Chapter 53, 62 verses
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. By the Star when it setteth,
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَالنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ
By the Star when it goes down, -
Your comrade erreth not, nor is deceived;
مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ
Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled.
Nor doth he speak of (his own) desire.
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ
Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.
It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired,
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ
It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:
Which one of mighty powers hath taught him,
عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ
He was taught by one Mighty in Power,
One vigorous; and he grew clear to view
ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَىٰ
Endued with Wisdom: for he appeared (in stately form);
When he was on the uppermost horizon.
وَهُوَ بِالْأُفُقِ الْأَعْلَىٰ
While he was in the highest part of the horizon:
Then he drew nigh and came down
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ
Then he approached and came closer,
Till he was (distant) two bows' length or even nearer,
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ
And was at a distance of but two bow - lengths or (even) nearer;
And He revealed unto His slave that which He revealed.
فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَىٰ
So did (Allah) convey the inspiration to His Servant - (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey.
The heart lied not (in seeing) what it saw.
مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰ
The (Prophet's) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw.
Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he seeth ?
أَفَتُمَارُونَهُ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ
Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he saw?
And verily he saw him yet another time
وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ
For indeed he saw him at a second descent,
By the lote - tree of the utmost boundary,
عِندَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنتَهَىٰ
Near the Lote - tree beyond which none may pass:
Nigh unto which is the Garden of Abode.
عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَىٰ
Near it is the Garden of Abode.
When that which shroudeth did enshroud the lote - tree,
إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ
Behold, the Lote - tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!)
The eye turned not aside nor yet was overbold.
مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ
(His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong!
Verily he saw one of the greater revelations of his Lord.
لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَىٰ
For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest!
Have ye thought upon Al - Lat and Al - 'Uzza
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ اللَّاتَ وَالْعُزَّىٰ
Have ye seen Lat. and 'Uzza,
And Manat, the third, the other ?
وَمَنَاةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْأُخْرَىٰ
And another, the third (goddess), Manat?
Are yours the males and His the females ?
أَلَكُمُ الذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ الْأُنثَىٰ
What! for you the male sex, and for Him, the female?
That indeed were an unfair division!
تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَىٰ
Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair!
They are but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which Allah hath revealed no warrant. They follow but a guess and that which (they) themselves desire. And now the guidance from their Lord hath come unto them.
إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ الْهُدَىٰ
These are nothing but names which ye have devised, - ye and your fathers, - for which Allah has sent down no authority (whatever). They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire! - Even though there has already come to them Guidance from their Lord!
Or shall man have what he coveteth ?
أَمْ لِلْإِنسَانِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ
Nay, shall man have (just) anything he hankers after?
But unto Allah belongeth the after (life), and the former.
فَلِلَّهِ الْآخِرَةُ وَالْأُولَىٰ
But it is to Allah that the End and the Beginning (of all things) belong.
And how many angels are in the heavens whose intercession availeth naught save after Allah giveth leave to whom He chooseth and accepteth.
۞ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ لَا تُغْنِي شَفَاعَتُهُمْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِ أَن يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَيَرْضَىٰ
How many - so - ever be the angels in the heavens, their intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He pleases and that he is acceptable to Him.
Lo! it is those who disbelieve in the Hereafter who name the angels with the names of females.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تَسْمِيَةَ الْأُنثَىٰ
Those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names.
And they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and lo! a guess can never take the place of the truth.
وَمَا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ ۖ وَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا
But they have no knowledge therein. They follow nothing but conjecture; and conjecture avails nothing against Truth.
Then withdraw (O Muhammad) from him who fleeth from Our remembrance and desireth but the life of the world.
فَأَعْرِضْ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا
Therefore shun those who turn away from Our Message and desire nothing but the life of this world.
Such is their sum of knowledge. Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth, and He is Best Aware of him whom goeth right.
ذَٰلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اهْتَدَىٰ
That is as far as knowledge will reach them. Verily thy Lord knoweth best those who stray from His Path, and He knoweth best those who receive guidance.
And unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, that He may reward those who do evil with that which they have done, and reward those who do good with goodness.
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسَاءُوا بِمَا عَمِلُوا وَيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا بِالْحُسْنَى
Yea, to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: so that He rewards those who do evil, according to their deeds, and He rewards those who do good, with what is best.
Those who avoid enormities of sin and abominations, save the unwilled offences - (for them) lo! thy Lord is of vast mercy. He is Best Aware of you (from the time) when He created you from the earth, and when ye were hidden in the bellies of your mothers. Therefor ascribe not purity unto yourselves. He is Best Aware of him who wardeth off (evil).
الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَاسِعُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ
Those who avoid great sins and shameful deeds, only (falling into) small faults, - verily thy Lord is ample in forgiveness. He knows you well when He brings you out of the earth, And when ye are hidden in your mothers' wombs. Therefore justify not yourselves: He knows best who it is that guards against evil.
Didst thou (O Muhammad) observe him who turned away,
أَفَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ
Seest thou one who turns back,
And gave a little, then was grudging ?
وَأَعْطَىٰ قَلِيلًا وَأَكْدَىٰ
Gives a little, then hardens (his heart)?
Hath he knowledge of the Unseen so that he seeth ?
أَعِندَهُ عِلْمُ الْغَيْبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰ
What! Has he knowledge of the Unseen so that he can see?
Or hath he not had news of what is in the books of Moses
أَمْ لَمْ يُنَبَّأْ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ
Nay, is he not acquainted with what is in the Books of Moses -
And Abraham who paid his debt:
وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ الَّذِي وَفَّىٰ
And of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements? -
That no laden one shall bear another's load,
أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ
Namely, that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another;
And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort,
وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ
That man can have nothing but what he strives for;
And that his effort will be seen.
وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ
That (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight:
And afterward he will be repaid for it with fullest payment;
ثُمَّ يُجْزَاهُ الْجَزَاءَ الْأَوْفَىٰ
Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;
And that thy Lord, He is the goal;
وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ الْمُنتَهَىٰ
That to thy Lord is the final Goal;
And that He it is who maketh laugh, and maketh weep,
وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ
That it is He Who granteth Laughter and Tears;
And that He it is Who giveth death and giveth life;
وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا
That it is He Who granteth Death and Life;
And that He createth the two spouses, the male and the female,
وَأَنَّهُ خَلَقَ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنثَىٰ
That He did create in pairs, - male and female,
From a drop (of seed) when it is poured forth;
مِن نُّطْفَةٍ إِذَا تُمْنَىٰ
From a seed when lodged (in its place);
And that He hath ordained the second bringing forth;
وَأَنَّ عَلَيْهِ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُخْرَىٰ
That He hath promised a Second Creation (Raising of the Dead);
And that He it is Who enricheth and contenteth;
وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَغْنَىٰ وَأَقْنَىٰ
That it is He Who giveth wealth and satisfaction;
And that He it is Who is the Lord of Sirius;
وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ رَبُّ الشِّعْرَىٰ
That He is the Lord of Sirius (the Mighty Star);
And that He destroyed the former (tribe of) A'ad,
وَأَنَّهُ أَهْلَكَ عَادًا الْأُولَىٰ
And that it is He Who destroyed the (powerful) ancient 'Ad (people),
And (the tribe of) Thamud He spared not;
وَثَمُودَ فَمَا أَبْقَىٰ
And the Thamud nor gave them a lease of perpetual life.
And the folk of Noah aforetime, Lo! they were more unjust and more rebellious;
وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا هُمْ أَظْلَمَ وَأَطْغَىٰ
And before them, the people of Noah, for that they were (all) most unjust and most insolent transgressors,
And Al - Mu'tafikah He destroyed
وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَةَ أَهْوَىٰ
And He destroyed the Overthrown Cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah).
So that there covered them that which did cover.
فَغَشَّاهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ
So that (ruins unknown) have covered them up.
Concerning which then, of the bounties of thy Lord, canst thou dispute ?
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ
Then which of the gifts of thy Lord, (O man,) wilt thou dispute about?
This is a warner of the warners of old.
هَٰذَا نَذِيرٌ مِّنَ النُّذُرِ الْأُولَىٰ
This is a Warner, of the (series of) Warners of old!
The threatened Hour is nigh.
أَزِفَتِ الْآزِفَةُ
The (Judgment) ever approaching draws nigh:
None beside Allah can disclose it.
لَيْسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ
No (soul) but Allah can lay it bare.
Marvel ye then at this statement,
أَفَمِنْ هَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ
Do ye then wonder at this recital?
And laugh and not weep,
وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ
And will ye laugh and not weep, -
While ye amuse yourselves ?
وَأَنتُمْ سَامِدُونَ
Wasting your time in vanities?
Rather prostrate yourselves before Allah and serve Him.
فَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ وَاعْبُدُوا ۩
But fall ye down in prostration to Allah, and adore (Him)!