the Most Merciful, and by Allah, we will never believe in him." And it was revealed regarding what they said of that: "And when it is said to them, 'Prostrate to the Most Merciful,' they say, 'And what is the Most Merciful? Shall we prostrate to that which you order us? And it increased them in aversion."

His saying, the Almighty: "Blessed is He who has placed in the sky great stars."

[The First Interpretation]

15308 - Ali ibn al-Husayn narrated to us, Ahmad ibn al-Sabah reported to us, Ali ibn Hafs reported to us, Habban ibn Ali reported to us, from Sa'd ibn Tarif, from al-Asbagh ibn Nubatah, from Ali, he said: "When the sun rises, two angels appointed over it call out with it. They travel with it as it travels until it falls into its qitt (settling place)." It was said to Ali: "And what is its qitt?" He said: "Opposite the foundations of the Throne." He said: "It then falls prostrating until it is told, 'Go on,' so it continues by the decree of Allah. When it rises, its face illuminates the seven heavens, and its back illuminates the people of the earth." He said: "Regarding His saying: 'He has placed in the sky great stars,' there are three hundred and sixty stars in the sky, each of which is greater than the Arabian Peninsula. The sun has a station in each of them which it visits."

15309 - Abu Sa'id al-Ashajj narrated to us, Ibn Idris reported to us, from his father, from 'Atiyyah: "Blessed is He who has placed in the sky great stars," he said: "Castles in the sky in which the guards are stationed."

15310 - Abu Sa'id al-Ashajj narrated to us, Abu Mu'awiyah reported to us, from Ibn Abi Khalid, from Yahya ibn Rafi': "Blessed is He who has placed in the sky great stars," he said: "Castles in the sky."

It is narrated from Ibn 'Abbas, Muhammad ibn Ka'b al-Qurazi, Abu Salih in one of the narrations, Ibrahim al-Nakha'i, and al-A'mash that they are the castles.

The Second Interpretation:

15311 - Abu Sa'id narrated to us, Abu Usamah reported to us, from Isma'il, from Abu Salih: "Blessed is He who has placed in the sky great stars," he said: "The massive celestial bodies (stars/planets)."

15312 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, Yahya ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Bukayr reported to us, Ibn Lahi'ah informed me, 'Ata' ibn Dinar informed me, from Sa'id ibn Jubayr regarding the word of Allah: "Blessed is He who has placed in the sky great stars," he said: "Stars." Similar has been narrated from Mujahid, al-Hasan, and Qatadah.