| Verse (44): The Day the Earth Splits Open...

And His saying, Exalted is He: {The Day the earth splits open for them, rushing forth} (70:44).

The operative verb for this phrase is implied from the verb in His saying: {The Day of Emergence} (referring to the context of verse 42), meaning: They will emerge on the Day the earth splits open for them, rushing forth.

And His saying: {rushing forth} (sarā'an) is a ḥāl (circumstantial accusative) describing those emerging. This is because His saying, {for them} ('anhum), implies that they are the object of the splitting open. Thus, the splitting open occurs at the time of their emergence from the grave, similar to the expression: He uncovered it (kashafa 'anhu), meaning it becomes uncovered (makshūf 'anhu). Therefore, sarā'an describes the state of the object (the people), as if He meant: in a state of haste. Sarā' is the plural of sarī' (swift/rushing), just as kirām (generous) is the plural of karīm (generous).

His saying: {That is an easy gathering} (dhālika ḥashrun).

This may refer to the splitting open of the earth, or it may refer to the resurrection/gathering implied by the word {rushing forth} (sarā'an). It could also mean: This gathering is an easy gathering, because the concept of the Gathering (al-Ḥashr) has already been established by the preceding terms.

And His saying, Exalted is He: {upon Us is easy} ('alaynā yasīr).

The fronting of the prepositional phrase ('alaynā) indicates specialization (exclusivity): It is easy for Us, but not for others. This is a response to their previous statement: {That is a distant return} (70:3).

Al-Ḥashr (The Gathering) means the assembly. The Day of Resurrection is the gathering of the physical parts with one another, and the gathering of the souls with their bodies—meaning, bringing together every soul with its physical form, gathering scattered nations, and disintegrated remains. All of this is one single act of assembly for Us.

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