Tafsir of Ash-Shura 42:32

(And of His signs are the ships), meaning the vessels that sail; they are a description of a deleted noun due to the indication provided by His saying, "(in the sea)." Thereby, the deletion is deemed appropriate; otherwise, it would be a non-specific description, and the standard rule is that the described noun should not be deleted while the adjective takes its place. Abu Hayyan permitted the view that it is a dominant adjective, like "al-abtah" (the wide valley), where it is permissible for it to follow governing agents without mentioning the described noun.

(In the sea) is linked to "the ships."

His saying, (like landmarks), is in the position of a circumstantial state (hal), and it is also permitted that the first (phrase) be the same. "Al-A'lam" is the plural of "alam," which is a mountain. Its origin refers to a mark by which a thing is known, such as a road sign or a military standard. A mountain is named an "alam" for that reason. It is not exclusively applied to a mountain, as a structure lit with fire for guidance is also called so when that meaning is intended, as in the statement of Al-Khansa:

And indeed, Sakhr is a guide to those who are guided, as if he were a landmark with fire upon its peak.

In this, there is a subtle hyperbole. It is narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said when he heard it, "May Allah fight her; she was not satisfied with likening him to a mountain until she placed fire upon its peak."

Nafi’ and Abu Amr read "al-jawari" with a 'ya' during connective recitation but not during pausing. Ibn Kathir read it with the 'ya' in both cases. The others read it with the deletion of the 'ya' in both cases. Retention is based on the original form, and deletion is for the sake of lightening (the pronunciation). In any case, the inflection is estimative. Some of the Arabs were heard to apply the inflection directly upon the 'ra'.