An-Nazi'at: (13) Then it is but a single blast...

Issues Discussed:

The Fa' (ف) in the phrase, "Then suddenly they are..." (فَإِذَا هُمْ) is connected to an implied preceding statement. The meaning is: "Do not find that Resurrection difficult, for it is but a single blast." That is, do not think the return (resurrection) is difficult for Allah, as it is easy and trivial within His power.

The term zajr (زَجْر) means to shout at a camel. Here, it refers to the Second Blast (of the Trumpet) sounded by Israfil. The exegetes state that Allah will revive them from within the earth, and they will hear this sound and stand up. A similar verse is His saying: "They are not awaiting anything except a single blast, with no delay for it." (Sad: 15).

As-Sāhirah refers to the flat, white earth. It is named this for two reasons:

1. The traveler upon it cannot sleep out of fear of it.
2. The mirage runs upon it, derived from the saying ‘ayn sāhirah (a flowing water spring).

I (Al-Razi) propose a third reason: The earth is called Sāhirah because, due to the intensity of fear there, sleep flees from people. The land where the disbelievers gather on the Day of Resurrection will be one of extreme fear, hence it is named Sāhirah for this reason.

Furthermore, there is a difference of opinion regarding which earth is meant:

1. Some say it is the earth of this world (Dunya).
2. Others say it is the earth of the Hereafter (Akhirah), because upon the blast and shout, they will be moved in groups to the land of the Hereafter. This latter view is perhaps closer to the truth.