These verses relate to another occasion of the Prophet ﷺ seeing Jibreel (as) which did not take place on earth but when he ﷺ was taken on a heavenly journey above to a place where even the angels were not permitted. These verses describe what he ﷺ saw and experienced.
Background to 53:13–18
A second occasion of the Prophet ﷺ seeing Jibreel (as), not on earth but during a heavenly journey.
Language Points
Nuances of “Nazlah” and its contrast in context.
The root and meaning
نَزْلَة (Nazlah) comes from نُزُول (Nuzool) which means to descend or lower down.
Contrast with a high horizon
(NAK opinion): نَزْلَة refers to a low position, in contrast to the earlier verse describing Jibreel (as) in a high position:
وَهُوَ بِالْأُفُقِ الْأَعْلَىٰ
“Whilst he was in the highest horizon or sky above” (An‑Najm: 7).
Majority view
The majority have stated that نَزْلَة refers to the act of the descent, which implies that he came from a higher place.
Why “Nazlatan” not “Marratan”?
Al‑Imam Al‑Alousiy raises the question of why نَزْلَةً was used instead of مَرَّةً. Allah didn’t just say “he saw him another time” but that he saw him “in a descent” at another time.
Ar‑Razi’s Focus on “Nazlah”
An interpretive angle on who descended, and why it matters.
“The Nazlah (descent) in this occurrence can refer to Muhammad ﷺ as we have previously mentioned. That is because the Prophet ﷺ in accordance with what came recorded in some of the reports related about the night of Al‑Mi’raaj (ascent to the heavens) went past Jibreel (as) and Jibreel (as) said to him: ‘If I was to get closer by even a fingertip I would be burnt or combust’. He then returned to him and so that was a Nazlah (descent).”
Implication
This implies that during the night of Al‑Mi’raaj the Prophet ﷺ ascended beyond a point that even Jibreel (as) was not able to go. Accordingly, this نَزْلَة can refer to the Prophet ﷺ descending down to Jibreel (as). The imagery describes his ascending in the heavens and how high he went.
Visualizing the Contrast
From the “highest horizon” to “another descent”.
High setting noted earlier
وَهُوَ بِالْأُفُقِ الْأَعْلَىٰ — “Whilst he was in the highest horizon or sky above” (An‑Najm: 7).
Focus of this verse
وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ — “He certainly saw him in another descent”.
Higher horizon
Jibreel (as) in a high position — “the highest horizon”.
Beyond the angelic limit
The Prophet ﷺ ascends beyond a point even Jibreel (as) could not go.
نَزْلَةً — “a descent”
A return down towards Jibreel (as): “another descent”.
Key Takeaways
What this wording emphasizes.
Precision of wording
Choosing نَزْلَةً over مَرَّةً moves focus from mere timing to the manner: a descent.
Contextual contrast
“Highest horizon” vs “another descent” frames the encounter across different altitudes or states.
Interpretive breadth
Majority: descent itself. NAK: low position. Ar‑Razi: descent can be attributed to the Prophet ﷺ returning to Jibreel (as).
Heavenly exclusivity
The scene occurs above, at a place even angels were not permitted — intensifying the verse’s awe.