It says...

It says: “And when a wave covers them like the canopy (of clouds), they call upon Allah in sincere devotion unto Him…” The Arabic word /zulal/ is the plural form of /zullah/ for which the commentators have mentioned several meanings. Raqib in Mufradat says: “The term /zullah/ means the cloud that is shady, and it is often used in the cases that there is an unpleasant matter in the affair.” Some commentators have also rendered it into ‘canopy’, derived from /zill/.

Some others have taken it with the sense of ‘mountain’. Though in relation to the verse under discussion these very meanings do not differ very much with each other, regarding that this word has repeatedly been used in the Qur’an with the meaning of Shady clouds, and regarding that the application of the Qur’anic term /qašiyahum/ (covers them) is more fitting with the sense of ‘cloud’, this interpretation seems closer to the fact.

Then the verse means that the great waves of the sea will arise and surround the ship so violent that as if a cloud had cast a shadow over them, a shadow which is fearful and horrible. It is here that man, with the whole apparent powers that he has gained and gathered for him, now sees himself weak, naught, and unable. He receives no help from anywhere, and all spiritual and material means becomes useless for him.

There will remain no hope for him except the light which glitters from inside his soul and from the depth of his nature. It discloses the curtains of negligence and brightens his heart and tells him that there is someone Who can save you. The same One Whose command the waves of the sea obey. It is here that the pure Monotheism fills his whole heart, and he considers religion, faith, and worship specific to Him.

Then the verse adds: “…but when He has delivered them to the land, some of them follow the middle course…” But there are another group of people who forget everything and the army of polytheism and paganism overcome the country of their heart. Some of the commentators believe that the above holy verse refers to ‘Akramat-ibn-’Abijahl who became Muslim.

At the time of the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet of Islam (S) forgave all people of Mecca except four persons, one of whom was ‘Akramat-ibn-’Abijahl.