Tafsir of An-Naba' 78:37

(Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them) is a substitution for the term "your Lord." In this substitution, there is an aggrandizement that is not hidden, and an allusion—as has been said—to what is narrated in the books of the Sufis from the Hadith Qudsi: "Had it not been for you, I would not have created the celestial spheres."

His saying, "The Most Merciful," is an attribute of "your Lord" or of "Lord of the heavens and the earth," according to the view held by the verifiers as most correct, based on the permissibility of describing that which is annexed to the definite article (al) with a definite attribute. It is also permitted that it be an ‘atf bayan (explanatory apposition). Regarding whether it is a substitution for the term "your Lord," the author of al-Bahr said: "There is a difficulty in this, for the apparent implication is that a substitution does not repeat."

His saying, "They possess not from Him any address," is an isti’naf (resumption/new sentence) confirming what the general Lordship has established regarding the extremity of greatness—that He is independent in that which is mentioned of reward and giving, without anyone having any power over Him. This reading is reported from ‘Abdullah, Ibn Abi Ishaq, al-A’mash, Ibn Muhaysin, Ibn ‘Amir, and ‘Asim. Al-‘Araj, Abu Ja‘far, Shaybah, Abu ‘Amr, and the two Haramiyyayn (the reciters of Makkah and Madinah) recited it with both nouns in the nominative case (al-samawati and al-ardu). It has been said this is because they are two predicates for an implied subject—that is, "He is the Lord of the heavens, etc." Others said the first is the predicate and the second is an attribute of it, or an ‘atf bayan. Others said the first is the subject and the second is its predicate, and "they possess not" is another predicate, or it is the predicate and the second is an epithet of the first or an ‘atf bayan. It is also said that "they possess not" is a necessary circumstantial qualifier (hal). Some say the first is the primary subject and the second is a secondary subject, and "they possess not" is its predicate, with the sentence being the predicate for the first—linkage being achieved by repeating the subject in its meaning, according to those who hold that view. It has been preferred that both be in the nominative case out of praise, or that the second be an attribute of the first, while "they possess not" is an isti’naf in its original state, due to the convergence of the two readings in meaning.

The two brothers (Hamzah and al-Kisa’i), al-Hasan, Ibn Wathab, al-A’mash, and Ibn Muhaysin (with a different version from them) recited it with the first in the genitive case as you heard, and the second in the nominative case as an initial subject, with the predicate being what follows it, or as a predicate for an implied subject—with what follows being an isti’naf or a second predicate.

The pronoun in "they possess not" refers to the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth. "From Him" is an explanation of "address" (khitaban) which precedes it; meaning: they do not possess the right to address Him—Exalted is He—on their own accord, as indicated by the word "any" (ma) in "any address" (khitaban ma). The intent is to negate their power to address Him—the Mighty and Majestic—regarding any reduction of punishment or increase in reward without His permission, in the most eloquent and emphatic way.

It is also permitted that "from Him" be connected to "they possess," with "from" being initial/source-related. The meaning would be: "They do not possess from Allah any address at all," meaning Allah does not own them that; therefore, there is no address in their hands which they could manage as owners manage [their property], such that they would increase the reward or decrease the punishment. This is similar to saying, "I possessed a dirham from him," and it is less forced and more apparent than [the interpretation of] "address" being mentioned first. An implied annex is also assumed: "any address from the addresses of Allah." The meaning would be: they possess no address from the totality of what Allah addresses and commands regarding reward and punishment.

The apparent [meaning] of al-Baydawi’s discourse is to interpret "address" as an address of objection against Him—Glorified is He—regarding reward or punishment. [Interpreting] "from Him" as you heard from us earlier—that is: they do not possess addressing Him—Exalted is He—nor objecting to Him—Glorified is He—regarding reward or punishment, because they are owned by Him—the Mighty and Majestic—absolutely, so they do not deserve to object to Him—Glorified is He—at all. In any case, the verse does not serve as evidence for the negation of intercession [when it is] by His permission—Mighty and Majestic is He. From ‘Ata’, on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas, [it is said] that the pronoun in "they possess not" refers to the polytheists, and the lack of suitability [for the former interpretation] regarding them is more apparent.