Mujahid said: They are the winds that separate and disperse the clouds (1).

“By those who deliver the Reminder (5), leaving no excuse or giving warning (6): surely what you are promised will come to pass (7). Then, when the stars are obliterated (8), when the sky is split open (9), and when the mountains are uprooted (10).”

“By those who deliver the Reminder”: that is, the angels who convey the Reminder to the prophets, similar to His saying, “He casts the Spirit, by His command” (Ghafir, 15).

“Leaving no excuse or giving warning”: that is, to leave no excuse and to give warning. Al-Hasan recited it as “’udhuran,” with the letter dhal bearing a u-vowel. This recitation from Abu Bakr, from Asim, is disputed. The common recitation leaves it unvowelled. Abu Amr, Hamzah, al-Kisa’i, and Hafs recited “’udhuran aw (2) nudhran,” leaving the dhal unvowelled in both words, while the remaining reciters read it with a u-vowel. Those who left it unvowelled said that both words occur as verbal nouns, meaning warning and leaving no excuse, rather than as plurals subject to this vowel change.

Ibn Kathir, Nafi’, Ibn Amir, Abu Bakr from Asim, and Yaqub, in the transmission of Ruways ibn Hassan, recited “’udhuran” with the dhal unvowelled and “nudhuran” with the dhal bearing a u-vowel. Rawh recited both “’udhuran” and “nudhuran” with a u-vowel, which is also the recitation of al-Hasan. The basis for both words is the form with two u-vowels, just as with the words for “ear” and “neck”; and they may be lightened, just as those two words may be lightened. Thus, one may say “’udhr” or “’udhur,” and “nudhr” or “nudhur,” just as one may say “’unq” or “’unuq,” and “udhn” or “udhun.” The words “’udhr” and “nudhr” are verbal nouns meaning leaving no excuse and warning, like other nouns of this pattern. They may also be plurals of “’adhir” and “nadhir,” and “’udhur” may also be the plural of “’adhir,” just as “shuruf” is the plural of “sharif.” The meaning is the same whether the letters are vowelled or left unvowelled. Up to this point are oaths (3), which He mentioned before His statement: “Surely what you are promised.”

“Surely what you are promised,” concerning the Hour and the Resurrection, “will come to pass”—that is, it will certainly happen (4). He then mentioned when it will take place, saying: “Then, when the stars are obliterated”: their light will be erased. “When the sky is split open”: it will be rent apart. “And when the mountains are uprooted”: they will be removed from their places.