Al-Naba: (37) Lord of the heavens and the earth...

Issue 1: The grammatical status of Rabb al-Samāwāt (Lord of the heavens) and al-Raḥmān (the Most Merciful).

There are three ways of reading these phrases:

1. Nominative (Raising) in both: This is the reading of Ibn Kathīr, Nāfiʿ, and Abū ʿAmr.
   • Possibility 1: Rabb al-Samāwāt is the subject (mubtadaʾ), and al-Raḥmān is the predicate (khabar). Then, the following phrase, Lā yamlikūna minhu shafāʿatan (They do not possess intercession from Him), is a new, independent clause.
   • Possibility 2: Rabb al-Samāwāt is the subject, and al-Raḥmān is an adjective (ṣifah). Lā yamlikūna is the predicate.
   • Possibility 3: The subject is implied: "He is the Lord of the heavens," and al-Raḥmān is the predicate. Then, Lā yamlikūna is a new clause.
   • Possibility 4: Al-Raḥmān and Lā yamlikūna are both predicates.

2. Genitive (Lowering) in both: This is the reading of ʿĀṣim and ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿĀmir. This is done by treating them as an apposition (badal) to the preceding "your Lord" (Rabbika).

3. Genitive in the first, Nominative in the second: This is the reading of Ḥamzah and al-Kisāʾī. The first (Rabb al-Samāwāt) is in the genitive case as an apposition to "your Lord," and the second (al-Raḥmān) is in the nominative case, being the subject whose predicate is Lā yamlikūna.

Issue 2: To whom does the pronoun in the phrase wa lā yamlikūna (and they do not possess) refer?

There are three opinions:

1. The Disbelievers (Mushrikūn): ʿAṭāʾ narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās that it refers to the disbelievers. The meaning is that the disbelievers will not be addressed [with permission to intercede], whereas the believers will intercede, and God will accept it from them.
2. The Believers (Muʾminūn): The Qāḍī stated that it refers to the believers. The meaning is that believers do not possess the right to address God regarding any matter. Since it has been established that God is just and does not oppress, the punishment He inflicts on the disbelievers is just, and the reward He grants the believers is just. Since their due is not diminished, for what reason would they address Him? This view is closer than the first because the preceding verse mentioned the believers, not the disbelievers.
3. The Inhabitants of the Heavens and the Earth (All Creatures): This is the correct view. No created being possesses the right to address or converse with God. The intercessions that occur by His permission are not relevant to this statement because the verse negates possession (milk). What is obtained through His grace and favor is not possessed [by the creature as a right]. Therefore, this questioning is not obligatory [for creatures].

Arguments from Reason that no creature possesses the right to address God:

• Argument 1 (Based on Sunni Theology): Everything other than God is His property. A possession does not have a right over its owner.
• Argument 2 (Based on Sunni Theology): The meaning of having a right over Him is that if He did not act, He would deserve blame, and if He acted, He would deserve praise. Anyone characterized by this is inherently deficient and perfected by another, which is far removed from God.
• Argument 3 (Based on Muʿtazilite Theology): God knows the ugliness of an ugly act, and He knows that He is self-sufficient (Ghanī) from it. Anyone characterized by this will not commit an ugly act. Since He is prevented from being a doer of ugly acts, no one has the right to demand anything from Him or ask Him, "Why did you do that?"

The first two arguments are based on the position of the Ahl al-Sunnah, and the third is based on the position of the Muʿtazilah. Thus, it is established that no creature possesses the right to address its Lord or demand anything from its God.

Know that when the Almighty mentioned that no creature can address God regarding anything or demand anything from Him, He affirmed and reinforced this meaning by saying: { The Day the Spirit and the angels will stand in ranks. They will not speak except for one whom the Most Merciful has permitted, and who speaks correctly. }