Surah al-Nazi‘at is Makkan. (1)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

“By those who wrench forth with violence.” (1)

“By those who wrench forth with violence” means the angels, who draw the souls of the disbelievers from their bodies, like one who draws a bowstring to its utmost limit; after drawing it out, when it is about to leave, he returns it into the body. Such is their treatment of the disbelievers. The word gharaq is a verbal noun used in place of ighraq—that is, “by those who draw forth intensely.” What is meant by ighraq is the utmost intensity in pulling.

Ibn Mas‘ud said: “The Angel of Death and his assistants (2) draw it out from beneath every hair, from the fingernails, and from the soles of the feet, (3) then return it into his body after drawing it out, (4) until, when it is about to leave, they return it into his body after drawing it out. Such is their treatment of the disbelievers.”

Muqatil said: “The Angel of Death and his assistants draw out the souls (5) of the disbelievers as a many-pronged skewer is pulled from wet wool, so that his soul emerges like one drowning in water.”

Mujahid said: “It is death that draws out the souls.” (6)