al-Beʾs is interpreted in three ways:
1. al-Beʾs is used in the sense of punishment; as in the following verses:
When they saw Our beʾs {that is, Our punishment in this world}, they said, "We believe in Allah alone and reject that which we used to associate with Him." (al-Muʾmin 40:84)
When they felt Our beʾs {that is, when they saw Our punishment}, at once they fled from it. (al-Anbiyāʾ 21:12)
If the beʾs of Allah {that is, the punishment of Allah} comes, who will help us?! (al-Muʾmin 40:29)
2. al-Beʾs is used in the sense of poverty; as in the following verses:
Those who are patient in beʾs (that is, poverty and hardship/difficulty)... (al-Baqara 2:177)
And We certainly sent [messengers] to nations before you; then We seized them with beʾs (that is, poverty) and ḍarrāʾ {that is, hardship and difficulty} that perhaps they might humble themselves. (al-Anʿām 6:42)
3. al-Beʾs is used in the sense of qitāl / battle; as in the following verses:
Allah is competent to prevent the beʾs of those who disbelieve (that is, the battle/fighting of the disbelievers). (al-Nisāʾ 4:84) We are people of strength and possessors of mighty beʾs {that is, we are people of war}. (al-Naml 27:33)
At the time of beʾs {that is, during battle!... (al-Baqara 2:177) Among them, their beʾs is severe (that is, if there is war between the hypocrites and the Jews, it will be intense}. (al-Ḥashr 59:14)