Tafsir of Al-Kahf 18:47

"And the Day We will cause the mountains to move..." It is recited as tusayyaru (are moved) from sayyarat (to cause to move), and nusayyiru (We cause to move) from sayyarna (We caused to move), and tasiru (they move) from sarat (they moved). That is: they move through the air, or they are taken away by being turned into scattered dust.

"And you will see the earth..." It is recited as wa-tura (and it is seen) in the passive voice.

"...prominent" There is nothing upon it that would conceal it, unlike what was previously upon it.

"And We will gather them..." Meaning: We will assemble them for the place of standing. It is recited as falam nughadir (We did not leave behind) with both nun and ya. It is said: ghadarahu and aghdarahu when one leaves something behind. From this comes al-ghadr (treachery), which is abandoning loyalty, and al-ghadir (a pool), which is what the flood leaves behind.

"...in rows" Their state is likened to soldiers presented before a ruler, standing in rows, visible. Their collective group is seen just as each individual is seen; no one obscures another.

"You have come to Us..." Meaning: We said to them, "You have come to Us." This implied verb is the governing agent for the accusative case in "the Day We will cause the mountains to move." It is also permissible for it to be in the accusative by implying the verb "Remember." The meaning is: "We have resurrected you just as We created you the first time." It is also said: "You have come to Us naked, possessing nothing, just as We created you initially," similar to His saying: "And you have come to Us alone" (Al-An'am: 94).

If you ask: Why is "We gathered them" (hasharnahum) in the past tense after "We will cause to move" (nusayyiru) and "you will see" (tura)? I say: To indicate that their gathering occurs before the moving and before the prominence, so that they may witness those great terrors. It is as if it were said: "And We had gathered them before that."

"...an appointed time" A time for the fulfillment of what you were promised upon the tongues of the prophets regarding resurrection and rising.

"And the record [of deeds] will be placed, and you will see the criminals fearful of that which is in it, and they will say, 'Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?' And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one."