Tafsir of Al-Hijr 15:73

(So the Shout seized them at sunrise)

(So the Shout seized them) meaning a tremendous shout. The definite article is for the genus. It is said: it is the shout of Gabriel—peace be upon him—in which case the definite article is for reference to a specific known entity. The Imam said: There is no indication in the verse for this specific identification; if it is proven by strong evidence, then it may be accepted.

Ibn al-Mundhir recorded from Ibn Jurayj that he said regarding the verse: The shout is like the thunderbolt; everything by which a people were destroyed is a thunderbolt and a shout.

(At sunrise) meaning entering into the time of the rising of the sun. The scrutinizing scholar said: Reconciling between "in the morning" (mentioned elsewhere) and "at sunrise" is done by considering the beginning and the end, such that the torment began at dawn and concluded at sunrise.

"Seizing" by the shout means overpowering them and gaining mastery over them; from this comes the word akhidh (the captive). You may also say: it is [as if it were] "severed," meaning it will be severed soon. It has also been said: (at sunrise) is a potential state.