al-Najm

إِذْ يَغْشَی السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَی

مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَی

لَقَدْ رَأی مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَی

16. When that covered the lote tree which did cover it!

17. The sight turned not aside nor did it transgress beyond the limit.

18. Verily, he did see of the Greatest Signs of his Lord.

"When that covered the lote tree"

reflects that Sidrat al-Muntaha is covered by a halo of light, beauty, and purity such that it is indescribable. It is said that a large number of angels cover the tree. It is narrated from the Noble Prophet that he had seen an angel standing on each leaf of Sidrat al-Muntaha glorifying God Almighty. The blessed Verse is saying that the Noble Prophet (S) saw Gabriel by its original form on the Night of Ascent when the lote tree was covered by a large number of creatures reflecting Divine Greatness and Magnificence.

The blessed Verse 17 is saying that the Noble Prophet (S) did not gaze at Gabriel but he looked constantly at the angel without being perplexed or erring. His sight did not turn aside nor did it transgress the bounds.

"Verily, he did see"

in the blessed Verse 18 indicates that by God Almighty! Upon his Ascent unto the heaven, the Noble Prophet (S) saw Divine Signs in such manner that the Sign was the Greatest of Them. It was at that time that the wonders of the heavenly spheres were shown unto him. The Arabic partitive preposition min ("of, from") indicates that what the Noble Prophet (S) saw were some of Divine Signs rather than all of Them.