Tafsir of Al-Qalam 68:22

"أَنِ اغْدُوا" (that you go forth): Meaning, go out. An (that) is explanatory (tafsiriyyah), and ighdu means "go out." Or, it may be an as a particle for an infinitive (masdariyyah), with a preposition implied before it. It is permissible for it to be connected to a command, according to the most correct opinion.

"عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ" (to your tilth/garden): Meaning, your garden.

"إِن كُنتُمْ صَارِمِينَ" (if you are ones who would cut): Meaning, if you intend to harvest and cut the fruits. It is also said that it may mean "if you are people of determination and resolve regarding your opinion," derived from their expression "a sharp (sarim) sword," though this is not as strong.

The apparent view of Jar Allah is that ghada—in the sense of "going early" (bakara)—is typically used with the preposition ila (to), but here it is used with ala (on/upon) to imply the meaning of "going early" combined with the meaning of "approaching/advancing," as in their saying: "It is advanced upon (yughda 'alayhi) with the platter, and brought back in the evening." The meaning is: "Approach your garden early."

It is also possible that it is from the expression "He went against him (ghada 'alayhi)" in the sense of a raid, by likening their going early to harvest the fruits to an army going against something, as the meaning of superiority and taking control is present in it—which is the cutting and reaping. In this case, it would be a dependent metaphor (isti'arah tab'iyyah). It is also permitted to consider the metaphor a representational one (tamthiliyyah).

Abu Hayyan stated: "What is in my memory is that ghada is used with ala (upon), as in the saying: And we went early upon a group of noble ones, Intoxicated, finding what we desired.

And likewise bakara (to go early), which is its synonym, as in the saying: I went early upon them in the morning and saw, Sitting with him at the place of harvesting, his censurers."