وَهُوَ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ 7
Translations
While he was in the higher [part of the] horizon.
Transliteration
wa-huwa bi-al-ufuqi al-a'la
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Prophet Muhammad's vision of Angel Gabriel (Jibril) at the highest point of the horizon during his encounter near Mount Hira'. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'al-ufuq al-a'la' (the highest horizon) as describing the elevated position where the Angel appeared in his true, magnificent form. This ayah emphasizes the grandeur and authenticity of the prophetic experience, establishing the reliability of Muhammad's revelatory encounter.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah An-Najm, which documents the Prophet's night vision of Angel Gabriel. The surah's context relates to the early Meccan period when the Prophet received the revelation. This particular ayah describes the angelic manifestation during one of the most significant encounters in Islamic history—the initial revelations that marked the beginning of prophethood.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain detailed accounts of the Prophet's encounter with Jibril, where 'A'ishah reports the Prophet describing how Gabriel appeared to him. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim describes the Angel filling the entire horizon, confirming the visual grandeur referenced in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us of the reality of the unseen world and the certainty of divine guidance channeled through the Prophet, encouraging believers to trust in the authenticity of revelation and the majesty of God's creation beyond human perception.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَآئِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِىَ بِإِذْنِهِۦ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ
And it is not for any human being that Allāh should speak to him except by revelation or from behind a partition or that He sends a messenger [i.e., angel] to reveal, by His permission, what He wills. Indeed, He is Most High and Wise.
لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَـٰبًا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
We have certainly sent down to you a Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] in which is your mention. Then will you not reason?
۞ وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ مَاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۚ قَالُوا۟ خَيْرًا ۗ لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۚ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ ۚ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
And it will be said to those who feared Allāh, "What did your Lord send down?" They will say, "[That which is] good." For those who do good in this world is good; and the home of the Hereafter is better. And how excellent is the home of the righteous -
ثُمَّ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ تَمَامًا عَلَى ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحْسَنَ وَتَفْصِيلًا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لَّعَلَّهُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Then We gave Moses the Scripture, making complete [Our favor] upon the one who did good [i.e., Moses] and as a detailed explanation of all things and as guidance and mercy that perhaps in the meeting with their Lord they would believe.