Tafsir of An-Nazi'at 79:14

"Then, behold, they are upon the Sahirah (the surface of the earth)." This is an explanation of the sequence of the return following the Zajrah (the blast), occurring by way of surprise. That is: behold, they are alive upon the surface of the earth after having been dead in its belly.

According to the first interpretation, it is an explanation of their presence at the place of standing immediately following the return, which was expressed as the Zajrah. Regarding the Sahirah, it is said to be the surface of the earth and the open wilderness. Umayyah ibn Abi al-Salt recited:

"And therein is the flesh of the Sahirah and the sea, And they have never spoken, remaining forever."

In al-Kashshaf, it is described as the white earth—that is, the level land in which there is no vegetation. It was named as such because the mirage flows within it, derived from their saying, "an eye that is sahirah (flowing with water)," as opposed to "sleeping." al-Ash'ath ibn Qays said:

"And a Sahirah, where the mirage at midday covers Its expanses; I have traversed it while veiled."

Or, it is because its traveler does not sleep for fear of perishing. In the first interpretation, there is a metaphor upon a metaphor; in the second, the word sahar (wakefulness) is used in its literal sense, with the metaphorical application occurring in the attribution.

al-Raghib narrated two opinions regarding it: the first is that it is the surface of the earth; the second is that it is the earth of the Resurrection. He then said: its reality is that which is frequently trodden upon, so it is as if it is kept awake by that, an allusion to what the poet said: "The wakeful one of the dust moves, and its sleeper."

It was narrated from al-Dahhak, from Ibn Abbas, that the Sahirah is an earth of silver, upon which Allah the Exalted has never been disobeyed, and which He, the Almighty and Majestic, will create at that moment. Also from him: that it is the land of Makkah. It is also said that it is the seventh earth, which Allah the Exalted will bring forth so that He may judge the creatures upon it, and that is when "the earth is replaced with a different earth."

Wahb ibn Munabbih said: It is a mountain in the Levant which Allah the Exalted will extend on the Day of Resurrection for the gathering of the people. Abu al-'Aliyah and Sufyan said: It is a land near Jerusalem. It is also said that the Sahirah means the wilderness on the edge of Hell, and Qatadah said: It is Hell itself, because there is no sleep for those who are in it.