وَوُجوهٌ يَومَئِذٍ عَلَيها غَبَرَةٌ

تَرهَقُها قَتَرَةٌ

And some faces on that day will be covered with dust,

overcast with gloom.

EXEGESIS

Ghabarah (dust) is the plural of ghubār, derived from the root ghabara. The core meaning of the verb ghabara denotes what remains behind, as in the verse, Except an old woman who remained behind (fī al-ghābirīn) (26:171). Linguistically, ghubār refers to the particles of stirred-up dust that linger in the air. This imagery of unsettled remnants then extends metaphorically to describe extreme anxiety and trepidation as unsettled as swirling dust.

Tarhaqu (overcast) means to cover and envelop something against their will, like in the verse, Soon I will overwhelm him (urhiquhu) with hardship (74:17).^{‎[1]Tahqiq, 4/260, r-h-q. See also Raghib, p. 367, r-h-q.}

Qatarah (gloom) is the plural of qatr or qatār, which means the smoke that rises from burning wood or other similar objects.^{‎[2]Nemuneh, 26/160.}
The stingy or poor person is called muqtir, because it is as if he takes from something only its faint smoke or vapour (qitār), as in the verse, and man is very niggardly (qatūr) (17:100), and the poorly-off (muqtir) according to his capacity (2:236).^{‎[3]Raghib, p. 655, q-t-r.}

EXPOSITION

Having dealt with the joyous faces of the pious, the surah now turns its attention, in these closing verses, to the countenance of the wicked, which will be overcast, apprehensive, anxious, and gloomy on that day, fearful of the punishment that awaits them. Again, like with the brightened faces of the righteous, this description is not merely metaphorical; rather, some sort of physical transformation will take place: The guilty will be recognised by their mark (55:41).

The faces of the wicked being covered with dust and overcast with rising smoke also evokes a powerful image of the fire of hell that awaits them, as if the dust from its fire and the shadow of its flame is etched on their faces.

The dusty faces can also be considered an allusion to how the angels will drag them on their faces towards hell, Those who will be mustered on their faces toward hell (25:34).

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

1. ‘Their princes were brighter than snow and whiter than milk, their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like lapis lazuli. But now they are blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets.’^{‎[4]Lamentations 4:7-8.}
   
2. ‘They will put on sackcloth and be clothed with terror. Every face will be covered with shame, and every head will be shaved.’^{‎[5]Ezekiel 7:18.}
   
3. ‘Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labour. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame.’^{‎[6]Isaiah 13:8.}
   

[1] Tahqiq, 4/260, r-h-q. See also Raghib, p. 367, r-h-q.
[2] Nemuneh, 26/160.
[3] Raghib, p. 655, q-t-r.
[4] Lamentations 4:7-8.
[5] Ezekiel 7:18.
[6] Isaiah 13:8.