غَاسِق

4872

Commentary:

غاسق (darkness) is derived from غسق which means, it became dark or intensely dark. غسقت العین means, the eyes flowed with water. غسق اللبن means, the milk poured fourth from the udder. الغاسق means, the night; darkness; the Pleiades when it sets; the moon when it is eclipsed; the sun when it sets; the day when it enters upon the night, etc. (Lane & Aqrab).

وقب (overspreads). They say وقب الظلام i.e. the darkness overspread. وقبت الشمس means, the sun set. وقب الرجل means, the eyes of the man sank. وقب القمر means, the moon became eclipsed (Aqrab).

Commentary:

The verse may refer to the evils of the time when the light of truth becomes extinguished and the darkness of sin and iniquity spreads over the entire face of the earth. Or it may refer to the evils of the time when one is overwhelmed by distress and privation, when it is darkness all around him, and the last ray of hope disappears. See also last verse of the Surah.