وَالنّاشِطاتِ نَشطًا

By those who draw [it] out gently.

EXEGESIS

Nashṭ comes from the root nashaṭa, which is to draw, bring out, or release. It also means to loosen a knot.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Lisan, 7/413-414.”][1][/su_tooltip]}

Strictly with this understanding, verse 2 can refer to any one of: 1. The angels that draw the souls from the bodies.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Mizan, 20/179.”][2][/su_tooltip]} 2. Death, which draws the souls from the bodies.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Tibyan, 10/252.”][3][/su_tooltip]} 3. The stars that come out from one horizon into the other.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Tabrisi, 10/652, narrated from Qatādah, al-Akhfash, and Jubbāʾī.”][4][/su_tooltip]} 4. The arrows that are released from the bows in battle.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Mizan, 20/179.”][5][/su_tooltip]}

[1] Lisan, 7/413-414.
[2] Mizan, 20/179.
[3] Tibyan, 10/252.
[4] Tabrisi, 10/652, narrated from Qatādah, al-Akhfash, and Jubbāʾī.
[5] Mizan, 20/179.