It is related from Thawban that a Jewish rabbi asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “Where will people be on the Day when the earth is changed into another earth?” He replied, “They will be in darkness, before the bridge.” (1)

Allah the Exalted says: “And they will emerge before Allah, the One, the Supreme Subduer”—that is, they will come forth from their graves—“the One, the Supreme Subduer,” who does whatever He wills and decrees whatever He intends.

“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in shackles.” (49)

“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together”: bound one to another. “In shackles”: in fetters and chains. The singular is safad, and whoever binds something tightly has shackled it.

Abu Ubaydah said: “Safadtu al-rajul means, ‘I shackled the man,’ and he is masfud; while saffadtuhu, with the doubled consonant, means, ‘I placed him in shackles,’ and he is musaffad.”

It was also said that every disbeliever will be chained together with his devil. This is explained by Allah’s saying: “Gather those who wronged, along with their companions” [37:22]—meaning, their devilish companions.

It was also said to mean that their hands and feet will be bound to their necks with shackles and fetters. From this, a rope is called qarn.

“Their garments will be of pitch, and the Fire will cover their faces.” (50)

“Their garments,” that is, their shirts; the singular is sirbal. “Of pitch”: it is the substance with which camels are treated.

Ikrimah and Yaqub recited it as “of molten copper, intensely hot,” as two separate, nunated words. ⦗195/b⦘ Qitr means copper, or melted brass; and an means that whose heat has reached its utmost limit. Allah the Exalted says: “They will circle between it and scalding water at the height of its heat.” [55:44]

“And the Fire will cover their faces,” that is, it will rise over them.

“So that Allah may recompense every soul for what it has earned. Indeed, Allah is swift in reckoning. This is a proclamation for mankind, so that they may be warned thereby, know that He is but One God, and that people of understanding may take heed.” (51–52)

“So that Allah may recompense every soul for what it has earned,” of good and evil. “Indeed, Allah is swift in reckoning.”

“This,” that is, this Quran, “is a proclamation,” meaning a conveyance and an admonition, “for mankind, so that they may be warned,” that is, cautioned, “thereby, and know that He is but One God”—that is, so that they may infer from these signs the oneness of Allah the Exalted—“and that people of understanding may take heed,” meaning, that those possessed of intellect may be admonished.