وَالأَرضِ وَما طَحاها

By the earth and Him who spread it.

EXEGESIS

As was mentioned in the previous verse, mā can have several meanings. If taken in an infinitive meaning, the verse would mean: And the earth and its spreading.

EXPOSITION

Verses 5-6 swear by the sky and the earth which are some of the greatest blessings of God as alluded to in 2:22 and 20:53. These two verses are similar to 51:47-48.

The phrase wa mā ṭaḥāha has been interpreted in several different ways. Some say it means: and what Allah has created therein,^{‎[1]Suyuti, 6/355; Tabari, 30/134.} such as the plants that grow in it or the springs that gush forth from it.^{‎[2]Mudarrisi, 18/135.} Or that it means: and how it (the earth) has been proportioned.^{‎[3]Suyuti, 6/356; Tabari, 30/134.} However, most of the exegetes have understood this verse to be similar to 79:30, and thus the appropriate meaning is, By … Him who spread it, thus understanding the verb ṭaḥw to mean spreading.^{‎[4]Mizan, 20/297.}

The spreading of the earth refers to the phenomenon that the earth was initially fully covered with water, and at some point dry land emerged from it and was gradually spread from a central point. Furthermore, the earth was originally thought to be uninhabitable due to its rough terrain, which was then smoothened by continuous rains, thereby making it inhabitable.^{‎[5]Amthal, 20/234.}

REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE

Some have suggested that this verse could also be hinting at the movement of the earth. This is because one of the meanings of ṭaḥw is a push, and that this is perhaps referring to the rotation of the earth around the sun, or its rotation around its own axis, or to both movements.^{‎[6]Amthal, 20/234.}

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

1. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.^{‎[7]Psalms 74:17.}
2. Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.^{‎[8]Isaiah 42:5.}
3. I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.^{‎[9]Isaiah 44:24.}

[1] Suyuti, 6/355; Tabari, 30/134.
[2] Mudarrisi, 18/135.
[3] Suyuti, 6/356; Tabari, 30/134.
[4] Mizan, 20/297.
[5] Amthal, 20/234.
[6] Amthal, 20/234.
[7] Psalms 74:17.
[8] Isaiah 42:5.
[9] Isaiah 44:24.