Tafsir of An-Najm 53:14

It is a lote tree (sidr) to the right of the Throne in the seventh heaven, according to the well-known opinion. In a hadith related by Ahmad, Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, and others, it is stated: "Its fruits are like the jars of Hajar, and its leaves are like the ears of elephants. A rider travels in its shade for seventy years without traversing it." Al-Hakim recorded—and authenticated—on the authority of Asma bint Abi Bakr, as a marfu’ narration: "A rider travels under a single branch of it for one hundred years." The narrations are manifest that it is a literal lote tree.

Plants in the observable world are earthly, aquatic, or aerial, but it is not far-fetched for Allah the Exalted to create it in whatever place He wills. He, Glorified be He, has informed us regarding the Tree of Zaqqum that it grows at the root of Hellfire. It has been said that the application of the term "Lote Tree" to it is metaphorical, because the angels (peace be upon them) gather at it, just as people gather in the shade of a lote tree.

"Al-Muntaha" (The Utmost Boundary) is a noun denoting a place, and it is permissible that it is a mim-prefixed verbal noun (masdar). It is said it is called "Sidrat al-Muntaha" because—as recorded by ‘Abd ibn Humayd and Ibn Abi Hatim from Ibn Abbas—the knowledge of every knower terminates at it, and whatever is beyond it, none knows except Allah the Exalted. Or, it is because the knowledge of the Prophets (peace be upon them) terminates there, and their knowledge eludes what is beyond it. Or, it is because the deeds of the creation terminate there, being presented to Allah the Exalted at that place. Or, it is because whatever descends from above it and ascends from beneath it terminates there. Or, it is because the souls of the martyrs, or the souls of the believers generally, terminate there. Or, because it is the boundary for those who are raised to it in honor.

In al-Kashshaf, it is suggested that it is the extremity and end of Paradise. The genitive construction (idafa) of "Sidra" to "al-Muntaha" is like the construction of a thing to its location, as in "orchard trees." It is also permitted that it is the construction of a location to its subject, as in your saying "the book of jurisprudence" (kitab al-fiqh). It is also said that it is permissible for the "Muntaha" to refer to Allah the Almighty; thus, the construction is that of a possession to the Possessor—meaning: the "Lote Tree" of Allah, to Whom is the "Utmost Boundary," as He, Glorified be He, says: "And that to your Lord is the finality." This is considered a case of ellipsis and connection. It is not hidden that this statement is nearly the limit of distance.