And when he knew that envy had distanced him and brought him down from the realm of pleasure and seated him - he persisted in it and asked what would cause the envied ones to be brought down from their high ranks to the lowest level. He did not ask, out of his misery, about what would elevate him from his low level to their high ranks. This is because ﴿he said﴾, meaning: Iblis, and this is a new statement. [And when the context - especially the ruling about the small ones that is free from restriction - refuses to allow for his question to be a cause for waiting, he reminded him with the wording of kindness and said]: ﴿Grant me respite﴾, meaning: by delaying, that is: make me present in a way that I can see and act in an extended time ﴿until the Day they are resurrected﴾, meaning: from the graves, and that is the Day of Resurrection. The accursed one requested this because he does not want to die, for that time is not a time for death; rather, it is a time for the granting of eternal life in misery or happiness.