The word "they put (yaj'alûna)" is used instead of 'they put into' (yad-khulûna) as a sign that they searched for some means [of escape] but the only thing they could think of was sticking [their fingers in their ears]. The use of the imperfect tense, which evokes present situations, indicates that [on hearing about] such bewildering circumstances the listener conjures up in his imagination the actual time and place. The imperfect also indicates [the] continuance and perpetual renewal [of the calamity], and in this continuance is a sign that the clouds are attacking them incessantly.

The use of "fingers (asâbi'ahum)" instead of 'fingertips' indicates their complete confusion.

And "into their ears (fi âdhânihim)" alludes to their awful fright at the sound of the thunder, making them imagine that the thunder is going to enter their ears and their spirits will fly out of the doors of their mouths. In this is a subtle sign that they did not open their ears to the call of truth and good advice so are being punished in this way by the crash of thunder; that is, as they blocked them up [voluntarily] in the first instance, so they are [forcibly] blocked up in the second. Like someone who says something disgraceful is hit in the mouth, and he puts his penitent right hand over his mouth and covers his eyes with his ashamed left hand.

"[To keep out] the peals of thunder (min al-sawâ'iq)" indicates that the thunder and lightning united to harm them, for the thunder(bolt) comprised both a terrible noise and scorching fire, felling whomever it encountered.

As for "in terror of death (hadhara al-mawt)," it hints that the calamity has reached its final point and the knife has hit the bone. Everything is finished except life, and now they are concerned with nothing except fear of death and the wish to save their lives.

The parts of the phrase: "but Allâh encompasses [with His might] all who deny the truth (wa Allâlu muhîtun bi'l-kâfirin)'."

Consider this: the conjuction "but (lit. and) (wa)" necessitates a relationship between two clauses, and here it is between the implied outcome of the previous [phrase] and this one. It is as though the conjunction is denouncing them, saying: "These are people who fled from town life and loathe civilization. They rebelled against the law that makes the night the time of rest, and did not comply with the advice they were given. Now they suppose they can be saved by escaping from the desert, but they are frustrated in this and are encompassed by Allâh's tribulations."