Bringing low, exalting.
indicates that Al-Waqi`ah lowers some people to the lowest parts of the Fire, even if they had been mighty in this life. It also elevates others to the highest grades in the residence of eternal delight, even if they were weak in this life.
This was said by Al-Hasan, Qatadah and others.
Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn Abbas,
خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ
(Bringing low, exalting),
"It made the near and the far hear it,"
while Ikrimah said,
"It lowered, and thus those who were close heard it, and elevated, and thus those in the distance heard it."
Ad-Dahhak and Qatadah said similarly.
Allah said,
إِذَا رُجَّتِ الاَْرْضُ رَجًّا