Tafsir of An-Najm 53:15

"At it" means at the Lote Tree (Sidrat al-Muntaha). It is also suggested that the pronoun refers to the "descent," implying that this is occurring at a stage of proximity.

"The Garden of Abode" is that to which the God-fearing shall retreat on the Day of Resurrection, as has been narrated from al-Hasan. This has been used as evidence that Paradise is in the heavens. Ibn Abbas—in a narration contrary to this—and Qatadah said: "It is a garden to which the souls of the martyrs retreat, and it is not the same Paradise that was promised to the God-fearing." Others said: "It is a garden to which the angels—peace be upon them—retreat." The first opinion is the most apparent.

"Al-Ma’wa" (the Abode), according to the majority, is a noun of place, and the genitive construction of the "Garden" to it is for the purpose of clarification (idafat al-bayan). It is also said to be an addition of the qualified to the quality, similar to "Masjid al-Jami’" (the Congregational Mosque); this is challenged by the fact that a noun of place is not qualified by its contents. The sentence serves as a state (hal), and it is said the state is the adverb, while "Jannah" is in the nominative case acting as the subject.

Ali—may Allah honor his face—Abu al-Darda, Abu Hurairah, Ibn al-Zubayr, Anas, Zirr, Muhammad ibn Ka’b, and Qatadah recited it as: "Jannahu" (He veiled him), with the pronoun "hu" referring to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). "Janna" is a past-tense verb meaning: "Allah the Exalted veiled him with His shelter and His beautiful handling of him," or "The Abode veiled him with its shades." This is based on "al-Ma’wa" being a mim-prefixed verbal noun or a noun of place, and "jannahu" meaning "He covered/veiled him."

Abu al-Baqa said: "This is anomalous, for the standard usage is ajannahu." For this reason, Aisha—and a group of the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all—said regarding those who recited it this way: "May Allah make him 'majnun' (insane)," or "May He cause him to enter the jinan (plural of jann), which is the grave." However, you know that if it is proven that the Commander of the Faithful—may Allah honor his face—and the great Companions with him recited it this way, it is not for anyone to reject it on the grounds of anomaly in usage. Indeed, it has also been reported from Aisha that she permitted it.