Tafseer of The Star · An-Najm · 53:18
He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
And His word ( لَقَدْ رَأَى مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَى ) — "Verily, he saw of the signs of his Lord the greatest" — He, exalted is His mention, says: verily, Muḥammad saw there, of the signs of his Lord and His proofs, the greatest signs and proofs.
The exegetes differed concerning those greatest signs. Some of them said: he saw a green canopy (rafraf) that had blocked out the horizon.
* Mention of who said that:
Abū Hishām al-Rifāʿī related to us, saying: Abū Muʿāwiya related to us, saying: al-Aʿmash related to us, on the authority of Ibrāhīm, on the authority of ʿAlqama, on the authority of ʿAbd Allāh ( لَقَدْ رَأَى مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَى ) he said: a green canopy from Paradise that had blocked out the horizon.
Abū al-Sāʾib related to me, saying: Abū Muʿāwiya related to us, on the authority of al-Aʿmash, on the authority of Ibrāhīm, he said: ʿAbd Allāh said — and he mentioned the like of it.
Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, saying: Mihrān related to us, on the authority of Sufyān, on the authority of al-Aʿmash, on the authority of Ibrāhīm, on the authority of ʿAlqama, on the authority of Ibn Masʿūd ( مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَى ) he said: a green canopy that had blocked out the horizon.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda, on the authority of al-Aʿmash, that Ibn Masʿūd said: the Prophet ﷺ saw a green canopy from Paradise that had blocked out the horizon.
Others said: he saw Jibrīl in his true form.
* Mention of who said that:
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said, concerning His word ( لَقَدْ رَأَى مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَى ) he said: it was Jibrīl whom he saw in his creation in which he is in the heavens, at a distance of two bow-shots between him and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
