Tafsir of Al-Muddathir 74:29

Al-Muddaththir (74): 29 - Lawwāḥatun lil-bashar (A Scorcher to the Humans)

Regarding this verse, there are two issues:

There are two opinions concerning the meaning of Lawwāḥah:

1. The First Opinion: Al-Layth said that lāḥahu al-'aṭash (thirst afflicted him/scorched him). Thus, lawwāḥah means that which changes or alters (the skin). Al-Farrā’ said it means that it blackens the skin due to burning.

2. The Second Opinion: This is the view of Al-Hasan and Al-Aṣakk. They hold that the meaning of Lawwāḥah is that it becomes visible (talūḥu) to the humans from a distance of five hundred years. This is similar to His saying: {And Hellfire will be displayed in full view for everyone to see} (An-Nāzi‘āt: 36). In this context, lawwāḥah is derived from lāḥa al-shay’u yalūḥu (the thing shone or flashed, like lightning). Those who hold this view criticize the first opinion, arguing that it is not permissible to describe Hellfire as merely blackening the skin when the preceding verse states that it {leaves nothing and spares nothing} (Al-Muddaththir: 28).

The word {لواحة} (lawwāḥatan) has been read in the accusative case (nasp) as an instance of ikhtiṣāṣ (specification/apposition) to emphasize the terror and severity.

Then He said: