[It was] as if he were at a distance of "two bows' length," meaning: the measure of two cubits, "or nearer," meaning: rather, even nearer.
Muhammad said: It is said that the bow, in the dialect of Azd Shanu'ah, is the cubit.
﴿فَكَأَن﴾ إِلَيْهِ ﴿قاب قوسين﴾ أَي: قدر ذراعين ﴿أَوْ أَدْنَى﴾ أَي: بل أدنى.
قَالَ محمدٌ: قيل: إِن القوسَ فِي لُغَة أَزْد شنُوءَة: الذِّرَاع.
