas are set ablaze﴿: “Seas” is the plural of “sea,” and the plural is used because of their immensity and great number, for they cover approximately three quarters of the earth, or even more. When the Day of Resurrection comes, these immense seas will be set ablaze—that is, they will be kindled into fire and burn with a tremendous blaze. The earth will then become dry, with no water remaining upon it, because its seas—those immense masses of water—will be set ablaze until they become