Tafsir of Al-Anbiya' 21:29

"And whoever among them says..." (meaning: among the angels, upon them be peace; and it has been said: among all of creation).

The first view is what the context necessitates, as the discourse concerns the angels, upon them be peace, and their being far removed from what [the polytheists] claimed regarding them. The intent is: "And whoever among them says"—by way of hypothesis—" 'Indeed, I am a god besides Him'" (meaning: transgressing beyond Him, the Exalted), "then that" (meaning: the one whose statement is hypothesized to be as mentioned—a hypothetical impossibility) "We will recompense with Hell," just as other criminals are recompensed. Neither the lofty qualities nor the pleasing deeds that preceded him shall avail him anything.

Al-Dahhak and Qatadah held that the hypothesis is not to be considered, stating that the verse is specific to Iblis, may he be cursed, for he called for the worship of himself and initiated disbelief. However, the relied-upon view is what we have mentioned. It contains a clear indication of the might of His sovereignty, the majesty of His omnipotence, and the impossibility of the angels being such that what those disbelievers imagine could ever be imagined regarding them.

Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Muqri read nujzihi (We will recompense him) with a damma on the nun, intending nujzi'uhu with a hamza, from ajza'ani (it sufficed me). He then lightened the hamza, so it transformed into a ya.

"Thus do We recompense the wrongdoers."

This is an elliptical source [masdar] that serves to confirm the content of what preceded it; that is: "Just as that horrible recompense, We recompense those who place things in positions other than their proper ones and exceed their bounds." The exclusivity derived from the [fronting of the object] is considered in relation to diminution, not increase; meaning: there is no recompense less than it.