Juz 27: Adh-Dhāriyāt 31 to Al-Ḥadīd
Section 10 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
The Revelation to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Ascension (Mi'raj)
Surah An-Najm opens with a series of powerful oaths that immediately draw attention to the truthfulness of the revelation received by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his extraordinary spiritual experience of the Ascension (Mi'raj). The surah is distinctive for its lyrical quality, with verses ending in similar sounds that create a powerful rhythmic effect carrying the message forcefully to the listener.
Allah (swt) begins with an oath by the stars:
وَالنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ
“By the star when it goes down," (53:1)”
This oath serves to direct attention to what follows – a profound declaration about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ
“Your companion (Muhammad) has neither gone astray, nor has erred, nor does he speak out of (his own) desire. It is nothing but revelation revealed (to him)." (53:2-4)”
These verses establish the divine origin of the Prophet's message. Allah (swt) categorically refutes any notion that the Prophet (peace be upon him) speaks from personal desire or has strayed from truth. Instead, everything he conveys is revelation from Allah. This affirmation establishes the foundation for what follows – an account of the Prophet's extraordinary experience.
The surah then describes the one who taught the Prophet:
عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَىٰ
“It is taught to him by one (angel) of strong faculties, the one of vigorous wisdom, so he stood poised," (53:5-6)”
This refers to Angel Jibreel (peace be upon him), described as possessing great strength and wisdom. The verses then detail a profound spiritual encounter:
وَهُوَ بِالْأُفُقِ الْأَعْلَىٰ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَىٰ
“While he was on the upper horizon. Then he drew near and hung suspended. So he was at a distance of two bow-lengths or even nearer. Thus He revealed to His slave what He revealed." (53:7-10)”
These verses describe the proximity achieved during this extraordinary encounter, using the metaphor of "two bow-lengths" to convey exceptional closeness. The revelation received in this state was direct and profound.
The authenticity of this experience is then emphasized:
مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰ أَفَتُمَارُونَهُ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ
“The heart did not lie about what it saw. Do you then dispute with him about what he saw?" (53:11-12)”
These verses affirm that what the Prophet (peace be upon him) witnessed was genuine, not imagined. Allah (swt) then mentions another occasion of this extraordinary vision:
وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ عِندَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنتَهَىٰ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَىٰ
“Indeed he saw him another time by Sidrat-ul-Muntahā (the lote-tree at the farthest limit), near which there is Jannat-ul-Ma'wā (the Paradise of Abode)," (53:13-15)”
The Sidrat-ul-Muntahā represents the boundary beyond which even angels cannot pass. The description continues with a powerful image of what occurred at this sacred location:
إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ
“when the lote-tree was covered by that which covered it.” (53:16)