Wa-itha al-ardu muddat (surah Inshiqaq: 3)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(84:3) and when the earth is stretched out *2

Wa izal ardu muddat

*2) "When the earth is spread out": when the oceans and rivers are filled up, the mountains are crushed to pieces and scattered away, and the earth is levelled and turned into a smooth plain. In Surah Ta Ha, the same thing has been expressed, thus: "He will turn the earth into an empty level plain, wherein you will neither see any curve nor crease." (vv 106-107) Hakim in Mustadrak has related through authentic channels on the authority of Hadrat Jabir bin 'Abdullah a saying of the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) to the effect: "On the Resurrection Day the earth will be flattened out and spread out like the table-cloth; then there will hardly be room on it for men to place their feet." To understand this saying one should keep in mind the fact that ou that Day aII men who will have been born from the first day of creation till Resurrection, will be resurrected simultaneously and produced in the Divine Court. For gathering together such a great multitude of the people it is inevitable that the oceans, rivers, mountains, jungles, ravines and aII high and low areas be levelled and the entire globe of the earth be turned into a vast plain so that aII individuals of human race may have room on it to stand on their feet.