"Then ask them for a verdict," meaning: the polytheists, that is: ask them by way of inquiry; by which He confutes them: "Are they a stronger creation, or those whom We have created?" or the heavens, meaning: are they a stronger creation than them? "Indeed, We created them from sticky clay." And the sticky (al-lazib) is that which adheres to the hand, meaning: the creation of Adam.
Muhammad said: It is said: lazib and lazim, with the same meaning.
﴿فاستفتهم﴾ يَعْنِي: الْمُشْركين، أَي: فاسألهم عَلَى الِاسْتِفْهَام؛ يُحاجُّهم بذلك ﴿أَهُمْ أَشَدُّ خلقا أم من خلقنَا﴾ أم السَّمَاء أَي: أَنَّهَا أَشد خلقا مِنْهُم ﴿إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُمْ مِنْ طين لازب﴾ واللازبُ: الَّذِي يلصقُ بِالْيَدِ؛ يَعْنِي: خلق آدم.
قَالَ محمدٌ: يُقَال: لازب ولازم، بِمَعْنى وَاحِد.
