لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ 18
Translations
He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.
Transliteration
Laqad ra'a min ayati Rabbihi al-kubrá
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) vision of the greatest signs of his Lord during the Night Journey (Isra) and Ascension (Mi'raj). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as describing the Prophet's witnessing of divine miracles and celestial wonders, establishing the authenticity and magnitude of his prophetic experience. The 'greatest signs' (al-kubrá) emphasize that what the Prophet witnessed transcended ordinary human perception and confirmed his unique status as a messenger.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the context of Surah An-Najm, which is entirely devoted to narrating and validating the Prophet's Night Journey and Ascension (Mi'raj). The surah defends this miraculous event against the disbelievers' mockery and establishes its spiritual and historical significance as a foundational event in Islamic tradition.
Related Hadiths
The Night Journey is extensively documented in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim through narrations from Anas ibn Malik and other companions, describing the Prophet's miraculous journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension through the heavens. Additionally, Jundub ibn Abdullah reported that the Prophet described seeing the Throne of God and other divine signs during this journey.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the Prophet's spiritual experiences and the signs he witnessed are foundations of faith that surpass rational doubt—encouraging us to accept the miraculous dimensions of Islam with certainty. It also teaches that communion with the Divine is possible and that God grants His chosen servants extraordinary experiences to strengthen their mission and message.