سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ

Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 88

The Ant · Meccan · Juz 20 · Page 384

وَتَرَى ٱلْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً وَهِىَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ ٱلسَّحَابِ ۚ صُنْعَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَ ﴿88﴾
And you will see the mountains and think them solid, but they shall pass away as the passing away of the clouds. The Work of Allâh, Who perfected all things, verily He is Well-Acquainted with what you do.
وَتَرَى watarā And you see
ٱلْجِبَالَ l-jibāla the mountains
تَحْسَبُهَا taḥsabuhā thinking them
جَامِدَةًۭ jāmidatan firmly fixed
وَهِىَ wahiya while they
تَمُرُّ tamurru will pass
مَرَّ marra (as the) passing
ٱلسَّحَابِ ۚ l-saḥābi (of) the clouds
صُنْعَ ṣun'ʿa (The) Work
ٱللَّهِ l-lahi (of) Allah
ٱلَّذِىٓ alladhī Who
أَتْقَنَ atqana perfected
كُلَّ kulla all
شَىْءٍ ۚ shayin things
إِنَّهُۥ innahu Indeed, He
خَبِيرٌۢ khabīrun (is) All-Aware
بِمَا bimā of what
تَفْعَلُونَ tafʿalūna you do

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 88) ➊ { وَ تَرَى الْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً …:} That is, at that time not only humans, but those mountains which, when you look at them, you think are firmly fixed in their place and nothing can shake them, on the Day of Resurrection they will be flying about in the atmosphere like clouds. The various states of the mountains on the Day of Resurrection are mentioned; the sum of all is that they will be blown away and the earth will be cleared. See Surah Ta Ha (20:105), Ma'arij (9), Haqqah (14), Muzzammil (14), Qari'ah (5), Furqan (23), and Waqi'ah (6), and for the sequence of the states they will undergo, see the commentary of Surah Naba, Ayah (20).

{صُنْعَ اللّٰهِ الَّذِيْۤ اَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ … :} The meaning of "itqan" is to make something strong with complete skill, that is, blowing away the mountains like clouds is the craftsmanship of that Allah who not only made the mountains, but made everything strong and firm. This is proof that Allah is fully capable of everything, and also that He has complete knowledge of everything, even whatever people do, He is fully aware of it. Because itqan is not possible without power, and power is not possible without knowledge. It is by this knowledge and power of His that the Resurrection will be established, and by this people will be rewarded or punished for their deeds, as is mentioned in the next verse.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

88-1. This will be on the Day of Resurrection when the mountains will not remain in their places, but will move and fly like clouds.

88-2. That is, this will be by the great power of Allah, Who has made everything strong. But He is also able to make these strong things like tufts of cotton.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

88. On that Day, you will see the mountains you thought were firmly fixed, moving like the passing of clouds [95]. This is the work of Allah, Who has perfected all things [96]. Surely, He is fully aware [97] of what you do.

[95]
The Fate of the Mountains on the Day of Resurrection:

That is, when the Day of Resurrection is established, it will begin in such a way that there will be a tremendous disturbance in the system of the universe. The earth will begin to shake continuously. And something as solid, hard, and immovable as the mountains will be uprooted and shattered into pieces, and the dust of these fragments will fly in the atmosphere like carded wool [القارعه : 5], and at this point, the analogy is given that just as clouds float in the sky, so too will the mountains float about.

[96]
The Literal Meaning of ﴿اَتْقَنَ﴾:

Although whatever Allah Almighty has created in the universe is an unparalleled example of His craftsmanship, and the meaning of "athqal al-amr" is to make something strong with technical skill, so that it does not deteriorate even after a long period of use. For example, this sun, this moon, these stars, this earth, and this sky—all these, since the day Allah created them and for the purpose for which He created them, are fulfilling that purpose with utmost excellence. There is never any change in their course, nor is there any advancement or delay even for a moment, nor do they deteriorate, nor do they cease to function. And these things will remain in this state until the Day of Resurrection, and any disturbance or corruption will occur only when Allah wills and the Day of Resurrection is established.

[97] He is fully aware of your actions and deeds, and He is also aware of your intentions. Then, a complete record of your actions, deeds, and words is also preserved with Him, and this will be the day when you will be recompensed for your deeds.