(36:48) *** *** This verse is about the Hereafter wherein...
(36:48) *** *** This verse is about the Hereafter wherein they ask, “When would this promise of Qiyamat be fulfilled if you are truthful?” The promise of Resurrection along with its rewards and punishments has always been given by all the messengers of God. All of them drew the attention of people towards resurrection.
People imagined it to be impossible and they asked, “When would this world of rewards and chastisement come up?” In response Allah says, They wait not for aught but a single cry which will overtake them while they yet contend with one another. *** *** The first step to the Hereafter is death. It is the vanguard of the world of Barzakh (grave and Resurrection). They wait not for aught but a single cry… *** *** Meaning, that they are not waiting for anything except the shriek.
The first scream mentioned in this verse is the scream of death, the killing shout. The next scream is the enlivening one that will make all the dead alive again. Only one shriek is sufficient for taking away the life of this mankind. It would be a terrifying shriek by an angel, the Angel of Death. It is enough for the purpose and for which the angel has not to take any extra trouble.
In narrations relating to Meraj (Prophet’s ascension) it is mentioned that, in the fourth sky, the Holy Prophet (‘s) saw an angel with a serious face. He had formerly seen every angel having a happy disposition.
In explanation, Jibraeel said, “This is the Angel of Death.” The Holy Prophet (‘s) then asked, “What is this tablet in front of him?” Jibraeel replied, “Names of all living ones are mentioned therein.” The angel himself told the Prophet (‘s), “When the time of death for anyone arrives, his name gets erased from this list. Then I, at once, take away his or her life; the entire world is like a table spread for me.
Just as a man can easily and quickly pick up anything of one’s choice from the table-spread, I also can take up the life of anyone who is destined to die, very easily. …a single cry which will overtake them while they yet contend with one another. *** *** The shriek of death comes when they are disputing and quarrelling among themselves. It is mentioned that when the killer shriek comes, people would be busy in markets, buying and selling.
The buyer has yet to take possession of the purchased thing and the cry is heard and none is able to do anything anymore.