Tafsir of Ghafir 40:16

"The Day they are exposed" ( yawma hum barizun ) is a substitute (badal) for "the Day of Meeting" (yawm al-talaq). "They" (hum) is an initial noun (mubtada') and "exposed" (barizun) is its predicate (khabar), and the sentence is in the genitive case because it is governed by the addition (idafa) of "the Day" (yawm). It has been said: This is an interpretation according to the school of Abu al-Hasan regarding the permissibility of adding a future-tense adverb—such as idha (when)—to a nominal sentence, like saying: "I will come to you when Zayd is going." Sibawayh, however, does not permit this; he requires the estimation of a verb after the adverb, upon which the noun would be nominative. It is also permitted that "the Day" be an adverb for His saying: "Nothing of them is hidden from Allah." The most apparent view is that it is a substitute, and this sentence is an initiation (isti'naf) to explain their exposure, to confirm it, and to remove what some deluded people in the world falsely imagined regarding concealment. It is also permissible for it to be a second predicate for "them."

It is said: It is a state (hal) referring to the pronoun in "exposed." "The Day of Meeting" is the Day of Resurrection, named as such because—as Ibn Abbas said—all creation meets therein. Muqatil said: Because the Creator and the created meet therein. Al-Tabrisi narrated this from Ibn Abbas. Al-Suddi said: Because the people of the heavens and the people of the earth meet. Maymun ibn Mihran said: Because the oppressor and the oppressed meet. Al-Tha'labi narrated that it is for the meeting of every person with their deeds. Some great scholars preferred what Muqatil said, stating: It is the most appropriate of the viewpoints, as it carries the absolute expression to what has been mentioned in many places, such as: "Whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord," "Those who do not expect the meeting with Us," and "Those who do not expect the meeting with Us."

The author of al-Kashf said: The first opinion—what was narrated from Ibn Abbas—is more likely, as the discourse therein follows the literal meaning, refuting what might be imagined regarding equality between the Creator and the created. Each of the two substitutes is independently beneficial in creating awe: the first describes the gathering of all created things despite their varying types, while the second describes the exposure of everyone before the Owner of their affairs—an exposure in which no doubt remains for anyone. As for the expression "the meeting with his Lord," it is driven by a different meaning.

"Exposed" (barizun) is derived from baraza; its root means to be in an open space (baraz) for the purpose of relieving oneself. The meaning is: they are apparent, with nothing from a mountain, a hillock, or a structure concealing them, for the earth on that day will be a level plain (qa'an safsafa). They will have no clothes; they will be naked and exposed, as has come in the two Sahihs from Ibn Abbas: "I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say: 'You will meet Allah barefoot, naked, and uncircumcised.'" It is also said: It means they are emerging from their graves, or that their deeds and secrets are apparent. It is also said: Their very selves are apparent, not veiled by the coverings of the body, despite their attachment to it—though this is not acceptable without proof from the Infallible (the Prophet).

The meaning of His saying "of them" (minhum), according to some, refers to their states and deeds. According to others, it refers to their physical beings. The general meaning is preferred: nothing of their beings, their deeds, or their conditions—the apparent and the hidden, the past and the future—is hidden from Him, Exalted is His Majesty.

Ubayy recited "so that it may warn" (li-yundhara yawmun) in the active voice, with "Day" (yawm) in the nominative case as the doer of the action, metaphorically. Al-Yamani recited, according to the author of al-Lawami', "so that it may be warned" (li-yundhara) in the passive voice, with "Day" (yawm) in the nominative case as the deputy of the doer of the action. Al-Hasan and al-Yamani recited, according to Ibn Khalawayh, "so that you may warn" (li-tundhara) with the ta prefix. It is said: The doer of the action is the pronoun addressing the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace; and it is said: it is the pronoun of the soul (al-ruh), because it is considered feminine. And His saying: "To whom belongs sovereignty today? To Allah, the One, the Irresistible."

This is a narrative of what will be asked on that Day and how it will be answered, estimated as a statement conjoined to what preceded it from the negated, initiated sentence; or it is an initiation that acts as an answer to a question arising from the narrative of their exposure and the appearance of their conditions—as if it were said: "What will happen then?" Thus, it is said: It is asked, "To whom belongs sovereignty?" etc.