“So I swear by the Lord of all the eastern points and western points that We are surely able—

to replace them with others better than they; nor can We be outstripped. So leave them to plunge on and play, until they meet their Day which they are promised: the Day they will emerge swiftly from the graves, as though rushing toward a raised marker, their eyes lowered, humiliation overwhelming them. That is the Day which they were promised.” (40–44)

“By the Lord of all the eastern points and western points”: that is, the place of sunrise and sunset for each day of the year. “We are surely able”; “to replace them with others better than they”: to create people better than them and more obedient to Allah [and His Messenger] (1). “Nor can We be outstripped.”

“So leave them to plunge on”: in their falsehood, “and play”: in their worldly life, “until they meet their Day which they are promised.” This was abrogated by the verse commanding fighting.

“The Day they will emerge from the graves”: that is, from the tombs, “swiftly”: in answer to the caller, “as though rushing toward a raised marker.” Ibn Amir [and Ibn Abbas] (2) and Hafs recited nuṣub, with the nun and sad both vowelled with dammah. The others recited naṣb, with the nun vowelled with fathah and the sad without a vowel, meaning: toward something set up. One says, “So-and-so is before my very eyes.”

Al-Kalbi said: toward a sign or banner. Those who recited it with dammah—Muqatil and al-Kisa’i said—understood it to mean their idols which they used to worship besides Allah, as in His saying: “and what has been sacrificed on stone altars” (The Table Spread, 5:3) (3). Al-Hasan said: They hasten toward them, each seeking to be the first to touch them. “Rushing”: that is, hurrying.

“Their eyes lowered”: humbled and submissive. “Humiliation overwhelming them”: disgrace will cover them. “That is the Day which they were promised”: that is, the Day of Resurrection.