a date and dates, and an ember and embers.

Ali and Ibn Abbas recited it as “like palm trunks,” with the letter sad fathah; that is, the necks of palm trees. A qasrah is a neck or trunk; its plurals are qusur and qasarat.

“As though they were yellow camels.” (33) Woe, that Day, to the deniers! (34) This is a Day when they will not speak, (35) nor will they be permitted to offer excuses. (36) Woe, that Day, to the deniers! (37) This is the Day of Decision: We have assembled you and the former peoples. (38) So, if you have any scheme, then scheme against Me! (39) Woe, that Day, to the deniers! (40) Indeed, the God-fearing will be amid shades and springs, (41) and fruits of whatever they desire. (42)

The pronoun in “as though it were” is singular in accordance with the wording. Hamzah, al-Kisa’i, and Hafs recited it as jimālah, a plural of “camel,” like “stone” and “stones.” Ya‘qub recited it as jumlah, with the letter jim dammah and without an alif, meaning great objects gathered together. The others recited it as jimālāt, with an alif and the letter jim kasrah, as a plural of camels. Ibn Abbas and Sa‘id ibn Jubayr said: “They are the ropes of ships, bound together until they become as thick as men’s waists.” “Yellow” is the plural of “yellow,” referring to the colour of the Fire.

It has also been said that “yellow” here means black, for it occurs in hadith that the sparks of the Fire of Hell are black like pitch. The Arabs call black camels yellow because their blackness is tinged with some yellow, just as they call white gazelles dusky, because their whiteness is overlaid with a dull hue.

“Woe, that Day, to the deniers! This is a Day when they will not speak.” The Day of Resurrection has various stations: at some of them they will dispute and speak, while at others their mouths will be sealed, and they will not speak.

“Nor will they be permitted to offer excuses.” The verb rendered “offer excuses” is in the indicative, coordinated with the verb rendered “be permitted.” Al-Junayd said: “There is no excuse for one who turns away from his Benefactor and disbelieves in His benefactions and blessings.”

“Woe, that Day, to the deniers! This is the Day of Decision”—between the people of Paradise and the people of the Fire—“We have assembled you and the former peoples”: that is, the deniers of this community and those of earlier times who denied their prophets.

“So, if you have any scheme, then scheme against Me!” Muqatil said: “If you have any stratagem, then use it for your own sake.”

“Woe, that Day, to the deniers! Indeed, the God-fearing will be amid shades”—the plural of “shade,” that is, beneath the shade of trees—“and springs” of water.

“And fruits of whatever they desire.”