English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah swears by the angels sent one after another with His commands.

The angels sent forth in succession.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

And by the angels that move swiftly and forcefully in carrying out what they are commanded.

Those that rush with force.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

And by the angels that spread out Allah’s commands and mercy as He wills.

Those that spread widely.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

And by the angels that clearly distinguish between truth and falsehood by Allah’s revelation.

Those that separate distinctly.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

And by the angels that cast the revelation and reminder to the messengers.

Those that deliver the reminder.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

That revelation comes as an excuse against creation and as a warning to those who reject.

An establishing proof or a warning.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Surely what you are promised of resurrection, judgment, and recompense will certainly happen.

It will surely occur.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Then when the stars lose their light and are erased, the signs of the Last Day will begin.

The stars are extinguished.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

And when the heaven is cleft open, its present order will be broken apart.

The heaven is split open.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

And when the mountains are blown away and removed from their places.

The mountains are blown away.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

And when the messengers are brought at their appointed time to testify against their nations.

The messengers are gathered at their set time.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

For what tremendous day have all these matters been delayed?

For what day were they postponed?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

It is delayed for the Day of Decision, when Allah will judge between His creation.

The Day of Decision.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

And what will make you know the greatness of the Day of Decision?

A day of immense seriousness and judgment.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Woe and severe punishment on that Day for those who denied the truth.

For those who denied.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Did We not destroy the earlier nations when they denied the messengers?

The former peoples.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Then We make the later deniers follow them in punishment when they act the same way.

The later peoples who followed the same path.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

In this way We deal with the criminals who persist in rejecting the truth.

With the criminals.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Woe on that Day to those who denied after so many signs and warnings.

Woe on that Day.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Did We not create you from weak and humble fluid, showing Our perfect power over your origin?

A weak and humble fluid.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Then We placed that fluid in a secure and protected place, the womb.

A secure lodging.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Until a known and appointed time fixed by Allah for birth.

A known measure and term.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

So We determined all of that with perfect wisdom, and how excellent is Allah in determining.

Excellent indeed is the One who determines.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Woe on that Day to those who deny despite the clear sign in their own creation.

For the deniers.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Did We not make the earth a receptacle that gathers people upon it and within it?

The earth as a container and gathering place.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

It contains the living on its surface and the dead in its interior.

The living and the dead.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

And We placed in the earth high, firm mountains and gave you fresh, sweet water to drink.

Lofty, firmly set mountains.

Sweet and pleasant water.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Woe on that Day to those who deny after seeing these signs in creation.

Woe on that Day.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The deniers will be told: go to the punishment that you used to deny.

What you used to deny.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Go to a shadow of smoke that has three branches, a shadow that gives no comfort.

A smoke-shadow with three branches.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

It is neither a cool shade nor does it protect from the flame.

It is not a beneficial shade.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Indeed the Fire throws huge sparks like lofty buildings.

Sparks like great structures.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

As though those sparks were yellow camels in their appearance and size.

Yellow camels.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Woe on that Day to those who denied and are now facing the Fire.

Woe on that Day.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

This is a Day on which they will not speak with any beneficial speech.

They will not speak.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Nor will they be allowed to make excuses, because their guilt will already be clear.

So they can offer excuses.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Woe on that Day to the deniers who find no speech and no excuse.

For the deniers.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

This is the Day of Decision; We have gathered you together with the earlier peoples.

The Day of Decision.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

If you have any plan or power to repel the punishment, then use it against Me now.

Then scheme against Me.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Woe on that Day to the deniers when their helplessness becomes fully clear.

Woe on that Day.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Indeed the people of taqwa will be in pleasant shades and among flowing springs.

The righteous who feared Allah.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

And they will have fruits of whatever kind they desire.

Fruits from whatever they desire.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

They will be told: eat and drink in delight as a reward for what you used to do.

In full enjoyment and satisfaction.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

In this way We reward those who excelled in faith and righteous deeds.

The doers of good.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Woe on that Day to the deniers, in contrast to the delight of the righteous.

For those who denied.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

They are told in warning: enjoy this life a little, for indeed you are criminals.

Only a little while.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Woe on that Day to the deniers who were deceived by short worldly enjoyment.

Woe on that Day.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

And when they are told to bow and submit to Allah, they do not bow.

Bow down and submit.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Woe on that Day to those who denied and refused to submit when called.

For the deniers.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

So if they do not believe in this Qur’an, then in what message after it will they believe?

What message after it will they believe in?

Summary of the Meanings:

Allah swears by the angels carrying out His command and affirms that the promised resurrection and judgment will surely happen.

The signs of the Last Day are mentioned, and the fate of earlier deniers is recalled as a warning to those who reject the truth.

Allah reminds people of His power in their creation and in the earth, mountains, and water — all as signs for reflection.

The deniers are driven to the Fire and shown their helplessness on the Day of Decision.

The righteous are rewarded with shade, springs, and fruits, while the deniers are condemned for refusing to submit. The surah closes by declaring that if they will not believe this Qur’an, no speech after it will guide them.

This surah teaches certainty in the Hereafter, reflection on Allah’s signs, fear of denying the truth, and hope for the reward of the righteous.