ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَٱسْتَوَىٰ 6
Translations
One of soundness. And he rose to [his] true form
Transliteration
Dhū mirratin fastawā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Angel Gabriel (Jibrīl) in his true form, described as possessing tremendous power and strength ('dhū mirratin' meaning 'possessor of might/power'). The word 'fastawā' means 'he took his position' or 'he stood upright,' indicating that the angel appeared before the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in his authentic celestial form. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that this describes Gabriel's majestic appearance when revealing the Qur'an, emphasizing the dignity and power of the divine messenger.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah An-Najm, which details the Prophet Muhammad's encounter with Angel Gabriel during the revelation of the Qur'an. The surah specifically describes the miraculous night when the Prophet witnessed Gabriel in his true angelic form near the Lote Tree of the Uttermost Boundary (Sidrat al-Muntahā), establishing the authority and reality of the Qur'anic revelation.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim (177): 'Abdullāh ibn Masʿūd reported: 'I saw Gabriel descend with the Qur'an to the Prophet in his true form, filling the space between heaven and earth.' This hadith directly corroborates the ayah's description of Gabriel's magnificent appearance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that divine revelation comes through powerful, trustworthy celestial beings, affirming the authenticity and importance of following the Qur'an as God's word. It encourages recognition of the unseen spiritual realm and the majesty of God's creation.
Related Ayahs
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ قَالَ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ وَلَمْ يُوحَ إِلَيْهِ شَىْءٌ وَمَن قَالَ سَأُنزِلُ مِثْلَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ فِى غَمَرَٰتِ ٱلْمَوْتِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ بَاسِطُوٓا۟ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمُ ۖ ٱلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allāh or says, "It has been inspired to me," while nothing has been inspired to him, and one who says, "I will reveal [something] like what Allāh revealed." And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], "Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allāh other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant."
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, who has sent down upon His Servant [Muḥammad (ﷺ)] the Book and has not made therein any deviance.
وَطُورِ سِينِينَ
And [by] Mount Sinai
۞ 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.