Al-Qur'an Surah At-Takwir Verse 23

Mufti Taqi Usmani

and he did see him (Jibra’īl X) on the clear horizon.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And he did see that ˹angel˺ on the clear horizon,[[ This is first time the Prophet (ﷺ) saw Gabriel in his angelic form. He saw him a second time in heaven during the Night Journey. See {53:5}-15.]]

Ruwwad Translation Center

He indeed saw him [Gabriel] on the clear horizon.

A. J. Arberry

he truly saw him on the clear horizon;

Abdul Haleem

he did see him on the clear horizon.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Assuredly he beheld him in the horizon manifest.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And without doubt he saw him in the clear horizon.

Abul Ala Maududi

he indeed saw the message-bearer on the clear horizon;

Ahmed Ali

He had surely seen Him on the clear horizon.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And indeed he saw him on the clear horizon. (Prophet Mohammed saw Angel Jibreel in his true shape – peace and blessings be upon them).

Ali Quli Qarai

certainly he saw him on the manifest horizon,

Ali Ünal

Indeed he saw him (Gabriel) on the clear horizon.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And he has most surely seen himself (shining in the resplendence of his own light) in the clear horizon (- in the remotest corners of the world).

English Literal

And he/He had seen/understood him/Him at the horizon/direction, the clear/evident .

Faridul Haque

And indeed he saw him on the clear horizon. (Prophet Mohammed saw Angel Jibreel in his true shape – peace and blessings be upon them).

Hamid S. Aziz

And of a truth he saw himself on the clear horizon.

Hilali & Khan

And indeed he (Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) saw him [Jibrael (Gabriel)] in the clear horizon (towards the east).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Nor is he niggardly of the unseen.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And of a truth he saw himself on the clear horizon.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Surely he beheld Him on the clear horizon.

Muhammad Sarwar

He certainly saw him (Gabriel) high up on the horizon in his original form

Qaribullah & Darwish

in truth he saw him (Gabriel) on the clear horizon,

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And indeed he saw him in the clear horizon.

Wahiduddin Khan

he truly beheld him [the angel] on the clear horizon.

Talal Itani

He saw him on the luminous horizon.

Tafsir jalalayn

For verily he, Muhammad (s), saw him, Gabriel, in the form in which he was created, on the clear horizon, the highest one, towards the east;

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

And indeed he saw him in the clear horizon.

meaning, indeed Muhammad saw Jibril, who brought him the Message from Allah, in the form that Allah created him in (i.e., his true form), and he had six hundred wings.

بِالاْاُفُقِ الْمُبِينِ



in the clear horizon.

meaning, clear.

This refers to the first sighting which occurred at Al-Batha' (Makkah). This incident is mentioned in Allah's statement,

عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَى

ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَى

وَهُوَ بِالاٍّفُقِ الاٌّعْلَى

ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّى

فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَى

فَأَوْحَى إِلَى عَبْدِهِ مَأ أَوْحَى

He has been taught by one mighty in power (Jibril).
Dhu Mirrah, then he rose.

While he was in the highest part of the horizon.

Then he approached and came closer.

And was at a distance of two bows' length or less.

So (Allah) revealed to His servant what He revealed. (53;5-10)

The explanation of this and its confirmation has already preceded, as well as the evidence that proves that it is referring to Jibril. It seems apparent -- and Allah knows best -- that this Surah (At-Takwir) was revealed before the Night Journey (Al-Isra'), because nothing has been mentioned in it except this sighting (of Jibril), and it is the first sighting.

The second sighting has been mentioned in Allah's statement,

وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَى

عِندَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنتَهَى

عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَى

إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَى

And indeed he saw him (Jibril) at a second descent.

Near Sidrah Al-Muntaha.

Near it is the Paradise of Abode.

When that covered the lote tree which did cover it ! (53;13-16)

And these Ayat have only been mentioned in Surah An-Najm, which was revealed after Surah Al-Isra'(The Night Journey).

وَمَا هُوَ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ بِضَنِينٍ