Emergence of the Beast (dābbah):
Allah mentions the coming forth of the Beast in His words: “When the decree is fulfilled against them, We shall bring forth for them a beast from the earth that will speak to them, for mankind had no certainty in Our signs.”⦗1⦘

Imam Ibn Kathir, in An-Nihāyah, said: “Ibn ʿAbbās, al-Hasan, and Qatādah held that tukallimuhum (‘it will speak to them’) means it will address them with words. Ibn Jarīr preferred this interpretation, namely that it will speak to them, saying, ‘People were never certain of Our signs,’ and he attributed it to ʿAli and ʿAtā’ as well.”

Ibn Kathir then remarked, “There is some room for discussion here.”

He continued, “Another report from Ibn ʿAbbās says that tukallimuhum means ‘it will brand them,’ that is, it will write on the unbeliever’s forehead ‘unbeliever’ and on the believer’s forehead ‘believer.’ A third report from him combines both: it will address them and brand them. This view reconciles the two positions; it is sound, commendable, and comprehensive, and Allah knows best.”

He also wrote in his Tafsīr: “This Beast will appear near the end of time, when people have become corrupt, have abandoned Allah’s commands, and have altered the true religion. Allah will bring forth for them a beast from the earth—some said from Mecca, others from elsewhere—and it will speak to humanity.”

Al-Qurṭubī, commenting on the verse ‘waqaʿa al-qawlu ʿalayhim,’ said: “Scholars have differed over the meaning of waqaʿa al-qawl and over the Beast itself. One view is that waqaʿa al-qawl ʿalayhim means that Allah’s wrath has become inevitable for them; this was the view of Qatādah. Mujāhid said it means that the word has been fulfilled against them that they will not believe. Ibn ʿUmar and Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (may Allah be pleased with them) said: when people cease to command what is right and forbid what is wrong, the divine displeasure becomes due upon them. ʿAbd Allah ibn Masʿūd said: the fulfillment of the word will coincide with the death of scholars, the disappearance of knowledge, and the lifting of the Quran. He added: ‘Recite the Quran frequently before it is taken away.’ They asked, ‘Will these written copies be taken away—what of what is in people’s hearts?’ He replied, ‘It will be taken away overnight; they will awaken to find themselves bereft of it, and they will even forget “There is no god but Allah.”’