Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AL ANBIYAA' [16]

16. We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for play. 17. Had We intended to take a pastime, We could surely have taken it from Us, if We were going to do (that). 18. Nay, We fling the truth against the falsehood, so it destroys it, and behold, it disappears. And woe to you for that which you ascribe. 19. To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and on earth. And those who are near Him are not too proud to worship Him, nor are they weary. 20. They glorify His praises night and day, they never slacken. Allah tells us that He created the heavens and the earth in truth, i.e. with justice.

(that He may requite those who do evil with that which they have done, and reward those who do good, with what is best.) ï´¿53:31ï´¾. He did not create all that in vain or for (mere) play:

(And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire!) ï´¿38:27ï´¾

(Had We intended to take a pastime, We could surely have taken it from Us, if We were going to do (that).) Ibn Abi Najih said, narrating from Mujahid:

(Had We intended to take a pastime, We could surely have taken it from Us,) ”Meaning, `From Ourself,' He is saying, `We would not have created Paradise or Hell or death or the resurrection or the Reckoning.'''

(if We were going to do (that). ) Qatadah, As-Suddi, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i and Mughirah bin Miqsam said: ”This means, `We will not do that.''' Mujahid said, every time the word

(if) is used in the Qur'an, it is a negation.

(Nay, We fling the truth against the falsehood,) means, `We explain the truth and thus defeat falsehood.' Allah says:

(so it destroys it, and behold, it disappears.) it is fading and vanishing.

(And woe to you) O you who say that Allah has offspring.

(for that which you ascribe.) that which you say and fabricate. Then Allah informs of the servitude of the angels, and how they persevere in worship night and day:  

(To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and on earth. And those who are near Him) i.e., the angels,

(are not too proud to worship Him,) they do not feel proud and do not refuse to worship Him. This is like the Ayah:

(Al-Masih will never be proud to reject being a servant of Allah, nor the angels who are the near. And whosoever rejects His worship and is proud, then He will gather them all together unto Himself.) ï´¿4:172ï´¾

(nor are they weary.) means, they do not get tired or feel bored.

(They glorify His praises night and day, they never slacken.) They persist in their worship night and day, obeying Allah to the utmost, and they are able to do this, as Allah says:

(who do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, but do what they are commanded) ï´¿66:6ï´¾