Continued...
Surah An-Najam 53: - (The Star)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Most Merciful
(… “And indeed, he saw him another time by ‘Sidrat-ul-Muntaha’…” [the lote-tree in the upper realm] … 53:13-14).
COMMENTARY: Here too there are two views regarding the antecedent of the pronoun ‘hu’ (him):
- that it refers to seeing Allah; or
- that it refers to seeing Jibra'eel AS.
The adverb (‘nazlatan 'ukhra) [another time or at another descent], according to the overwhelming majority, refers to the second descent of Jibraeel AS. The first vision was experienced in this world on the uppermost horizon of Makkah. The second vision was experienced on the seventh heaven near the Lote-Tree of the Uppermost Realm.
Obviously, the Noble Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) went up to the seventh heaven on the Night of Meraj. Thus, it is possible to determine the approximate time of the second experience, which took place on that occasion.
Thus, ‘Sidrat-ul-Muntaha’ is the Lote-Tree on the seventh heaven under the Throne of the Gracious Allah. According to a narration in Muslim, the Tree is on the sixth heaven. Reconciliation is possible between the two apparently conflicting versions in that its root is on the sixth heaven and its branches are spread on the seventh heaven (Qurtubi).
Generally, the access of angels ends at this point, and therefore, it is called ‘Muntaha (the end). Some Traditions inform us that the Divine injunctions first descend from the Divine Throne to the ‘sidrat-ul-muntaha’ which are handed over to the relevant angels. Similarly, angels going up from the earth to the
heaven with Books of Deeds etc. convey them to this point. Then there may be some other way for their presentation to Allah Almighty. This subject is reported from Abdullah Ibn Masood RA as recorded by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad.
~ MA'AARIFUL QUR'AAN ~
TO BE CONTINUED… |