Tafsir of Ash-Shams 91:14

Surah Ash-Shams (The Sun): Verse 14

{ فكذبوه فعقروها فدمدم عليهم ربهم بذنبهم فسواها }

Then, the Almighty clarified that the people did not refrain from rejecting Salih and slaughtering the she-camel due to the punishment that Allah had warned them about. This is implied by His saying: {So they denied him and hamstrung her}.

It is possible that the direct perpetrator of the slaughter was one individual (Qudar), and the action is attributed to him directly, as in: {Then he took charge and hamstrung her}. However, the action is also attributed to the entire group because they consented to what that one individual did.

Qatadah narrated that it was reported to him that he [the perpetrator] refused to hamstring the she-camel until their young and old, their males and females, pledged allegiance to him. This is the view of most commentators. Al-Farra' said that it is said there were two perpetrators.

Know that there are several interpretations regarding the meaning of Damdama (inflicted destruction/overwhelmed):

1. Al-Zajjaj said: The meaning of Damdama is that the punishment overwhelmed them. It is said: Dammamtu ‘ala ash-shay’ (I overwhelmed something) when you cover it completely. A she-camel is called mudammat (overwhelmed/fattened) if it is covered in fat. When the covering action is repeated, you say damdamtu ‘alayhi. Al-Wahidi said that Damm in the language means smearing or smudging. It is said of something fat: as if it were smeared with fat (damm). Al-Zajjaj derived damdama from this root, using the reduplication pattern (like kabkabū), meaning the punishment covered and encompassed them from all sides, like something smeared from every direction.

2. The second view: You say damdamtu ‘alayhi for something that is buried, meaning you leveled the ground over it. Thus, the meaning of {فدمدم عليهم} could be that He leveled the earth over them by destroying them and making them lie beneath the dust.

3. Ibn al-Anbari said: Damdama means anger. Al-Damdama is the speech that startles a man.

4. The fourth view: Damdama ‘alayhim means He shook the earth beneath them. This is narrated by Tha’lab from Ibn al-A'rabi and is the view of Al-Farra'.

This carries two possibilities:

1. If we interpret Damdama as covering/encompassing, then {فسواها} means the destruction overwhelmed and encompassed them all. This is because their destruction occurred through the cry (or blast) of Gabriel (peace be upon him), and that cry destroyed them all equally, leveling them out, affecting their young and old alike.
2. If we interpret Damdama as leveling (as in burying), then {فسواها} means He leveled the earth over them.

{ ولا يخاف عقباها } (And He does not fear its consequence.)

(The text cuts off here, but the verse continues to discuss Allah not fearing the consequence of His action.)