Surah Al-Inshiqaq 84:4
ﱟ ﱠ ﱡ ﱢ
And has cast out that within it and relinquished [it]
Tafsir of Al-Inshiqaq 84:4
Tafsir
Ruh al-Ma'ani
Verse range: 84:4
And cast out what is within it: Meaning, it shall throw out what is in its interior, consisting of the dead and the treasures. This is how Abd al-Razzaq and Abd ibn Humayd narrated it from Qatada, and al-Zajjaj held the same view. Some, such as Ibn Jubayr and a group of others, limited it to the dead, based on the understanding that the casting out of treasures occurs when the Dajjal emerges.
As for those who hold the first view, they do not concede that the casting out of treasures is specific to that day; even if it were conceded, they would argue that it is possible it is not universal for all treasures, but rather that such occurs on the Day of Judgment. The assertion that the "Day of Judgment" is broad enough to include the time of the Dajjal's emergence is something that should be discarded and paid no heed.
And became empty: Meaning, it becomes void of what was within it, a state of absolute emptiness, to the point that nothing of that remains, as if it exerted its utmost effort in doing so. Thus, the *tafa''ul* form (form V) denotes *takalluf* (exertion), and the intended meaning is hyperbole, as in your saying "the forbearing one forces himself to be forbearing" (*tahallama al-halim*) or "the generous one forces himself to be generous" (*takarruma al-karim*).
It has been said that it means "became empty of those living upon its surface," and it has been said it means "empty of the mountains and seas upon its surface." Both of these views are as you see (i.e., questionable).
Abu al-Qasim al-Hubayli extracted in al-Dibaj from Ibn Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both—from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—that he said: "I am the first person for whom the earth will split open. I shall sit up in my grave, and the earth will shake beneath me. I will say to it, 'What is the matter with you?' It will say, 'My Lord has commanded me to cast out what is in my interior and to become empty, so that I may be as I was, when there was nothing in it.'" This supports the words of Allah the Exalted: And cast out what is in it, and became empty.