In the third verse...

In the third verse, the Qur’an implies that each of these groups belied the Divine messengers and the chastisement of Allah came to them. It says: “There was none of them but belied the messengers, so just was My retribution.” History shows that how each group of them died by a pest and their cities were changed into ruins during a short time and their members turned to be some corpses.

In the fourth verse, the Holy Qur’an implicitly says whether these polytheists of Mecca, by these bad actions can have a better fate than them, while their deeds are the same as theirs and Allah’s way of treatment is the same. So, as a decisive and hard threat, it says: “And these (infidels) do not wait aught but a single blast, which (when it comes) will brook no delay.” This blast may be similar to the blasts which came upon the former nations.

It was a horrible thunderbolt, or an earthquake with a tremendous sound which wiped out their livings.

However, these neglectful people, by their rejections and denials of the Divine revelations, and their undue accusations unto the Prophet (S) and their persisting and obstinacy on idolatry, cruelty, and corruption, seemed that they had been waiting for the Divine punishment, a punishment which would burn the stack of their lifetime, or a blast that would put an end to the life of the world and take them to a way which was not returnable.

As many of the commentators and philologist have said, the Arabic word /fawaq/ originally means the length of time between two times of milking milk from the udder, because when the milk is fully milked, it needs waiting a while until the milk gathers in the udder again, and since after milking the milk the udder rests, this word has also been used in the sense of resting and calmness.

And also since this distance of time is for returning milk to the udder, this meaning has been used in the sense of ‘return’, too, and that is why the convalescence of a sick person in Arabic is called /’ifaqah/ since health turns back to him. However, there is no return of rest, calmness, and peace in this horrible blast, and when it happens all the doors will be shut to them. Neither regret is useful nor there is possibility of recompense, nor are shouts of avail.

The last verse of the verses under discussion points to one of other statements of the pagans and rejecters who spoke mockingly as follows: “And they (ridiculously) say: ‘O our Lord!