al-Mass is interpreted in three ways:
1. Mass is used in the sense of jimāʿ (sexual intercourse); as in the following verses:
O you who have believed, when you marry believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them {that is, before you have had jimāʿ with them}... (al-Ahzāb 33:49)
There is no blame upon you if you divorce women you have not touched {that is, with whom you have not had jimāʿ}... (al-Baqara 2:236)
(She [Mary] said:) No man has touched me {that is, no one [man] has had jimāʿ with me}... (Āl ʿImrān 3:47)
A similar instance is also found in Sūrat Maryam.
Or you have touched women {that is, you have had jimāʿ with women}... (al-Nisāʾ 4:43, al-Māʾida 5:6)
2. al-Mass is used in the sense of to befall, to touch, to reach; as in the following verses:
Hardship and ease had touched our forefathers {that is, abundance/happiness and hardship had befallen them}. (al-Aʿrāf 7:95)
Indeed, Satan has touched me {that is, has afflicted me} with hardship and torment... (Ṣād 38:41)
No fatigue will touch them there {that is, will befall them}. (al-Ḥijr 15:48)
The verses in Sūrat Fāṭir and Sūrat Qāf are also in this sense.
If a good thing touches you {that is, befalls you}, it distresses them. (Āl ʿImrān 3:120)
A similar instance is also found in Sūrat al-Tawba.
3. With al-Mass, madness is intended; in the following verse it is used in this sense:
Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity {that is, whom Satan has driven mad}... (al-Baqara 2:275)