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.