There are other views besides those I have mentioned, most of which hold that it will emerge from the Meccan Sanctuary (1). Allah knows best.
- What the Beast Will Do:
When this mighty Beast emerges, it will mark both the believer and the disbeliever.
As for the believer, it will brighten his face until it shines, and this will be a sign of his faith.
As for the disbeliever, it will brand him on the nose as a sign of his disbelief—may Allah protect us.
Allah Most High says in the noble verse:
“We will bring forth for them a creature from the earth that will speak to them.” [al-Naml: 82]
The exegetes differed concerning the meaning of this speech:
1 — What is meant is that it will speak to them—that is, address them directly. This is supported by the reading of Ubayy ibn Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him: “It will inform them.”
2 — It will wound them. This is supported by the reading taklimuhum (“wounds them”), with the tāʾ vowelled a and the kāf unvowelled. It derives from kalm, meaning a wound. This reading is reported from Ibn Abbās, may Allah be pleased with him; that is, it will brand them (2).
This view is supported by the hadith of Abū Umāma, may Allah be pleased with him, in which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,