Tafsir of An-Naba' 78:37-39

"Lord of the heavens and the earth..."

It is read as Rabbus-samawati (The Lord of the heavens) and Ar-Rahmanu (The Most Merciful) in the nominative case (raf‘), implying: "He is the Lord of the heavens and the Most Merciful." Alternatively, Rabbus-samawati is the subject (mubtada’) and Ar-Rahmanu is an adjective, with la yamlikuna (they do not possess) serving as the predicate. Or, both may be predicates.

It is also read in the genitive case (jarr) as a substitute (badal) for "your Lord." Another reading involves the genitive for the first and nominative for the second, treating the latter as a subject whose predicate is la yamlikuna. Or, it is "He is the Most Merciful; they do not possess..."

The pronoun in "they do not possess" refers to the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth. It means: they do not hold in their hands any authority regarding the commands of God—whether concerning reward or punishment—such that they could act with the authority of an owner, adding to it or subtracting from it. Or, it means they do not possess the ability to address Him to request a reduction in punishment or an increase in reward, unless He grants them that and permits them to do so.

"The Day when..." is connected to la yamlikuna (they do not possess) or to la yatakallamuna (they do not speak). The meaning is: those who are the best of creation, the most noble, the most obedient, and the closest to Him—namely, the Spirit (ar-Ruh) and the angels—do not possess the ability to speak in His presence. What, then, do you think of those other than them among the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth?

The Spirit (ar-Ruh): He is greater in creation than the angels, more noble than them, and closer to the Lord of the Worlds. It is said: He is a mighty angel; God created nothing greater than him after the Throne. It is also said: They are not angels, and they eat. It is also said: He is Gabriel.

There are two conditions:

1. That the speaker is permitted to speak.
2. That he speaks only what is correct. He shall not intercede for anyone who is not approved, according to the words of the Exalted: "And they do not intercede except for whom He approves" (Al-Anbiya: 28).

"Indeed, We have warned you of a near punishment, the Day when a man will observe what his hands have put forth and the disbeliever will say, 'Oh, I wish I were dust!'"