Tafsir of An-Najm 53:5

Surah An-Najm (The Star): Verse 5

{ عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَى } (He was taught by one mighty in Power.)

There are two main interpretations regarding the pronoun in { عَلَّمَهُ } (He taught him):

1. The most famous view among the exegetes is that the pronoun refers back to the Revelation (الوحي). Thus, the meaning is: "The Revelation taught him, [and this Revelation is] mighty in Power." Even if the Revelation is the Book (the Qur'an), this is clear. If it refers to inspiration (الإلهام), it is like the verse: { نَزَّلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ } (The Trustworthy Spirit brought it down) (Ash-Shu'ara: 193).

2. The preferable view is that the pronoun refers back to Muhammad (peace be upon him). The structure would then be: "Muhammad was taught by one mighty in Power, Gabriel." In this case, { شَدِيدُ الْقُوَى } (Mighty in Power) refers to Gabriel. This means that all of Muhammad's (PBUH) intellectual and practical powers are strong, enabling him to know and act.

1. Praise of the Teacher is Praise of the Learner: If the verse had simply stated, "Gabriel taught him," without describing Gabriel's strength, the Prophet's (PBUH) virtue would not have been as clearly established.

2. Refutation of the Disbelievers: This verse refutes their claim that the Prophet (PBUH) heard these teachings while traveling to Sham (Syria) from others. The response is: No one taught him; rather, his teacher is Mighty in Power. Furthermore, humans are created weak, and they are given but little knowledge.

3. Assurance of Gabriel's Trustworthiness: The statement { عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَى } encompasses all conditions necessary for accepting a report as true. The strength of comprehension is a prerequisite for trusting a speaker. If we suspect someone has a flawed mind, and they convey a complex issue from a great scholar, we would not trust them, thinking they misunderstood the scholar. Similarly, strength of memory (so he didn't forget) and strength of trustworthiness (so he didn't alter it) are required. By saying { شَدِيدُ الْقُوَى }, all these conditions are gathered, similar to the verse: { ذُو قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِى الْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍ * مُطَاعٍ ثَمَّ أَمِينٍ } (Possessing power, with the Owner of the Throne, established, obeyed there, and trustworthy) (At-Takwir: 20-21).

4. Consolation for the Prophet (PBUH): Since God is not confined to a specific location, attributing the teaching to Gabriel might seem like a deficiency in the Prophet's (PBUH) status (as if he needed an intermediary). The verse clarifies this is not the case, because Gabriel is Mighty in Power and capable of conveying the divine message to you (the Prophet) after you have reached full maturity. This is like the case of Moses, who was taught first through an intermediary and then directly by God, as stated: { وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُن تَعْلَمُ } (And He taught you what you did not know) (An-Nisa: 113). This aligns with the Prophet's saying: "My Lord disciplined me and perfected my discipline."

{ ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَى } (One of strength, who established Himself [in position].)