(1–14) “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. By those who wrench out with force, * and those who draw forth with vigor, * and those who glide swiftly, * then race ahead, * and then regulate affairs. * On the Day when the first convulsion shakes, * followed by the second, * hearts that Day will tremble, * their eyes downcast. * They say, ‘Will we really be restored to our former state, * even after we have become decayed bones?’ * They say, ‘That, then, would be a losing return!’ * Yet it will take only a single blast, * and suddenly they will be upon the open plain.”
In these oaths, Allah swears by the noble angels and by their deeds, which demonstrate their perfect submission to His command and their haste to carry it out. It is possible that what the oaths affirm is recompense and resurrection, as indicated by the events of the Resurrection mentioned thereafter. It is also possible that the subject of the oath and that by which it is sworn are one and the same, and that He swears concerning the angels, because belief in them is one of the six pillars of faith. Moreover, the mention of their deeds here encompasses the recompense with which the angels are charged at death, as well as before and after it. He therefore says: “By those who wrench out with force.” These are the angels who remove souls forcefully, drawing them out completely until the soul emerges and is requited according to its deeds.
“And those who draw forth with vigor.” These too are the angels, who draw out souls with force and vigor. Alternatively, wrenching out may refer to the souls of the believers, while drawing forth may refer to the souls of the disbelievers.
“And those who glide”—that is, those who move through the air, ascending and descending—“swiftly.”
“Then race ahead” of others: they hasten to carry out Allah’s command and outpace the devils in conveying revelation to Allah’s messengers so that the devils do not eavesdrop on it (1).
“And then regulate affairs.” These are the angels whom Allah has appointed to regulate many affairs of the upper and lower worlds (2), including rain, plants, trees, winds, seas, embryos, animals, Paradise, Hellfire, [and other things besides].
“On the Day when the first convulsion shakes”—this is the onset of the Hour—“followed by the second,” meaning the other convulsion that follows and comes after it. “Hearts that Day will tremble,” meaning that they will be quaking and distressed by the severity of what they see and hear.
“Their eyes downcast”—that is, humbled and abased. Fear will have mastered their hearts, ⦗909⦘ terror will have overwhelmed their minds, grief will prevail over them, and they will be [overcome by] regret.
They—that is, the disbelievers in this world—say in denial: “Even after we have become decayed bones?” That is, crumbled and reduced to fragments.
“They say, ‘That, then, would be a losing return!’” That is, they considered it far-fetched that Allah would resurrect and restore them after they had become decayed bones, due to [their] ignorance of Allah’s power and their audacity toward Him.
Explaining how easy this matter is for Him, Allah says: “Yet it will take only a single blast”—a single blowing of the Trumpet.
Then all creatures will suddenly be “upon the open plain”—that is, upon the face of the earth, standing and looking on. Allah will gather them, judge between them with His just judgment, and recompense them.