Tafsir Ibn Kathir -> Surah Saad -> The Message of the Messenger is a Great News

Allah tells His Messenger to say to those who disbelieved in Allah, associated others in worship with Him and denied His Messenger: `I am a warner, I am not as you claim.'

﴿وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـهٍ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ الْوَحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ﴾

(and there is no God (worthy of worship) except Allah, the One, the Irresistible,) means, He Alone has subjugated and controlled everything.

﴿رَّبُّ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا﴾

(The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them,) means, He is the Sovereign of all that and is in control of it.

﴿الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفَّارُ﴾

(the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving.) means, He is Oft-Forgiving as well as being Almighty and All-Powerful.

﴿قُلْ هُوَ نَبَأٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴾

(Say: "That (this Qur'an) is a great news,'') means, `something very important, which is that Allah has sent me to you.

﴿أَنتُمْ عَنْهُ مُعْرِضُونَ ﴾

(From which you turn away!) means, `you neglect it.'

﴿مَا كَانَ لِىَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ بِالْمَـَلإِ الاٌّعْلَى إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ ﴾

(I had no knowledge of the chiefs (angels) on high when they were disputing and discussing. ) meaning, `were it not for the divine revelation, how could I have known about the dispute of the chiefs on high (the angels)' This refers to their dispute concerning Adam, peace be upon him, and how Iblis refused to prostrate to him and argued with his Lord because He preferred him (Adam) over him. This is what Allah says:

﴿إِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـئِكَةِ إِنِّى خَـلِقٌ بَشَراً مِّن طِينٍ فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِى فَقَعُواْ لَهُ سَـجِدِينَ فَسَجَدَ الْمَلَـئِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ إِلاَّ إِبْلِيسَ اسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَـفِرِينَ قَالَ يإِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَىَّ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْعَـلِينَ قَالَ أَنَاْ خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِى مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ قَالَ فَاخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِيمٌ وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ لَعْنَتِى إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ قَالَ رَبِّ فَأَنظِرْنِى إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنظَرِينَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُومِ قَالَ فَبِعِزَّتِكَ لأغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ إِلاَّ عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ قَالَ فَالْحَقُّ وَالْحَقَّ أَقُولُ لاّمْلاّنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكَ وَمِمَّن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴾

(71. (Remember) when your Lord said to the angels: "Truly, I am going to create man from clay.'') (72. "So, when I have fashioned him and breathed into him (his) soul created by Me, then you fall down prostrate to him.'') (73. So, the angels prostrated themselves, all of them,) (74. Except Iblis, he was proud and was one of the disbelievers.) (75. (Allah) said: "O Iblis! What prevents you from prostrating yourself to one whom I have created with Both My Hands. Are you too proud or are you one of the high exalted'') (76. ﴿Iblis﴾ said: "I am better than he. You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.'') (77. (Allah) said: "Then get out from here; for verily, you are outcast.'') (78. "And verily, My curse is on you till the Day of Recompense.'') (79. ﴿Iblis﴾ said: "My Lord! Give me then respite till the Day the (dead) are resurrected.'') (80. (Allah) said: "Verily, you are of those allowed respite,'') (81. "Till the Day of the time appointed.'') (82. ﴿Iblis﴾ said: "By Your might, then I will surely mislead them all,'') (83. "Except Your true servants amongst them.'') (84. (Allah) said: "The truth is -- the truth I say - '') (85. "That I will fill Hell with you and those of them (mankind) that follow you, together.'')