Tafsir of Al-Qamar 54:7

Surah Al-Qamar (The Moon): Verse 7

Original Text Segment: خشعا أبصارهم يخرجون . . . . .

Translation & Exegesis:

There are several readings (Qira'at) for this phrase:

1. خاشعاً (Khāshi'an) (Masculine singular)
2. خاشعة (Khāshi'atan) (Feminine singular)
3. خُشَّعاً (Khushsha'an) (Plural)

Analysis of Readings:

• If read as خاشعاً (Khāshi'an): This follows the pattern of saying "their eyes humble" (يخشع أبصارهم) where the verb precedes the subject, thus omitting the feminine marker (ta'nith).
• If read as خاشعة (Khāshi'atan): This aligns with the structure where the verb follows the subject, as in "their eyes humble" (تخشع أبصارهم).
• If read as خُشَّعاً (Khushsha'an): This has several possible interpretations:
  1. It follows the pattern of verbs where the plural subject is treated as singular when the verb precedes it, like "The fleas ate me" (أكلوني البراغيث).
  2. The pronoun within خُشَّعاً refers back to their eyes (أبصارهم) as a substitute (badal ishtimal), meaning "They humble their eyes," similar to saying "I admired their handsomeness" (أعجبوني حسنهم).
  3. There is an implied verb explained by يخرجون (they come forth). The meaning is: "They come forth in a state of humbled eyes" (يخرجون خشعا أبصارهم), again as a substitute (badal ishtimal).

The Preferred Reading and Further Discussion:

The soundest reading is خاشعاً (Khāshi'an).

It is narrated that Mujahid saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) in a dream and asked him: "O Prophet of Allah, is it Khushsha'an (plural) or Khāshi'an (singular)?" The Prophet replied: "Khāshi'an."

Another, more apparent justification for the reading خاشعاً (Khāshi'an) is that it is in the accusative case (mansub) as an adverbial accusative (Hāl) or as the object (Maf'ul bihi) of the verb {يوم يدعو} (The Day the Caller calls), meaning: "The Caller calls these people in a state of humility."

Addressing Objections to the Second Interpretation (Object of yad'u):

Objections are raised against taking Khāshi'an as the object of yad'u:

1. Lack of Specificity: The Caller calls everyone, so specifying these people serves no purpose.
2. Temporal Conflict: The verse states they "come forth from the graves" after the call. Therefore, they must be humbled before coming forth, which seems contradictory.
3. The Reading Itself: The reading Khāshi'an (accusative) invalidates this interpretation.

Rebuttals:

1. Rebuttal to Objection 1: The phrase {إلى شيء نكر} (to a dreadful thing) provides the necessary specificity, as not everyone is called to something dreadful.
2. Rebuttal to Objection 2: The intended meaning of {من شيء نكر} is the severe reckoning (al-Hisāb al-'Usr). The operative verb for the accusative state is not yakhrujūn (they come forth), but rather an implied verb like udhkurū (Remember!) or related to the preceding verse, {فما تغني النذر} (Then what use are the warners?), similar to the verse: {فما تنفعهم شفاعة الشافعين} (Then the intercession of the intercessors will not benefit them). In this case, {يخرجون} becomes the beginning of a new sentence.
3. Rebuttal to Objection 3: There is no contradiction between the readings. Khāshi'an can be an adverbial accusative (Hāl) or the object of yad'u (as if saying: The Caller calls people whose eyes are humbled).

Meaning of Khushū' (Humility): Khushū' means stillness (Sukūn). Allah says: {وخشعت الأصوات} (And the voices will be hushed). The humility of the eyes means their stillness, not darting right or left, as in the verse: {لا يرتد إليهم طرفهم} (Their gaze will not waver).

This is a simile comparing them to scattered locusts in terms of their vast numbers and their agitated movement (tumawwuj). It is also possible that muntashir (scattered) is derived from nashara (to revive/spread out), implying that they are like locusts moving and crawling out of the earth, indicating the manner of their emergence from the graves and their weakness.

Original Text Segment: مهطعين إلى الداع يقول الكافرون هذا يوم عسر

Translation: