وَبُسَّتِ الجِبالُ بَسًّا

And the mountains are shattered into bits.

EXEGESIS

Bassa: shatter, grind, crumble.^{‎[1]Raghib; Qamus, under b-s-s.} It is used when something is smitten or ground such that it breaks into bits and pieces, as the next verse says: And become scattered dust.

EXPOSITION

There are many verses in the Quran that talk about an immense quake upon resurrection (22:1, 79:6-7, 99:1), whereby the earth is levelled (89:21) and the mountains are crushed and disappear (20:105-107, 70:9, 77:10, 101:5). One message that these verses convey is that of admonition and awakening: a tremendous day is coming, so be prepared and do not get carried away. Given such an immense quake, it is very befitting for one to fear his Lord and take heed: O mankind! Be wary of your Lord! Indeed the quake of the hour is a tremendous thing (22:1). Another message that such verses convey is that what is fixed here, and what is relied upon in day-to-day life, will not be there on the Day of Resurrection. Everyone on it is ephemeral; there remains but the face of your Lord, majestic and munificent (55:26-27). Therefore, these verses about the earth and the mountains reemphasise the message of verse 3: [It will be] lowering and exalting.

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

1. So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.^{‎[2]Ezekiel 38:20.}

[1] Raghib; Qamus, under b-s-s.
[2] Ezekiel 38:20.