CHAP. LXXIX.
Intitled, Those who tear forth; revealed at Mecca.
In the name of the most merciful God.
[a]
By those who draw forth the souls of some with violence, &c.]
These are the angel of death and his assistants, who will take the
souls of the wicked in a rough and cruel manner from the inmost part of their
bodies, as a man drags up a thing from the bottom of the sea; but will take
the souls of the good in a gentle and easy manner from their lips, as when a
man draws a bucket of water at one pull
[1]
.
There are several other interpretations of this whole passage; some
expounding all the five parts of the oath of the stars, others of the souls of
men, others of the souls of warriors in particular, and others of war-horses:
a detail of which, I apprehend, would rather tire than please.
[2]
[1] Al Beidawi
[a] Shall we surely be made to return whence we came? ] i.e. Shall we be restored to our former condition?
[b] One sounding of the trumpet;] Viz. The second, or third blast, according to different opinions.
[c] They shall appear alive on the face of the earth;] Or, They shall appear at the place of judgment. The original word al Sâhira is also one of the names of hell.
[d] See chap. 20. p. 256.
[e] After this he stretched out the earth,] Which had been created before the heavens, but without expansion [1] .
[1] Jallal.