Why does An-Naba 37 say 'none shall have power to address Him'?
Answer
An-Naba 78:37 describes Allah as 'Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them, the All-Merciful — none shall have power to address Him (lā yamlikūna minhu khiṭābā).' The verse climaxes the passage about reward by turning from the gift to the majesty of the Giver. The phrase 'none shall have power to address Him' conveys the overwhelming grandeur and sovereignty of God on the Day of Judgment: no created being — not even the angels or prophets — will dare to speak before Him or intercede except by His express permission. al-Ṭabarī and others connect this with verses like 'No soul will speak except by His leave' (11:105) and with the very next verse, 'They do not speak except for one whom the Most Merciful permits, and he says what is correct' (78:38). The naming of God here as al-Raḥmān (the All-Merciful) alongside this awe is significant: the very Lord whose generosity fills Paradise is also the One before whose majesty all creation falls silent. The verse thus balances intimacy and transcendence — mercy and overwhelming authority held together — guarding the believer's heart against ever taking divine generosity for granted.
Qur’anic evidence — read the full study of 78:37 →
In more depth
This silence is not coldness but reverence: it underscores that intercession in Islam is never a right wrested from God but a mercy He alone grants. The following verse (78:38) immediately clarifies that some will speak — but only by His permission and only what is true.