“And Thamud—He left none of them remaining (51); and before them, the people of Noah. Indeed, they were more unjust and more transgressive (52). And He brought down the overturned cities (53), then covered them with what He covered them (54). So which of your Lord’s blessings do you doubt? (55) This is a warner like the former warners (56). The Imminent One has drawn near (57). None besides Allah can disclose it (58). Is it this discourse, then, that you find astonishing (59), laughing and not weeping (60)?”

“And Thamud”: they were the people of Salih, whom Allah destroyed with the blast, leaving none of them remaining.

“And before them, the people of Noah”: that is, He destroyed the people of Noah before ‘Ad and Thamud. “Indeed, they were more unjust and more transgressive,” because Noah’s call to them lasted so long, and because of their defiance of Allah through disobedience and denial.

“And He brought down the overturned cities”: these were the towns of the people of Lot. He cast them down—that is, Gabriel hurled them down after raising them to the sky.

“Then covered them with what He covered them”: Allah covered them with stones piled one upon another and marked.

“So which of your Lord’s blessings do you doubt?” That is, which of your Lord’s favors do you, O human being, doubt and dispute? It was also said that this refers to al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah. Ibn Abbas said: “You deny.”

“This is a warner”: that is, Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “like the former warners”—meaning, a messenger sent to you, just as the messengers were sent to their peoples. Qatadah said: “Muhammad has warned just as the messengers before him warned.”

“The Imminent One has drawn near”: the Resurrection has drawn near, and the Hour has approached.

“None besides Allah can disclose it”: that is, none can reveal it or bring it to pass, as Allah Most High says: “None will reveal its time except Him” (Al-A‘raf, 187). The final feminine ending serves for emphasis, or else implies: “a person capable of disclosing it.” It is also possible for “disclosing” to be a verbal noun, like “the hidden thing” and “well-being.” The meaning is that none besides Allah can reveal it or make it known.

It was also said that the meaning is: none can repel it. That is, when its terrors and hardships overwhelm creation, no one will remove them or ward them off. This is the view of Ata’, Qatadah, and al-Dahhak.

“Is it this discourse”—meaning, the Quran—“that you find astonishing, laughing”—that is, mockingly—“and not weeping,” despite the warnings it contains.