The coming of Allah is the coming of His command and His punishment, as His saying: 'And the command of your Lord will come.' (Qur'an 18:99) (Our punishment came upon them). It is permissible that what is meant to be brought is omitted, meaning that Allah will come to them with His punishment or with His wrath, indicated by His saying: 'Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might.' (Qur'an 40:34) In shades (ظُلَلٍ), which is the plural of shade (ظلة), meaning what shades you. It is also recited as 'shadows' (ظلال), which is the plural of shade, like 'few' (قلة) and 'few things' (قلال), or the plural of shadow. And it is recited: 'And the angels' (وَالْمَلائِكَةُ) in the nominative case, like His saying: 'Do they wait except that the angels come to them?' (Qur'an 2:210) And in the genitive case, it is an addition to 'shades' or to 'clouds.' If you say: Why does punishment come to them in the clouds? I say: Because the clouds are a sign of mercy. So when punishment descends from it, the matter is more terrifying and dreadful. This is because evil, when it comes from where it is not expected, is more severe, just as good, when it comes from where it is not expected, is more pleasing. So how if evil comes from where good is expected? That is why lightning is from the terrifying punishment, as it comes from where rain is anticipated. Hence, it was severe for those who reflect on the Book of Allah, His saying: 'And there appeared to them from Allah that which they were not expecting.' (Qur'an 39:47) 'And the matter was decreed' (وَقُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ) and the matter of their destruction and annihilation was completed and finished. And Mu'adh ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, recited: 'And the decree of the matter,' in the raised form as an addition to 'the angels.' And it is recited: 'return' (ترجِع), and 'returned' (ترجَع), in the active and passive forms with feminine and masculine in both.