Surah An-Najm — Verse 5

Word Meanings:

• Shadeed al-Quwa (شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ): "The One Mighty in Power" — meaning the angel Jibril (Gabriel), peace be upon him, who is described as possessing immense, overwhelming strength. The word *quwa* is the plural of *quwwah* (power/strength), indicating the multiplicity and perfection of his capabilities.

Explanation of the Verse:

This noble verse tells us that the one who taught the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) the Qur'an was a being of extraordinary strength and majestic power — and that is the angel Jibril (Gabriel), peace be upon him. Allah, the Exalted, chose Jibril to deliver His divine revelation to His final Messenger, and He equipped this angel with unmatched physical and spiritual might to carry out this monumental task.

Jibril is not merely a messenger among angels; he is described in the Qur'an as *"the trustworthy spirit"* (Ar-Ruh al-Amin) and here as *"the one mighty in power."* His strength is such that he was able to single-handedly lift and overturn the cities of the people of Lut (Lot) with a single wing-beat, and he appeared to the Prophet in his true, magnificent form — a form so vast that it filled the horizon. Yet, despite this overwhelming power, he came to the Prophet Muhammad with gentleness, humility, and perfect obedience to Allah's command, delivering the revelation with precision and care.

This verse also carries a profound lesson for us: the Qur'an is not the product of human imagination or poetic inspiration, as the disbelievers of Makkah falsely claimed. Rather, it is a divine revelation delivered by the most powerful of Allah's angels to the most honoured of His creation. The very source of this message is pure, mighty, and divinely protected — and so is the message itself.

A Call to Reflection and Faith:

Dear reader, when you hold the Qur'an in your hands, remember that you are holding words that were carried by the strongest of Allah's angels, from the Throne of the Almighty, to the heart of the most beloved of His creation. This is not a book of myths or legends — it is the living word of Allah, preserved and protected for over fourteen centuries, and it speaks to you today as clearly as it spoke to the first generation of believers.

Let this verse strengthen your certainty that the Qur'an is the ultimate truth. If the One who taught it is "mighty in power," then the message itself is mighty in its impact, its guidance, and its ability to transform hearts and lives. Open your heart to it, reflect on its meanings, and let it be your guide in every step of your life. For whoever holds firmly to this revelation has indeed grasped the strongest handhold that never breaks — and whoever turns away from it has turned away from the very source of strength and salvation.

May Allah make us among those who truly benefit from the Qur'an and live by its teachings. Ameen.