Tafsir of An-Nazi'at 79:34

Surah An-Nazi'at (79): Verse 34

{فَإِذَا جَاءَتِ الطَّامَّةُ} (Then when the overwhelming Calamity comes,)

The First Issue: The Meaning of Al-Ṭāmmah (The Overwhelming Calamity)

Among the Arabs, Al-Ṭāmmah refers to an unforeseen disaster that cannot be managed or overcome.

Regarding its etymology (derivation), there are several views:

1. Al-Mubarrid said: In my estimation, it is derived from the saying: Ṭamma al-Faras ṭamīman (The horse exerted all its effort in running). It is also derived from Ṭamma al-Mā’ (The water overflowed), meaning it filled the entire river.
2. Al-Layth said: Ṭamm refers to filling a well with earth, which is covering it completely (capping it). It is also said that Ṭamma al-Sayl al-Rukiyyah (The flood buried the well), meaning it covered it until it leveled it.
3. It is said that something which grows large until it overtops everything is described as having Ṭamma.
4. Al-Ṭāmmah is an event that overwhelms everything else. For this reason, it is said: "Above every Ṭāmmah is another Ṭāmmah."
5. Al-Qaffāl said: The root meaning of Ṭamm is covering/burying and rising above. Anything that overcomes, conquers, and conceals something else has Ṭammah it. From this comes al-Mā’ al-Ṭāmi (overflowing water), which is abundant and excessive.
6. Al-Ṭāghī, al-‘Ātī, and al-‘Ādī all mean the same thing: that which transgresses the command of Allah, the Exalted, and is arrogant.

Therefore, Al-Ṭāmmah is the name given to every great disaster that makes everything that preceded it forgotten in comparison to it.

(The Day man will remember what he strove for, And Hellfire will be displayed in full view for everyone who sees.)