(1–16) “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. By the Mount * and by a Book inscribed * on parchment spread open * and by the Much-Frequented House * and by the raised canopy * and by the sea filled to the brim * your Lord’s punishment will surely come to pass * none can avert it * on the Day when the sky sways violently * and the mountains move away * then woe on that Day to the deniers * those who amuse themselves, engrossed in falsehood * on the Day they are thrust forcefully into the Fire of Hell * ‘This is the Fire you used to deny.’”

Allah Most High swears by these mighty things, which embody profound wisdom, that the resurrection will take place and that the Allah-fearing and the deniers will be recompensed. He swears by the Mount, the mountain upon which Allah spoke to His prophet Moses son of Imrān—peace be upon him—and revealed to him such rulings as He willed. The favor this conferred upon him and his people is among Allah’s tremendous signs and blessings, which His servants can neither number nor assess.

“And by a Book inscribed” may refer to the Preserved Tablet, in which Allah recorded all things. It may also refer to the Noble Quran, the finest Book (1) Allah has sent down, containing accounts of the former and latter peoples and knowledge concerning those who preceded and those who followed.

His words “on parchment” mean on a sheet, while “spread open” means that it is written and inscribed, visible and not concealed; its nature is clear to every discerning person of reason.

“And by the Much-Frequented House”: this is the House above the seventh heaven, continually frequented by the noble angels. Every day seventy thousand angels enter it [to worship their Lord there, after which] they never return to it until the Day of Resurrection. It has also been said that the Much-Frequented House is the Sacred House of Allah, ever thronged by those who circumambulate it, pray, and remember Allah, and by those who flock to it for Hajj and Umrah.

Allah likewise swore by it in His words: “And by this secure city.” A House that is the best of all houses on earth, whose visitation for Hajj and Umrah is one of Islam’s pillars and mighty foundations without which it is incomplete, which Abraham and Ishmael built, and which Allah made a place of return and security for people, is truly worthy of Allah swearing by it and proclaiming the greatness befitting it and its sanctity.

“And by the raised canopy” means the sky, which Allah made a roof over creation and a structure above the earth. The earth receives its light from it, its signs and beacons provide guidance, and Allah sends down from it rain, mercy, and many forms of provision.

“And by the sea filled to the brim,” meaning filled ⦗814⦘ with water. Allah filled it and restrained it from overflowing across the face of the earth. Although by its nature it would inundate the earth, His wisdom required that He restrain it from flowing and overflowing so that the various kinds of living creatures upon the earth might survive. Others say that the intended meaning is “the sea set ablaze”: it will be kindled [into a fire] on the Day of Resurrection and become a blazing fire, filled—despite its vastness and breadth—with many forms of punishment.

These things by which Allah has sworn show that they are among Allah’s signs, proofs of His oneness, demonstrations of His power, and evidence that He will resurrect the dead. Hence He says: “Your Lord’s punishment will surely come to pass”—that is, it must inevitably occur, for Allah never fails in His promise or His word.

“None can avert it”: there is none to repel it and no barrier to prevent it, for no power can overcome the power of Allah Most High, and no fugitive can escape it. He then described the Day on which (2) the punishment will occur, saying: “On the Day when the sky sways violently”—that is, the sky will revolve and convulse, continuing its disturbed motion without becoming still.

“And the mountains move away”—that is, they will leave their places and move like clouds, take on colors like carded wool, and then be scattered [until they become] like dust motes. All this will occur because of the tremendous horror of the Day of Resurrection, the dreadful events it contains, and its terrifying and unsettling convulsions, which will shake even these immense bodies—so what of the frail human being?!

“Then woe on that Day to the deniers.” Woe is a word encompassing every punishment, sorrow, torment, and fear.

He then described the deniers whose conduct made them deserving of woe, saying: “Those who amuse themselves, engrossed in falsehood.” That is, they immerse themselves in falsehood and make sport of it. Their learning and investigations concern harmful branches of knowledge that entail denying the truth and affirming falsehood, while their deeds are those of people characterized by ignorance, foolishness, and frivolity. This contrasts with the beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds of those who affirm the truth and believe.

“On the Day they are thrust forcefully into the Fire of Hell”—that is, the Day they will be shoved toward it, driven to it harshly, and dragged upon their faces. By way of rebuke and blame, they will be told: “This is the Fire you used to deny.” Today, then, taste the everlasting punishment, whose magnitude cannot be fathomed and whose nature cannot be described.