يَومَ يُنفَخُ فِي الصّورِ فَتَأتونَ أَفواجًا
The day the trumpet will be blown, and you will come in groups.
EXEGESIS
Ṣūr: trumpet. See an elaborate discussion under verse 39:68.
Afwāj is the plural of fawj, meaning a group that moves quickly. This is depicted in some other verses: The day when they emerge from the graves, hastening, as if racing toward a target (70:43), and that target will be the tryst of their Lord (36:51). Yet, these groups will be dispersed and scattered at some stage, due to the shock and fear of that day: With a humbled look [in their eyes], they will emerge from the graves as if they were scattered locusts (54:7); The day mankind will be like scattered moths (101:4).
Letter fāʾ in fataʾtūna (translated as and) shows that once the trumpet is blown, people will come right away, without any delay. And when the trumpet is blown, behold, there they will be, scrambling from their graves towards their Lord! (36:51).
EXPOSITION
It can be inferred from the idea that there will be a blow of a trumpet and that the people will come in groups that the Day of Resurrection has its own order and plan. That is, even though it is a day when the order of the entire universe will collapse, it does not mean that it is a realm of havoc and entropy. After all, the whole wisdom behind that day is to settle the differences and give order, meaning, and purpose to the creation. The same can be inferred from the idea that On the day when the spirit and the angels stand arrayed (verse 38).
On that day, people will come in groups. This could be a reference to the multitude of people that will fill the scene on that day. They will be summoned and gathered in groups according to their acts, beliefs, and values: The day We shall summon every group of people with their imam (17:71); When the souls are assorted (81:7); On that day, mankind will issue forth in various [or separate] groups to be shown their deeds (99:6). Apparently, this is a first grouping upon resurrection, which will be followed by a further grouping after the reckoning of acts and God’s final judgement: The faithless will be driven to hell in throngs … Those who are wary of their Lord will be led to paradise in throngs (39:71-73). Elsewhere, the Quran has talked about groups of disbelievers who are resurrected and thrown into hell (27:83, 38:59, 67:8).
Verse 17 can be viewed as a concise text that is then commentated and elaborated upon through the verses that follow. In other words, verses 18 and onwards describe what is meant by separation (faṣl) and tryst, and how these events will occur.
INSIGHTS FROM HADITH
- There is a famous and insightful narration that most exegetes have reported about this verse: Muʿādh ibn Jabal asked the Messenger of God about this verse in the house of Abū Ayyūb al-Anṣārī. The Prophet said: ‘O Muʿādh, you have asked about a tremendous matter,’ and he started to weep. Then he said: ‘There will be ten distinct groups from my nation that will be resurrected while God has transformed them and separated them from the Muslims. 1. Some of them will be in the shape of monkeys. 2. Some of them will be in the shape of pigs. 3. Some of them will be inverted, with their feet above and their heads below, and they will be dragged on their faces. 4. Some of them will be blind and wandering around. 5. Some of them will be deaf, dumb, and devoid of reason. 6. Some of them will be chewing on their tongues, whereby pus will drip down and flow from their mouths that will disgust everyone who has been resurrected. 7. Some of them will be with amputated arms and legs. 8. Some of them will be on crosses of fire. 9. Some of them will have a foul smell that is more intense than that of a carrion. 10. Some of them will be wearing cloaks completely coated with pitch (qaṭirān) and sticking to their skins. 1. Those in the shape of monkeys are people who were scandalmongers. 2. Those in the shape of pigs are people of unlawful income, or bribe in particular (al-suḥt). 3. Those inverted on their heads are those who used to consume usury. 4. The blind are those who judged unjustly. 5. The deaf and dumb are those who were proud of their [religious] acts. 6. Those who will be chewing their tongues are the scholars and judges whose actions contradicted their speeches. 7. Those with chopped arms and legs are people who bothered their neighbours. 8. Those who will be on crosses of fire are those who used to slander the people before the rulers. 9. Those more foul-smelling than carrion are those who used to indulge in lusts and pleasures without paying God’s due from their wealth. 10. Those who will be wearing the cloaks [of pitch] are people who were proud and arrogant.’
Notes: 1. This tradition has not been reported in any of the primary sources of Shia or Sunni hadith. However, its overall message and content is in line with the Quran, rational principles, and other traditions. 2. This tradition is apparently talking about people who used to be believers but failed to fulfil the requirements and implications of their faith. The Prophet’s weeping upon the remembrance of these groups could be because these groups will be from his nation. 3. The above are ‘ten distinct groups from my nation’ which shows that these are not all of the Muslim nation. This can be a subtle hint that there will be other Muslims on that day who will be in beautiful and splendid shapes, in contrast to the ones discussed in detail in the above tradition. This is confirmed by many other narrations that talk about the righteous believers being resurrected with faces shining like the full moon or the sun, riding on heavenly mounts with honour and grandeur.
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS
- In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
[1] Raghib, under f-w-j.
[2] Alusi, 15/211-212.
[3] Qaraati, 10/363.
[4] Thalabi, 10/115; Tabrisi, 10/642; Zamakhshari, 4/687-468; Suyuti, 6/307.
[5] Bursawi, 10/300, with some elaboration.
[6] Bursawi, 10/300, with some elaboration.
[7] 1 Corinthians 15:52.