The term al-jawār (“those that run their courses”) was originally al-jawārī, with the letter yā’, but the yā’ was omitted for ease of pronunciation. The term al-kunnas (“those that disappear”) refers to those that withdraw into their place of disappearance.

Thus Allah swore by these stars. He then swore by the night and the day, saying: ﴾By the night as it advances; and by the dawn as it breathes.﴿ The words ﴾as it advances﴿ mean “as it approaches.” It has also been said that they mean “as it departs,” for the Arabic word ʿasʿasa can bear either meaning. However, the apparent meaning is “as it approaches,” so that it agrees—or corresponds—with the oath that follows: ﴾and by the dawn as it breathes.﴿ Allah thus swore by the night as it approaches and by the day as it approaches.

Allah Most High swore by these created things because of their greatness and because they are among His greatest signs. Who can bring the day when it is night, and who can bring the night when it is day? Allah—Glorious and Exalted is He—said:

﴾Say, “Consider: if Allah were to make the night perpetual over you until the Day of Resurrection, what god other than Allah could bring you light? Will you not then listen?” Say, “Consider: if Allah were to make the day perpetual over you until the Day of Resurrection, what god other than Allah could bring you night in which to rest? Will you not then see?”﴿ [Al-Qasas: 71–72]

﴾Out of His mercy, He has made for you the night and the day, so that you may rest therein, seek His bounty, and perhaps give thanks.﴿ [Al-Qasas: 73]

Allah swears by these mighty created things because of the greatness of what the oath affirms, namely His words: ﴾This is indeed the word conveyed by a noble messenger.﴿ “This” means the Quran, while the ﴾noble messenger﴿ is Gabriel—peace be upon him—for he is Allah’s messenger to the messengers, bringing down to them the revelation.

Allah described him as noble because of his handsome appearance, just as He said in another verse: ﴾Possessed of fine form, he then appeared.﴿ [Al-Najm: 6] The scholars said that mirra means beauty of form and comeliness of appearance. Gabriel—peace be upon him—was thus described as ﴾noble﴿ and as ﴾endowed with power and held in honor by the Lord of the Throne.﴿ As for ﴾endowed with power﴿, Allah Most High described him as possessing tremendous strength, for the Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—saw him in—