Tafsir of An-Najm 53:8

Surah An-Najm (The Star): Verse 8

ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّى (Then he drew near and descended)

There are well-known interpretations regarding this verse:

The First Interpretation (Most Common):

That Jibrīl (Gabriel) drew near to the Prophet (peace be upon him).

• This means after Jibrīl stretched out his wings (as mentioned in the previous verse, wa huwa bil-ufuq al-aʿlā), he returned to the form in which he was accustomed to descending.
• He then drew near to the Prophet (PBUH).

Regarding the word {فَتَدَلَّى} (and descended/drew near), there are three possibilities:

1. Anticipation and Postponement: The intended meaning is: "Then he descended from the highest horizon, and then drew near to the Prophet (PBUH)." (i.e., the order is reversed).
2. Synonymity: Dunnūw (drawing near) and Tadallī (descending/drawing near) mean the same thing, as if the text stated: "He drew near, and drew near again."
3. Movement and Descent: Dunnūw means he intended to approach Muhammad (PBUH) and moved from the place where he was, and then {فَتَدَلَّى} means he descended to the Prophet (PBUH).

The Second Interpretation:

This follows the last possibility mentioned concerning the previous verse (fa-istawā wa huwa bil-ufuq al-aʿlā): that Muhammad (PBUH) drew near to creation and the Ummah, becoming like one of them.

• {فَتَدَلَّى} means he descended to them with gentle speech and kind invitation, saying: {إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ} (I am only a man like you, to whom revelation is inspired) [Fussilat: 6].
• Under this view, the statement contains two perfections: It is as if God said: There is no revelation being revealed except to Jibrīl upon Muhammad, so Muhammad became complete (istawā), ascended in station, then drew near to creation and descended to them, delivering the message.

The Third Interpretation (Weak and Unsound):

That the one who drew near and descended is God Almighty Himself.

• This is the view of those who affirm physical location (al-qā'ilīn bi-l-jiha wa-l-makān).
• Unless the intention is drawing near in rank/station. If so, it carries the same meaning as the Prophet's narration from his Lord: "Whoever draws near to Me by a handspan, I draw near to him by an arm's length; whoever draws near to Me by an arm's length, I draw near to him by a cubit; and whoever walks toward Me, I come to him running." (This refers to the metaphorical meaning).
• Here, since it was established that the Prophet (PBUH) ascended and reached a high intellectual station (not a physical location), God drew near to him as a confirmation of the metaphorical meaning: "whoever draws near to Me by an arm's length, I draw near to him by a cubit."

{فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ} (And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer)