The `Asifat `Asfa.
And the Nashirat Nashra,
Abu Salih has also said the meaning of
- Al-`Asifat,
- An-Nashirat,
- Al-Fariqat and
- Al-Mulqiyat,
that they all refer to the angels.
Ath-Thawri narrated from Salamah bin Kuhayl, who reported from Muslim Al-Batin, who reported from Abu Al-`Ubaydayn that he asked Ibn Mas`ud about the meaning of Al-Mursalat `Urfa, and he (Ibn Mas`ud) said,
"The wind"
He said the same about
- Al-`Asifat
- `Asfa and
- An-Nashirat Nashra,
that they all refer to the wind.
Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah all said the same.
Ibn Jarir confidently affirmed that Al-`Asifat `Asfameans the wind just as Ibn Mas`ud and those who followed him said.
However, he (Ibn Jarir) did not affirm whether An-Nashirat Nashra are the angels or the wind as has preceded.
It has been reported from Abu Salih that An-Nashirat Nashra is the rain.
The most obvious meaning is as Allah says,
وَأَرْسَلْنَا الرِّيَاحَ لَوَاقِحَ
And we send the winds fertilizing. (15;22)
He also says,
وَهُوَ الَّذِى يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرىً بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَحْمَتِهِ
And it is He Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His mercy (rain). (7;57)
Similarly, Al-`Asifat are winds.
It is said (in Arabic) that the winds `Asifat when they make noise with their blowing.
Likewise, An-Nashirat are the winds that scatter into clouds in the horizons of the sky according to the will of the Lord.
Allah then says,
فَالْفَارِقَاتِ فَرْقًا