“Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, the Almighty, the All-Forgiving. (66) Say: It is momentous news, (67) from which you turn away. (68) I had no knowledge of the Highest Assembly when they were disputing. (69) It is only revealed to me that I am but a clear warner.” (70)

“Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, the Almighty, the All-Forgiving.”

“Say,” O Muhammad, “it”—that is, the Quran—“is momentous news.” This was said by Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, and Qatadah. It was also said that it means the Day of Resurrection, as in His saying: “What are they asking one another about? About the momentous news.” (Surah al-Naba: 1-2)

“I had no knowledge of the Highest Assembly when they were disputing”: that is, the angels, “when they were disputing” concerning Adam, peace be upon him, when Allah, Exalted is He, said: “Indeed, I am placing upon the earth a successive authority.” They said, “Will You place therein one who will spread corruption therein?” (Surah al-Baqarah: 30)

“It is only revealed to me that I am but a clear warner.” Al-Farra said: If you wish, you may take the phrase as being in the nominative position, meaning: Nothing is revealed to me except the warning. Or, if you wish, the meaning is: Nothing is revealed to me except that I am a clear warner. (1)

Abu Ja'far recited it as innama, beginning with an i vowel, because revelation is speech.

Abd al-Wahid ibn Ahmad al-Mulayhi informed us; Abu Mansur al-Sam'ani informed us; Abu Ja'far al-Rayani narrated to us; Humayd ibn Zanjawayh narrated to us; Hisham ibn Ammar narrated to us; Sadaqah ibn Khalid narrated to us; Abd al-Rahman ibn Yazid ibn Jabir narrated to us. He said: Khalid ibn al-Lajlaj passed by us, and Makhul ⦗104/b⦘ called to him, saying, “O Ibrahim, relate to us the hadith of Abd al-Rahman ibn A'ish.” He said: I heard Abd al-Rahman ibn A'ish al-Hadrami say: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“I saw my Lord, Exalted is He, in the most beautiful form. He said, ‘What is the Highest Assembly disputing about, O Muhammad?’ I said, ‘You know best, my Lord,’ twice. He then placed His palm between my shoulder blades, and I felt its coolness between my breasts. Thus I came to know what is in the heavens and the earth.”

He then recited this verse: “And thus We showed Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth, so that he might be among those who possess certainty.” (Surah al-An'am: 75)

He then said, “What is the Highest Assembly disputing about, O Muhammad?” I said, “Concerning the expiations.” He said, “And what are they?” I said, “Walking on foot to the congregational prayers, remaining in the mosques after the prayers, and performing ablution thoroughly despite hardship.” He said, “Whoever does that will live in goodness and die in goodness, and will be as free from sin as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him. Among the deeds that raise one in rank is feeding people,”