بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
An-Najm 53:9
The Star · Juz 27 · Page 526
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ ٩
And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer.
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Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 53:9
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ (so as he was at a distance between two bows (joined together), rather even nearer....53:9). The noun qab refers to the distance between the curved handle of a bow and the tight chord that releases arrows. This distance is estimated about the length of one hand. The expression qaba qawsain is based on an ancient Arab custom, according to which when two persons pledged themselves to firm friendship, each one of them would turn the wooden part of their bows towards themselves, but they would turn the chord part towards the other. In this way when the chords of their bows were joined together, this used to be regarded as the proclamation of proximity, love and affection at the time of which the distance between the two persons would be two bows' length - approximately the length of two arms or one cubit. The expression aw adna ('rather even nearer' ) signifies that the relationship of closeness was no ordinary one, it in fact was more intimate than could be conceived. The reason for the mention of such intimacy with Jibra'il (علیہ السلام) in the above verses is to confirm that the revelation which he delivered is indubitably and truly from Allah, and he heard it with absolute accuracy in every detail: There is no room for any doubt in this. This closeness and intimacy further allays the suspicion that the Holy Prophet ﷺ might have not recognized Jibra'il (علیہ السلام) and that the devil might interfere.
Page 526
سورة النجم
An-Najm
The Star · Meccan · 62 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
53:1
وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ ١
By the star when it descends,
53:2
مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ ٢
Your companion [i.e., Muḥammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred,
53:3
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ ٣
Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination.
53:4
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡيٞ يُوحَىٰ ٤
It is not but a revelation revealed,
53:5
عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ٥
Taught to him by one intense in strength [i.e., Gabriel] -
53:6
ذُو مِرَّةٖ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ ٦
53:7
وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ٧
While he was in the higher [part of the] horizon.1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., in the sky, above the eastern horizon. ↩
53:8
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ ٨
Then he approached and descended
53:9
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ ٩
And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer.
53:10
فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ ١٠
And he revealed to His Servant1 what he revealed [i.e., conveyed].
1 translator’s note
- i.e., to the Servant of Allāh, Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ). ↩
53:11
مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ ١١
The heart1 did not lie [about] what it saw.
1 translator’s note
- i.e., mind or perception (of the Prophet [ﷺ]). ↩
53:12
أَفَتُمَٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ ١٢
So will you dispute with him over what he saw?
53:13
وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ ١٣
And he certainly saw him in another descent1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., on another occasion. During his ascent into the heavens (al-Miʿrāj), the Prophet (ﷺ) also saw Gabriel in his true form. ↩
53:14
عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ ١٤
At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary -
53:15
عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ ١٥
Near it is the Garden of Refuge [i.e., Paradise] -
53:16
إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ ١٦
When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it].1
1 translator’s note
- Then and there he (ﷺ) saw Gabriel in angelic form. ↩
53:17
مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ ١٧
The sight [of the Prophet (ﷺ)] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit].
53:18
لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ ١٨
He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.
53:19
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ ١٩
So have you considered al-Lāt and al-ʿUzzā?
53:20
وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ ٢٠
And Manāt, the third - the other one?1
1 translator’s note
- The three names given in this and the previous verse are those of well-known "goddesses" which were worshipped by the pagan Arabs before the spread of Islām. ↩
53:21
أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ٢١
Is the male for you and for Him the female?
53:22
تِلۡكَ إِذٗا قِسۡمَةٞ ضِيزَىٰٓ ٢٢
That, then, is an unjust division.1
1 translator’s note
- According to their own standards. ↩
53:23
إِنۡ هِيَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٞ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلۡطَٰنٍۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ ٢٣
They are not but [mere] names you have named them - you and your forefathers - for which Allāh has sent down no authority. They follow not except assumption and what [their] souls desire, and there has already come to them from their Lord guidance.
53:24
أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ ٢٤
Or is there for man whatever he wishes?
53:25
فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ ٢٥
Rather, to Allāh belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].
53:26
۞ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٖ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغۡنِي شَفَٰعَتُهُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ ٢٦
And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail at all except [only] after Allāh has permitted [it] to whom He wills and approves.