Fala oqsimu birabbi almashariqi walmagharibi inna laqadiroon (surah Maarij: 40)

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

(70:40) I swear *27 by the Lord of the easts and the wests *28 that We have the power

Falaaa uqsimu bi Rabbil mashaariqi wal maghaaribi innaa laqaadiroon

*27) That is, the truth is not that which these people think it is.
*28) Here, Allah has sworn an oath by Himself. The words Easts and Wests have been used because the sun rises and sets at a new angle every day during the year, and goes on rising and setting successively at different times around the globe. Thus considered the Easts and the Wests are not one but many. From another point of view as against the north and the south there is a direction of east and a direction of west. On this basis in Surah Ash-Shu`ara': 28 and AlMuzzammi1:19 the words Rabb-ul-rnashriqi wal-maghrib have been used. From still another view-point the earth has two easts and two wests, for when the sun sets on one hemisphere, it rises on the other. On this basis the words Rabb-ul-mashriqayn wa Rabb-ul-maghribayn (Lord of two easts and two wests) have been used in Surah Ar-Rahman: 17. (For further explanation, see E.N. 17 of Ar-Rahman).