The meaning of the word «هل أتى» has already been mentioned. The word «هل» sometimes comes for negation, sometimes for emphasis (in the meaning of «قد» ). Here, it is in the meaning of «قد» , that is, a period has already come upon man when he was not a thing worth mentioning; this was the time when his form was made from clay, until the soul was breathed into him. «أمشاج‏» means mixed things, that is, both the semen and blood of man and woman, and clot, and when something is mixed with another thing, it is called «مشيج» , like «خليط‏.‏» , that is, «ممشوج» and «مخلوط» . Some have recited it as «سلاسلا وأغلالا‏» (some have recited «سلاسلا وأغلالا‏» without tanween). They did not consider the tanween of «سلاسلا‏» permissible. «مستطير‏» means its evil is widespread. «قمطرير» means severe. The Arabs say «يوم قمطرير ويوم قماطر» , meaning a day of severe calamity. «عبوس» , «قمطرير» , «قماطر» , and «قصيب» —all four mean a day upon which a severe calamity befalls. And Mu'ammar bin Ubaidah said, «شددنا أسرهم‏» means that We have made their creation very strong. The Arabs call something that is tightly bound, like a saddle, litter, etc., «مأسور‏» . (The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in the Fajr prayer of Friday) would often recite Surah Alif Lam Mim Sajdah in the first rak'ah and Surah «هل أتى على الإنسان» in the second rak'ah.