According to Taberî, the expression 'fasuruhunna' means 'bind/gather them to yourself'; he notes that whether the word is read with damma or kasra does not change its meaning, as both are recognized linguistic forms. Regarding the matter of the birds' parts being distributed over the mountains, he prefers the view of Mujahid: what was commanded to Abraham was that the parts of the four birds be distributed, after being cut, to all the mountains that Abraham could reach, because the word 'kull' carries a comprehensive/inclusive meaning to what it is attached to.

وأولى التأويلات بالآية ما قاله مجاهد، وهو أن الله تعالى ذكره أمر إبراهيم بتفريق أعضاء الأطيار الأربعة بعد تقطيعه إياهن على جميع الأجبال التي كان يصل إبراهيم في وقت تكليف الله إياه تفريق ذلك وتبديدها عليها أجزاء، لأن الله تعالى ذكره قال له: والكل حرف يدل على الإحاطة بما أضيف إليه لفظه واحد ومعناه الجمع

Ar-Râzî presents the event of Abraham taking the birds, cutting them, placing their parts on the mountains, and when he calls them, each part flying together and joining, as a sign and proof of the gathering of bodies on the Day of Resurrection. He also conveys the views of Ibn Abbas and others regarding the pronunciation of the word 'sur', the linguistic debate between the meaning of inclining the birds (imale) and the meaning of slaughtering (zebh). He refutes the view of Abû Muslim that there was no cutting in this event with objections based on the consensus of the majority and the apparent meaning of the verse.

أن الخليل عليه السلام لما ذبح الطيور وجعلها قطعة قطعة ، ووضع على رأس كل جبل قطعا مختلطة ، ثم دعاها طار كل جزء إلى مشاكله ، فقيل له كما طار كل جزء إلى مشاكله كذا يوم القيامة يطير كل جزء إلى مشاكله حتى تتألف الأبدان وتتصل به الأرواح

According to Kurtubî, different reports have been transmitted among scholars concerning what types of birds these were (rooster, peacock, pigeon, crow, etc.); Abraham cut the birds and mixed their parts, then placed them on the mountains, and when he called them they joined together by Allah's permission and came running to him. The word 'sarhunna' has been linguistically debated whether it means 'cut' or 'incline/gather to yourself'. Moreover, the expression 'liyatmaina qalbî' has been conveyed with different views that the heart becomes assured not through knowledge but through seeing with the eye, or that it means an increase in certainty.

قيل : هي الديك والطاووس والحمام والغراب ذكر ذلك بن إسحاق عن بعض أهل العلم وقاله مجاهد وبن جريج وعطاء بن يسار وبن زيد وقال بن عباس مكان الغراب الكركي

Ibn Kesîr narrates that Abraham cut the birds and divided them into parts, placing one part on each mountain, then called them by Allah's command; he conveys that the feathers mixed with feathers, blood with blood, and flesh with flesh as each became joined in its proper form and came walking. He also notes that there is disagreement among exegetes about what types these four birds were, but since the Qur'an does not explicitly state this, such specification has no benefit. Finally, he transmits that Ibn Abbas and Ibn Amr regarded this verse as the most hopeful verse in the Qur'an.

اختلف المفسرون في هذه الأربعة ماهي وإن كان لا طائل تحت تعيينها إذ لو كان في ذلك مهم لنص عليه القرآن

According to Beydâwî, Abraham's intention was to complete his knowledge through direct observation (ayan); it was not from disbelief but for his heart to be further assured and so that when asked again he could give a firm answer. The selection of four birds, their being cut, dispersed, and then called upon is read as an indication pointing to the fact that the soul's eternal revival can only happen through the death of base qualities such as desire, pride, humiliation, and whim.

وفيه إيماء إلى أن إحياء النفس بالحياة الأبدية إنما يتأتى بإماتة حب الشهوات والزخارف الذي هو صفة الطاوس، والصولة المشهور بها الديك وخسة النفس وبعد الأمل المتصف بهما الغراب، والترفع والمسارعة إلى الهوى الموسوم بهما الحمام

According to Zamakhsharî, the word 'derajat' in this expression means honor, dignity, and exaltation of station; 'maghfirah' refers to people's sins being pardoned and overlooked.

شرف وكرامة وعلو منزلة