Chapter 53, 62 verses
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. By the Star when it setteth,
By the star when it descends,
By the Star when it goes down, -
Your comrade erreth not, nor is deceived;
Your companion [Muhammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred,
Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled.
Nor doth he speak of (his own) desire.
Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination.
Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.
It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired,
It is not but a revelation revealed,
It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:
Which one of mighty powers hath taught him,
Taught to him by one intense in strength -
He was taught by one Mighty in Power,
One vigorous; and he grew clear to view
One of soundness. And he rose to [his] true form
Endued with Wisdom: for he appeared (in stately form);
When he was on the uppermost horizon.
While he was in the higher [part of the] horizon.
While he was in the highest part of the horizon:
Then he drew nigh and came down
Then he approached and descended
Then he approached and came closer,
Till he was (distant) two bows' length or even nearer,
And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer.
And was at a distance of but two bow - lengths or (even) nearer;
And He revealed unto His slave that which He revealed.
And he revealed to His Servant what he revealed.
So did (Allah) convey the inspiration to His Servant - (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey.
The heart lied not (in seeing) what it saw.
The heart did not lie [about] what it saw.
The (Prophet's) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw.
Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he seeth ?
So will you dispute with him over what he saw?
Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he saw?
And verily he saw him yet another time
And he certainly saw him in another descent
For indeed he saw him at a second descent,
By the lote - tree of the utmost boundary,
At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary -
Near the Lote - tree beyond which none may pass:
Nigh unto which is the Garden of Abode.
Near it is the Garden of Refuge -
Near it is the Garden of Abode.
When that which shroudeth did enshroud the lote - tree,
When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it].
Behold, the Lote - tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!)
The eye turned not aside nor yet was overbold.
The sight [of the Prophet] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit].
(His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong!
Verily he saw one of the greater revelations of his Lord.
He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.
For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest!
Have ye thought upon Al - Lat and Al - 'Uzza
So have you considered al - Lat and al - 'Uzza?
Have ye seen Lat. and 'Uzza,
And Manat, the third, the other ?
And Manat, the third - the other one?
And another, the third (goddess), Manat?
Are yours the males and His the females ?
Is the male for you and for Him the female?
What! for you the male sex, and for Him, the female?
That indeed were an unfair division!
That, then, is an unjust division.
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.
They are not but [mere] names you have named them - you and your forefathers - for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow not except assumption and what [their] souls desire, and there has already come to them from their Lord guidance.
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 ?
Or is there for man whatever he wishes?
Nay, shall man have (just) anything he hankers after?
But unto Allah belongeth the after (life), and the former.
Rather, to Allah belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].
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.
And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail at all except [only] after Allah has permitted [it] to whom He wills and approves.
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.
Indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter name the angels female names,
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.
And they have thereof no knowledge. They follow not except assumption, and indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all.
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.
So turn away from whoever turns his back on Our message and desires not except the worldly life.
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.
That is their sum of knowledge. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who strays from His way, and He is most knowing of who is guided.
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.
And to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth - that He may recompense those who do evil with [the penalty of] what they have done and recompense those who do good with the best [reward] -
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).
Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only [committing] slight ones. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He was most knowing of you when He produced you from the earth and when you were fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.
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,
Have you seen the one who turned away
Seest thou one who turns back,
And gave a little, then was grudging ?
And gave a little and [then] refrained?
Gives a little, then hardens (his heart)?
Hath he knowledge of the Unseen so that he seeth ?
Does he have knowledge of the unseen, so he sees?
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
Or has he not been of what was in the scriptures of Moses
Nay, is he not acquainted with what is in the Books of Moses -
And Abraham who paid his debt:
And [of] Abraham, who fulfilled [his obligations] -
And of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements? -
That no laden one shall bear another's load,
That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another
Namely, that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another;
And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort,
And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives
That man can have nothing but what he strives for;
And that his effort will be seen.
And that his effort is going to be seen -
That (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight:
And afterward he will be repaid for it with fullest payment;
Then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense
Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;
And that thy Lord, He is the goal;
And that to your Lord is the finality
That to thy Lord is the final Goal;
And that He it is who maketh laugh, and maketh weep,
And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep
That it is He Who granteth Laughter and Tears;
And that He it is Who giveth death and giveth life;
And that it is He who causes death and gives life
That it is He Who granteth Death and Life;
And that He createth the two spouses, the male and the female,
And that He creates the two mates - the male and female -
That He did create in pairs, - male and female,
From a drop (of seed) when it is poured forth;
From a sperm - drop when it is emitted
From a seed when lodged (in its place);
And that He hath ordained the second bringing forth;
And that [incumbent] upon Him is the next creation
That He hath promised a Second Creation (Raising of the Dead);
And that He it is Who enricheth and contenteth;
And that it is He who enriches and suffices
That it is He Who giveth wealth and satisfaction;
And that He it is Who is the Lord of Sirius;
And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius
That He is the Lord of Sirius (the Mighty Star);
And that He destroyed the former (tribe of) A'ad,
And that He destroyed the first [people of] 'Aad
And that it is He Who destroyed the (powerful) ancient 'Ad (people),
And (the tribe of) Thamud He spared not;
And Thamud - and He did not spare [them] -
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;
And the people of Noah before. Indeed, it was they who were [even] more unjust and oppressing.
And before them, the people of Noah, for that they were (all) most unjust and most insolent transgressors,
And Al - Mu'tafikah He destroyed
And the overturned towns He hurled down
And He destroyed the Overthrown Cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah).
So that there covered them that which did cover.
And covered them by that which He covered.
So that (ruins unknown) have covered them up.
Concerning which then, of the bounties of thy Lord, canst thou dispute ?
Then which of the favors of your Lord do you doubt?
Then which of the gifts of thy Lord, (O man,) wilt thou dispute about?
This is a warner of the warners of old.
This [Prophet] is a warner like the former warners.
This is a Warner, of the (series of) Warners of old!
The threatened Hour is nigh.
The Approaching Day has approached.
The (Judgment) ever approaching draws nigh:
None beside Allah can disclose it.
Of it, [from those] besides Allah, there is no remover.
No (soul) but Allah can lay it bare.
Marvel ye then at this statement,
Then at this statement do you wonder?
Do ye then wonder at this recital?
And laugh and not weep,
And you laugh and do not weep
And will ye laugh and not weep, -
While ye amuse yourselves ?
While you are proudly sporting?
Wasting your time in vanities?
Rather prostrate yourselves before Allah and serve Him.
So prostrate to Allah and worship [Him].
But fall ye down in prostration to Allah, and adore (Him)!