Commentary
If you say: What is the grammatical status of 'ukhra'? I say: It can be in the nominative or accusative. As for the nominative, it is based on the saying: 'So when the trumpet is blown' [the phrase 'So when the trumpet is blown' refers to the edge]. And the saying 'whoever reads' means: there. And the saying 'it was omitted' means here. The accusative is based on the reading of whoever reads 'a single blow.' The meaning is: and a single blow was blown in the trumpet, then another blow was blown in it. It was omitted because there is another indication of it, and because it is known by being mentioned in another place. And it has been read: 'standing, they are looking': they are turning their eyes in the directions like the astonished one when a calamity surprises him. It is said: they are looking at what will be done to them. It is permissible that 'standing' means remaining and being still in a place due to their bewilderment.
Explore Other Scholars on This Verse
Compare different scholarly perspectives on Surah Az-Zumar verse 68