What does Quran 53:18 mean?

Quran 53:18 (Surah An-Najm, Ayah 18) translates to: "He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord."

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 53:18 from?

This ayah is from Surah An-Najm (The Star), the 53th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 27.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 53:18?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Ibn Majah.

What tafsir is available for Quran 53:18?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Al-Jalalayn, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Abbas — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

Ayah 17

مَا زَاغَ ٱلْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ...

53:18An-Najm

Q: What topics does Quran 53:18 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Divine Signs, Divine Revelation, Prophethood, Angel Jibril (Gabriel), Divine Power.

Ayah 19

أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱللَّٰتَ وَٱلْعُزَّىٰ...

لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ

Laqad ra aa min aayaati Rabbihil kubraaa

He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.

Themes in this ayah

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The Prophet ﷺ82 Lessons from past peoples55

Scores run 0–100: how strongly this ayah speaks to a theme. 70+ is central, 50+ is clear, under 50 is weak.

6 other themes with weak connections

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53:18Ayah 162

9 ayahs in An-Najm are strongly about the Prophet. This is one of them.

← Previous on The Prophet ﷺ53:17The sight [of the Prophet] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit].Next on The Prophet ﷺ →53:56This [Prophet] is a warner like the former warners.

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 53:18→

Verily he saw in it some of the greatest signs of his Lord some of the most awesome of these signs. He thus saw from among the marvels of the Realm malakūt a green drape rafraf that obscured the entire horizon of the heaven and Gabriel with his six hundred wings.

(regarding the revelation) Truly he (Muhammad) did see of the signs of his Lord; the Greatest!' (53.18) The Prophet (ﷺ) saw a green screen covering the horizon.

Sahih Muslim #339Zirr b. Hubaish narrated it on the authority of 'Abdullah (that the words of Allah):Sahih

" Certainly he saw of the greatest signs of Allah" (al-Qur'an, liii. 18) imply that he saw Gabriel in his (original) form and he had six hundred wings.

Sahih al-Bukhari #3100Narrated `Abdullah:Sahih

Regarding the Verse: "Indeed he (Muhammad) did see. Of the Signs of his Lord, The Greatest!" (53.18) That the Prophet (ﷺ) had seen a green carpet spread all over the horizon of the sky.

Sunan Ibn Majah #4259Waki' bin Hudus narrated that his paternal uncle Abu Razin said:Sahih

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, will we see Allah on the Day of Resurrection? And what is the sign of that in His creation?' He said: 'O Abu Razin, do each of you not see the moon individually?' I said: 'Of course.' He said: 'Allah is Greater, and that is His sign in His creation.'"

Sunan Abu Dawud #4733Narrated AbuRazin al-Uqayli:Sahih

I asked: Messenger of Allah! will each one of us see his Lord? Ibn Mu'adh's version has: "being alone with Him, on the Day of Resurrection? And what sign is there is His creation?" He replied: AbuRazin! does each one of you not see the moon? Ibn Mu'adh's version has: "on the night when it is full, being alone with it?" Then the agreed version goes: I said: Yes. He said: Allah is more great. Ibn Mu'adh's version has: It is only part of Allah's creation, but Allah is more glorious and greater.