Quran 53 : 9

of the universe…

two bows' length away, or nearer

Until He became as close as possible.

to within two bows' length or closer.

And was two bows' length away, or nearer.

he was but two bows' length or even nearer

…until he was closer than two bow-shots.

To be within a distance of two bow-lengths

He was two bow-lengths away or even closer.

He was two bow-lengths away, or (even) less

The distance between two bows held together.

Till he was two bows length off or yet nearer

Until he was two bows distant or closer still

and stood two bow-lengths off or even closer.

So he was within two bows’ length, or closer.

and stood two bow-lengths off or even closer.

He was within two bows' length, or closer

till he was within two bows’ length or nearer

until he was two bow-lengths away or even close

until he was two bows length off or nigher still

until he was at a distance of two bows or closer,

So he was the measure of two bows or closer still

And was at a distance of two bow lengths or less.

So he was the measure of two bows or closer still

And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer

until he was two bows´ length away, or nearer

Till he was at the angle of two bows or even nearer.

and was at a distance of two bows, length or closer,

Until he became as near as two bow-lengths or nearer.

Until a space of two bow (arcs) or even less remained

And was at the distance of two bows, or even closer,

until he was but two bow-lengths away, or even nearer

Till he was (distant) two bows' length or even nearer

that he was only two arms-lengths away or even less.

and was at a distance of 2 bow’s length or even closer,

And was at a distance of only two bow-lengths or nearer

until he was within two bows’ length or even nearer

And was (at) a distance (of) two bow-(lengths) or nearer

And was at a distance of two bows length or (even) nearer

So he was at two bows (distance) or (even) closer (still)

he came down within two bows‘ length or even closer

And was at the distance of two bow lengths, or even nearer.

until he was two bow-lengths away or even closer–&ndash

And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer

So that he became (as it were) one chord to two bows or closer still

until he had been at a distance of two bow lengths or closer.

And was (as close as) the distance between two bow lengths or nearer!

So that HE became, as it were, one chord to two bows, or closer still

until he was as close to him as the distance of two bows, or even less

So he was at a distance of two bow-lengths, or (so to say, even) nearer

until He was at the distance of two bows length from him, or yet nearer

He was as close to (Muhammad) as the distance of two bows or even less.

He was as close to (‘Muhammad’) as the distance of two bows or even less.

So he was (a) short measure of length (of) two arm's/bow's (lengths) or nearer

And was at a distance of only two bow-lengths (of spiritual union) or even nearer

so as he was at a distance like that of two bows (joined together), rather even nearer

So there was a distance of two hands between the Splendid sight and the beloved (Prophet) but rather less than that.

So he was (so near that there was left only the distance between) the strings of two bows (put adjacent to each other) or even nearer (than that)

Then a distance measuring only two bow-lengths was left (between Allah Unveiled and His Esteemed Beloved), or even less than that (in extreme nearness)

Till he was but two bow-lengths away, or even closer. (The Divine Will and the will of the Messenger merged together, like the two of you join your bows as a bond of friendship (8:17))

So the distance between the Spectacle and the beloved was only two arms’ length, or even less. (The Heavenly Journey of Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him – was with body and soul.