(Lord of the heavens and the earth). "Lord" (Rabb) is in the nominative case (marfu') as a new subject (mubtada'), according to the recitation of those who read it in the nominative. (And whatever is between them, the Most Merciful). (They possess not from Him authority for speech). Al-Hasan's interpretation is: They will not be able to address Him, like His saying: "The Day it comes, no soul shall speak except by His permission." His saying:
﴿رب السَّمَوَات وَالْأَرْض﴾ ﴿ربُّ﴾ بِالرَّفْعِ كَلامٌ مُسْتَقْبَلٌ فِي قِرَاءَةِ مَنْ قَرَأَهَا بِالرَّفْعِ ﴿وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا الرَّحْمَنِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِنْهُ خِطَابًا﴾ تَفْسِيرُ الْحَسَنِ: لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ مُخَاطَبَتَهُ، كَقَوْلِهِ: ﴿يَوْمَ يَأْتِ لَا تَكَلَّمُ نفسٌ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ﴾ قَوْله:
