Surah An-Najm (The Star): Verse 9

فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ (Then he approached and descended,) So he was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer.

This means the distance between Gabriel (عليه السلام) and Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was the measure of two bows, or even less.

This usage reflects the custom of the Arabs: when two princes or two great leaders made a pact and agreement, they would come out with their bows, and the string of each bow would touch the tip of the other's bow. Those beneath them (the common people) would stand hand-in-hand, extending their arms. This is why it is called musāyah (hand-to-hand contact/agreement).

Subtleties within this phrase:

1. "Two bow lengths" (قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ): This implies that both figures were considered great leaders.
2. "Or nearer" (أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ): This indicates the superiority of one over the other. If a ruler is making a pledge with the populace, the populace extends their hand, not their bow. Thus, Allah is informing us that:
   • Scenario A (Two Great Leaders): The distance was like that between two great leaders (two bow lengths).
   • Scenario B (Gabriel as Messenger): If Gabriel (عليه السلام) was acting as an intermediary between Allah and Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), he was subordinate to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). In this case, Gabriel was like the one pledging allegiance, extending his hand rather than his bow.

This interpretation aligns with the view of the Ahl al-Sunnah (Sunni scholars) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is superior to Gabriel (عليه السلام), with only a few exceptions. Those who hold the opposite view (that Gabriel is superior) argue that since Gabriel was a messenger from Allah, he deserved utmost reverence and obedience, making the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) subordinate to him in that context.

Another Interpretation (Qualitative Distance):

There is another view: the bow (قوس) is an expression for a measure of distance (بعد) that is quantified by measurement (قاس).

Under this view, that distance was the qualitative difference between the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and Gabriel (عليه السلام).

• The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) remained human in essence, even after shedding attributes contrary to angelic nature (lust, anger, ignorance, whims).
• Gabriel (عليه السلام), even after setting aside the perfection and subtlety that normally causes veiling and prevents sight, did not cease to be an angel.

Therefore, the only remaining distance between them was the difference in their essential natures (humanity vs. angelhood). All other mutable attributes were removed, causing the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to ascend to the highest horizon of humanity, and Gabriel (عليه السلام) to descend to the lowest horizon of angelhood, bringing them close, with only their essential realities separating them.

Analysis of the Verb "He Revealed" (فَأَوْحَىٰ):

Based on the above, there are two possibilities regarding the actor of the first "He revealed" (فَأَوْحَىٰ):

1. Allah is the Actor: Allah revealed.
   • In this case, there are two possibilities for "His Servant" (عَبْدِهِ):
     • Possibility 1a: The Servant is Gabriel (عليه السلام). Meaning: Allah revealed to Gabriel.
       • Then, for the second "He revealed" (مَا أَوْحَىٰ), there are two possibilities for its actor:
         • Actor is Allah: Meaning: Allah revealed to Gabriel what He had revealed, as an emphasis and glorification of the Revealer (Allah).
         • Actor is Gabriel: Meaning: Allah revealed to Gabriel what Gabriel revealed to every messenger. This shows that Gabriel was trustworthy (أمين) and did not betray anything revealed to him, similar to the verse: {Brought down by the Trustworthy Spirit} (Ash-Shu'ara: 193) and {Obeyed, and trustworthy} (At-Takwir: 21).
     • Possibility 1b: The Servant is Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Meaning: Allah revealed to Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) what He revealed to him, for glorification and exaltation. This interpretation follows a highly elegant sequence: Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) first reached the highest human station (Prophethood), then drew near Gabriel while in that station, becoming a Messenger, achieving perfection, and then descended with gentleness toward the Ummah, communicating with them kindly. He moved repeatedly between his Ummah and his Lord, and Allah revealed to him directly, without Gabriel as an intermediary.

2. Gabriel is the Actor: Gabriel revealed to "His Servant" (Allah). This is impossible, as Allah is known to be the ultimate source, and the verse {And on the Day He will gather them all, then say to the angels, "Were these the ones who used to worship you?" They will say, "Exalted are You! You are our Protector instead of them. Rather, they used to worship the jinn"} (Saba: 40-41) proves that this term cannot be applied to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

• Therefore, if Gabriel is the actor of the first revelation, the second "He revealed" (أَوْحَىٰ) has two possibilities: * Actor is Gabriel: Gabriel revealed to the Servant (Allah) what Gabriel revealed (for glorification). * Actor is Allah: Gabriel revealed to Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) what Allah revealed.

Regarding "What He Revealed" (مَا أَوْحَىٰ):

If the actor is Gabriel (as in Possibility 1a), the object revealed (مَا) has several interpretations:

1. The revelation concerning the Prayer (الصلاة).
2. That no prophet enters Paradise before you, and no nation enters Paradise before your nation.
3. That مَا is general, meaning everything Gabriel brought. This fits well with the interpretation that the object is Gabriel.

The previous two possibilities (where the object is Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)) are clearer under the interpretation that the actor is Allah.

A Curious Linguistic Point (Addressing a Question):

There is a strange linguistic point, well-known to Usuliyyun (scholars of legal theory): How did Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) know that Gabriel was an angel from Allah and not one of the jinn?

The claim that Khadijah uncovered her head as a test is extremely weak. If the claimant means that knowledge was attained through such actions, this is flawed because Satan could potentially appear disguised when her head was uncovered, causing confusion between angels and jinn.

The Correct Answer is Twofold:

1. Allah manifested a miracle through Gabriel that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) recognized him by, just as Allah manifested miracles through Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that we recognize him by.
2. Allah created in Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) an innate, necessary knowledge that Gabriel was from Allah, an angel, not a jinn or a devil. Similarly, Allah created in Gabriel the necessary knowledge that the one speaking to him was Allah, and that his Lord sent him, and no one else.

Knowing these two answers, we proceed to the next verse:

! 7 < { فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَىٰ } . > 7 !

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(So He revealed to His Servant what He revealed.)