Tafsir of An-Najm 53:57

Al-Najm (The Star): (57) Azafat al-Āzifah (The Overwhelming Event has drawn near)

This is like His saying, the Exalted: {When the Inevitable Event occurs} (Al-Wāqiʿah: 1). It is also said: Kānat al-Kā’inah (The event that was destined to happen, has happened).

This usage occurs in several ways:

1. When the doer has performed such an action before, and then performs the same action again. It is said: Faʿala al-Fāʿil (The doer has done [it]), meaning the one who was a doer has become a doer once more. For example, Ḥākahu al-Ḥā’ik (The weaver has woven it), meaning he performed the action because that was his occupation previously.
2. When the doer becomes a doer by means of that action. An example is the saying: "When the deceased dies, his deeds cease." If someone usurps property, he becomes liable for it (ḍāmin).

Therefore, the phrase {Azafat al-Āzifah} (The Overwhelming Event has drawn near) can be interpreted in two ways:

1. It belongs to the first category: Meaning the Hour, which draws nearer every day, has become imminent and has increased in its closeness.
2. It is like His saying, the Exalted: {When the Inevitable Event occurs}: Meaning its occurrence is near. Azafat (drew near) is attributed to its actual doer, which is the Resurrection (al-Qiyāmah) or the Hour, or something similar. It is as if He is saying: The Imminent Resurrection has drawn near, or the Hour, or the like.

{None besides Allah can disclose it.}