And when their saying caused the coming of the punishment, it came to them in a black cloud. They persisted in their ignorance and their security, and they did not allow for the possibility of retribution. It was as if its coming was close to their hastening it. Therefore, He used the conjunction 'fa' in His saying, causing it to be a consequence of their denial, clarifying the great ignorance they had regarding their ignorance in the tangible matters. He detailed what was their condition upon seeing the calamity: ﴿So when they saw it﴾ meaning: the punishment that He promised them, ﴿as a cloud﴾ meaning: a black cloud appearing in the horizon, evident to those who have the ability to see, while it was directed towards them, ﴿approaching their valleys﴾ meaning: seeking to be opposite to them and bringing that about. This is a description of: 'as a cloud' which is an indefinite noun, its addition is verbal, even though it is added to a definite noun. Likewise, 'it is raining upon us' ﴿they said﴾ according to their usual ignorance, indicating it with a tool of proximity that shows they were in extreme ignorance. Their ignorance of it continued until it almost confronted them: ﴿This is a cloud﴾ meaning: a cloud obstructing in the expanse of the sky, meaning its side. ﴿It is raining upon us﴾ because they saw it black, thinking it was filled with water that would provide them relief after a long drought and sending their messengers to the honored Makkah to invoke Allah for them there, whom they belittled by disparaging His dominion by associating with Him others who are beneath them, knowing that their partners would not avail them in rain at all, being heedless of their sins that necessitated their punishment. Therefore, Allah, the Exalted, said, turning away from their words, and it appears that it is a narration of the words of Hud, blessings and peace be upon him, in response to their words: ﴿Rather, it is﴾ meaning: this cloud that you see ﴿what you hastened for﴾ meaning: you sought haste in its coming to you from the punishment.

And when the listener's eagerness to know intensified, He said: ﴿A wind﴾ meaning: it accumulated this cloud that you saw ﴿in it is a painful punishment﴾ meaning: severe in causing pain. It was carrying the women in the air, carrying them and their litters until they appeared as if they were locusts. They would see what was outside their homes of people and livestock being carried by the wind between the sky and the earth, then it would cast them.