لِكُلِّ امرِئٍ مِنهُم يَومَئِذٍ شَأنٌ يُغنيهِ

That day each of them will have a task to keep him preoccupied.

EXEGESIS

Shaʾn (task) is a state or matter that is of importance.^{‎[1]Raghib, p. 470.}

Yughnīhi (keep him preoccupied) derives from the root ghaniya, which fundamentally denotes self-sufficiency (ghināʾ),^{‎[2]Tabrisi, 5/380.}
whether material (wealth that fulfils all needs) or transcendent (absolute independence from all want, a perfection reserved for God alone).^{‎[3]Raghib, p. 615, gh-n-y.}
Here it means that the concerns on the Day of Judgement are sufficient to keep a person preoccupied.^{‎[4]See Tibyan, 10/278.}

EXPOSITION

This harrowing depiction evokes the absolute terror of Judgement Day, when even those whom man counted among his closest kin and his most intimate companions – those he sought for comfort, relied upon as pillars of support, and took as protectors in worldly life – will become those from whom he flees in desperation. For when calamity envelops him so completely, it permits no concern for any other, no matter who they might be.      

Certainly, this situation only includes those who had no concern for God in this world. Without a doubt, times of crises can bring out the best in some people and the worst in some others. While some may react to a crisis with altruism and self-sacrifice, others can resort to selfishness and reveal their cold-hearted nature. Yet it is difficult for us to imagine the kind of difficulty that would make an individual simply focus on their own self and forget even their family members. This is perhaps one of the most powerful descriptions of just how difficult the situation on the Day of Judgement will be.    

The usage of yughnīhi draws the reader’s attention back to the usage of istaghnā in verse 5. If in this world man is preoccupied with his wealth and material well-being, on the Day of Judgement he will be preoccupied with his record and spiritual well-being.

INSIGHTS FROM HADITH

1. From the Prophet (s): ‘They will be gathered [on the Day of Judgement] naked and barefoot.’ ʿĀʾishah then asked: ‘Will they not be ashamed?’ The Prophet replied: ‘That day each of them will have a task to keep him preoccupied.’^{‎[5]Tibyan, 7/54; Tabrisi, 6/732, 10/668; Ahmad 6/53, 90. See also Tabari, 30/39-40; Thalabi, 10/135. The expression of people being gathered on the Day of Judgement ‘naked and barefoot’ is one that appears in many narrations. See for example Ahmad, 1/220; Bukhari, 7/195; Muslim, 8/156.}
   

Note: A similar hadith is also narrated from Sawdah,^{‎[6]Tabrisi, 10/668.}
however there is another set of narrations clarifying that whilst this describes the state of faithless people, the true believers will be clothed either in garments of light or other divine coverings. For a more detailed discussion on this and similar narrations, see the commentary on 18:48.

[1] Raghib, p. 470.
[2] Tabrisi, 5/380.
[3] Raghib, p. 615, gh-n-y.
[4] See Tibyan, 10/278.
[5] Tibyan, 7/54; Tabrisi, 6/732, 10/668; Ahmad 6/53, 90. See also Tabari, 30/39-40; Thalabi, 10/135. The expression of people being gathered on the Day of Judgement ‘naked and barefoot’ is one that appears in many narrations. See for example Ahmad, 1/220; Bukhari, 7/195; Muslim, 8/156.
[6] Tabrisi, 10/668.