فَكانَت هَباءً مُنبَثًّا
And become scattered dust.
EXEGESIS
Habāʾan: dust, small particles of dust scattered in the air, which are not seen except in a ray of light. It means that the mountains – which are the symbols of rigidity and strength – are shattered into the tiniest pieces of dust imaginable.
Munbaththa: scattered, dispersed, spread. Derivatives of this root are used in the Quran to refer to the dispersal of animals and mankind on the earth (2:164, 4:1, 31:10, 42:29, 45:4) and on the Day of Judgement (101:4), the carpets that are spread in paradise (88:16), and the dispersion of one’s thoughts and emotions due to some grief (12:86).
EXPOSITION
If the earth itself will be shaken violently and the most solid structures on it will be shattered into bits, then one should think twice before relying on one’s power, connections, properties, or possessions. The only refuge then will be with God: That is the day of truth. So let anyone who wishes take resort with his Lord (78:39); That day man will say: ‘Where is the escape?’ No indeed! There is no refuge! That day the abode will be toward your Lord (75:10-12). The means and devices to which one takes recourse in this world will all vanish in the hereafter: all their means of recourse will be cut off (2:166); ‘Certainly you have come to Us alone, just as We created you the first time, and left behind whatever We had bestowed on you. We do not see your intercessors with you – those whom you claimed to be [Our] partners in [deciding] you[r fate]. Certainly all links between you have been cut, and what you used to claim has forsaken you!’ (6:94). Even if one is so clever and cunning that he can move the mountains (14:46), he should realise that his plots and plans will not avail him on that day.
[1] Raghib, under h-b-ʾ.