Tafseer of The Star · An-Najm · 53:5
Taught to him by one intense in strength -
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.
His statement: ( Taught to him by the mighty in powers ) He, exalted is His mention, says: Muḥammad ﷺ was taught this Qurʾān by Jibrīl, peace be upon him. By His statement ( the mighty in powers (shadīd al-quwā) ) is meant: the mighty in capacities. And "al-quwā" is the plural of "quwwa", just as "al-juthā" is the plural of "juthwa", and "al-ḥubā" the plural of "ḥubwa". Some of the Arabs say "al-qiwā" with a kasra on the qāf, just as "al-rishwa" (bribery) is made into "rishā" with a kasra on the rāʾ, and "al-ḥubwa" into "ḥibā". And it has been reported of the Arabs that they say "rushwa" with a ḍamma on the rāʾ, and "rishwa" with a kasra on it. So it must be that the plural of the one who forms it [as singular] becomes "rishā" with a kasra on the rāʾ, according to the usage of the one who says: its singular is "rishwa"; and that the plural of the one who forms it [as singular] with a ḍamma on the rāʾ comes from the usage of the one who pronounces the rāʾ in its singular with a ḍamma. And if someone whose usage is the ḍamma in the singular forms it [as plural] with a kasra, or one whose usage is the kasra forms it with a ḍamma, then that is merely the transferring of one usage onto another.
And in accordance with what we have said concerning the explanation of His statement ( Taught to him by the mighty in powers ) the people of interpretation (ahl al-taʾwīl) have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda ( Taught to him by the mighty in powers ) he means: Jibrīl.
Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, saying: Ḥakkām related to us, on the authority of Abū Jaʿfar, on the authority of al-Rabīʿ ( Taught to him by the mighty in powers ) he said: Jibrāʾīl, peace be upon him.
Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, saying: Mihrān related to us, on the authority of Abū Jaʿfar, on the authority of al-Rabīʿ, the like of it.
