Tafsir of Al-Anbiya' 21:46

"And if a whiff of the punishment of your Lord should touch them..."

This is an explanation of the speed with which they would be affected by the arrival of the punishment itself, following the previous statement regarding their lack of impact from the arrival of the news of it, presented in the manner of a categorical oath. That is: "By Allah, if even the slightest thing from His punishment—Exalted be He—should touch them, they will surely say, 'Woe to us! Indeed, we were wrongdoers.'"

That is to say, they will call down woe and destruction upon themselves and admit to their previous wrongdoing.

In the phrase "a whiff (nafhah) should touch them (massahum)," there are three exaggerations, as stated by al-Zamakhshari. As noted in al-Kashf, these are:

1. The mention of "touching" (al-mass), which is less than "penetrating" (al-nufudh), and for which the mere arrival of something is sufficient to fulfill its meaning.
2. The meaning of scarcity contained in the word nafhah (whiff/puff), for its root refers to the wafting of a scent. It is said, "The animal nafahahu (kicked him)" meaning it struck him with the edge of its hoof; and "he nafahahu with a gift," meaning he gave him a small portion.
3. The formation of the noun of instance (bina' al-marrah), which signifies the least amount to which the name can apply.

Al-Sakkaki added the indefiniteness of the noun as a fourth [exaggeration], due to the belittlement it implies. The realization of this—if one accepts that it is distinct from the noun of instance—is not hindered by the word itself, contrary to what the author of al-Idah claimed.

Some have objected to the exaggeration in "touching" (al-mass), arguing that it is stronger than "striking" (al-isabah) because it implies the sensitivity of the one being touched. However, from what is mentioned in al-Kashf, one can understand how this objection is rebutted. Perhaps there is a fifth exaggeration in the verse that becomes apparent upon reflection.

The apparent meaning is that this "touching" occurs on the Day of Resurrection, as we have indicated. It has also been said that it refers to this world, based on what has been narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) in his interpretation of the "whiff" as the hunger that befell Mecca.