فَنَظَرَ نَظْرَةً فِي النُّجُومِ (88)
(37:88) Then *47 he looked carefully at the stars *48
*47) The reference is to a particular incident the details of which have been given in Surah Al-Anbiya': 71-73 and Al-`Ankabut: 16-27 above.
*48) Ibn Abi Hatim has cited a saying of the famous commentator Qatadah, an immediate follower of the Companions, to the effect that the Arabic idiomatic expression, cast a glance at the stars," means that he pondered deeply, or that he started thinking seriously. 'Allama Ibn Kathir has preferred this same view, and this is also supported by the common observation: when a person is confronted by a problem that needs serious consideration, he looks upward or to the sky for a while, and then makes a reply, after due consideration.