Opening the verse
لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ
He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.
Scholars differ
Scholars differ on what the Prophet ﷺ saw: most, following 'A'isha, say it was Jibril in his true form; Ibn 'Abbas held that he saw his Lord with his heart.
Narrated `Abdullah:Regarding the Verse: "Indeed he (Muhammad) did see. Of the Signs of his Lord, The Greatest!" (53.18) That the Prophet (ﷺ) had seen a green carpet spread all over the horizon of the sky
Narrated `Abdullah:(regarding the revelation) Truly he (Muhammad) did see of the signs of his Lord; the Greatest!' (53.18) The Prophet (ﷺ) saw a green screen covering the horizon
Weak (da'if) — scholars do not use this report as evidence for rulings.
Narrated Ash-Sha'bi:"Ibn 'Abbas met Ka'b at Arafat, so he asked him about something and he kept on saying the Takbir until it reverberated off of the mountains. So Ibn 'Abbas (finally) said: 'We are Banu Hashim.' So Ka'b said: 'Indeed Allah divided His being seen and His speaking between Muhammad and Musa. He spoke to Musa two times, and Muhammad saw Him two times.' Masruq said: 'I entered upon 'Aishah and asked her if Muhammad saw his Lord.' She said: 'You have said something that makes my hair stand on end.' I said: 'Take it easy.' Then I recited: Indeed he saw of the great signs of his Lord (53:18). So she said: 'What do you mean by that? That is only Jibra'il. Whoever informed you that…