The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 125
PT. 27 AN-NAJM 16. Near which is the Garden of Eternal Abode. 17. This was when that which covers covered the Lote-tree. 3979 18. The eye deviated not, nor did it wander. 3 3980 19. Surely, he saw the greatest of the Signs of his Lord. 20. Now tell me about Lāt and 'Uzzā, 21. And Manāt, the third one, another goddess!3981 Prophet had reached a high stage of nearness to God which was beyond human mind to conceive; or it may signify that at that stage a sea of endless vistas of divine knowledge and eternal realities and verities opened out before him. a CH. 53 عِنْدَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَى إِذْ يَغْشَى السَّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَى مَازَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَى لَقَدْ رَأَى مِنْ أَيْتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَى افرة يتم الله والمرية وَمَنْوةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْأُخْرَى from moral corruption. 3979. Commentary: The words "that which covers," signify the manifestation of God. 3980. Commentary: The verse sheds a flood of light on the bedrock of certainty and invincible faith on which the Holy Prophet stood. 3981. Commentary: Or the verse may possess symbolic allusion to the fact that divine knowledge vouchsafed to the Holy Prophet would, like the Lote- tree, give comfort and shelter to the This and the preceding verse imply tired and jaded limbs of the spiritual a subtle rebuke to the disbelievers. wayfarer. Or it may possess a After having declared the Glory, prophetic reference to the tree under Majesty and Dignity of God in the which the Companions of the Holy former verses, these two verses seem Prophet took the oath of fealty at his to say to them that, instead of adoring hands at the time of the Truce of such a Mighty and Powerful Creator Hudaibiyyah. Moreover, as the leaves and Lord, they stoop so low as to of the Lote-tree possess the quality of worship gods made of wood and stone. safeguarding a dead body from It may be noted here that some corruption, the verse may signify that prejudiced Christian critics of the the Teaching revealed to the Holy Holy Prophet have woven quite a Prophet not only is itself immune fantastic and foolish story of his against corruption but is eminently having fallen a victim to the fitted to save and preserve mankind | machinations of the Satan. 3021