﴿What it leaves﴾ means: it leaves in a bad state. And it emphasized the negation by saying: ﴿of anything﴾. And since its destruction is only by the chosen doer, it indicated that with the tool of elevation by saying: ﴿It came upon it﴾, meaning: the coming of the will of its sender. It elevated it over its apparent and hidden aspects. As for those whom His mercy was intended, like Hud, peace be upon him, and those with him, may Allah be pleased with them, they had a spirit and comfort that did not affect them. ﴿Except it made it like decayed matter﴾, meaning: the old thing that time has worn away, and it turned decay into the state of ashes. And in their words, it refers to what has dried from the vegetation of the earth and has withered. This was said by Ibn Jurayj. And the expression of 'leaves' refers to Hud, peace be upon him, and those with him from the believers, may Allah be pleased with them all; for they were left in a good state, and no harm touched them, as was indicated similarly by the tool of elevation.