above them that Day by eight, as Allah and His Messenger have said.

Since the Muslims had no doubt that Allah does not descend to earth before the Day of Resurrection for any worldly affair, they knew with certainty that whatever punishments befall people come only through His command and His chastisement.

His words:

“Allah came upon their building from its foundations”

mean that His stratagem against them came from the foundations of their building:

“So the roof fell upon them from above.”

(al-Nahl: 26)

Thus, this coming is explained as the roof falling upon them from above. Likewise, His words:

“Allah came upon them from where they had not expected”

mean that He devised a stratagem against them:

“And He cast terror into their hearts, so that they destroyed their houses with their own hands and the hands of the believers.”

(al-Hashr: 2)

These were Banū al-Nadīr. The explanation of each of these two instances of coming accompanies its mention: the collapse of the roof and the terror. Allah’s coming on the Day of Resurrection, however, is explicitly described and explained in the Book.

Allah Most High says:

“When the Trumpet is blown with a single blast, and the earth and the mountains are lifted up and crushed with a single blow, then on that Day the Inevitable Event will occur. The heaven will split apart, for on that Day it will be frail. The angels will be at its edges, and eight will bear the Throne of your Lord above them that Day. On that Day you will be presented, and none of your secrets will remain hidden.”

(al-Hāqqah: 13–18)

The passage continues to His words, Most High:

“My authority has gone from me.”

(al-Hāqqah: 29)

Thus Allah has explained the two meanings in a way that leaves no ambiguity