Surah At-Tariq, Verse 12

Tafsir of 86:12

Swearing to the Truthfulness of the Qur'an and the Failure of Those Who oppose it Ibn `Abbas said, "Ar-raj` means rain." It has also been narrated from him that he said, "It means the clouds that contain rain." He also said, وَالسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ الرَّجْعِ (By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again.) "This means that it rains and then it rains (again)." Qatadah said, "It returns the sustenance of the servants (creatures) every year. Were it not for this, they would all be destroyed and so would their cattle." وَالاّرْضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدْعِ (And the earth which splits.) Ibn `Abbas said, "Splitting to bring forth plant growths." This was also said by Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ikrimah, Abu Malik, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi and others. Concerning Allah's statement, إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ (Verily, this is the Word that separates.) Ibn `Abbas said (Fasl is), "True." Qatadah also said the same. Someone else said, "A just ruling." وَمَا هوَ بِالْهَزْلِ (And it is not a thing for amusement.) meaning, rather it is serious and true. Then Allah informs about the disbelievers saying that they reject Him and hinder others from His path.…

Source: Ibn Kathir (Abridged)