Al Najm

1 I swear by the star when it goes down.

1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. By the Star when it setteth,

1 In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. By the star when it goes down (or vanishes).

2 Your companion does not err, nor does he go astray;

2 Your comrade erreth not, nor is deceived;

2 Your companion (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) has neither gone astray nor has erred.

3 Nor does he speak out of desire.

3 Nor doth he speak of (his own) desire.

3 Nor does he speak of (his own) desire.

4 It is naught but revelation that is revealed,

4 It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired,

4 It is only a Revelation revealed.

5 The Lord of Mighty Power has taught him,

5 Which one of mighty powers hath taught him,

5 He has been taught (this Qur'an) by one mighty in power [Jibril (Gabriel)]

6 The Lord of Strength; so he attained completion,

6 One vigorous; and he grew clear to view

6 One free from any defect in body and mind then he (Jibril - Gabriel in his real shape as created by Allah) rose and became stable.

7 And he is in the highest part of the horizon.

7 When he was on the uppermost horizon.

7 While he [Jibril (Gabriel)] was in the highest part of the horizon, (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

8 Then he drew near, then he bowed

8 Then he drew nigh and came down

8 Then he [Jibril (Gabriel)] approached and came closer,

9 So he was the measure of two bows or closer still.

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

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

10 And He revealed to His servant what He revealed.

10 And He revealed unto His slave that which He revealed.

10 So (Allah) revealed to His slave [Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم through Jibril (Gabriel) عليه السلام] whatever He revealed.

11 The heart was not untrue in (making him see) what he saw.

11 The heart lied not (in seeing) what it saw.

11 The (Prophet's) heart lied not in what he (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw.

12 What! do you then dispute with him as to what he saw?

12 Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he seeth ?

12 Will you then dispute with him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) about what he saw [during the Mi'raj: (Ascent of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to the seven heavens)]

13 And certainly he saw him in another descent,

13 And verily he saw him yet another time

13 And indeed he (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw him [Jibril (Gabriel)] at a second descent (i.e. another time).

14 At the farthest lote - tree;

14 By the lote - tree of the utmost boundary,

14 Near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (a lote-tree of the utmost boundary over the seventh heaven beyond which none can pass).

15 Near which is the garden, the place to be resorted to.

15 Nigh unto which is the Garden of Abode.

15 Near it is the Paradise of Abode.

16 When that which covers covered the lote - tree;

16 When that which shroudeth did enshroud the lote - tree,

16 When that covered the lote-tree which did cover it!

17 The eye did not turn aside, nor did it exceed the limit.

17 The eye turned not aside nor yet was overbold.

17 The sight (of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) turned not aside (right or left), nor it transgressed beyond the limit (ordained for it).

18 Certainly he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.

18 Verily he saw one of the greater revelations of his Lord.

18 Indeed he (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) did see of the Greatest Signs, of his Lord (Allah).

19 Have you then considered the Lat and the Uzza,

19 Have ye thought upon Al - Lat and Al - 'Uzza

19 Have you then considered Al-Lat, and Al-'Uzza (two idols of the pagan Arabs)

20 And Manat, the third, the last?

20 And Manat, the third, the other ?

20 And Manat (another idol of the pagan Arabs), the other third?

21 What! for you the males and for Him the females!

21 Are yours the males and His the females ?

21 Is it for you the males and for Him the females?

22 This indeed is an unjust division!

22 That indeed were an unfair division!

22 That indeed is a division most unfair!

23 They are naught but names which you have named, you and your fathers; Allah has not sent for them any authority. They follow naught but conjecture and the low desires which (their) souls incline to; and certainly the guidance has come to them from their Lord.

23 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.

23 They are but names which you have named - you and your fathers - for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the Guidance from their Lord!

24 Or shall man have what he wishes?

24 Or shall man have what he coveteth ?

24 Or shall man have what he wishes?

25 Nay! for Allah is the hereafter and the former (life).

25 But unto Allah belongeth the after (life), and the former.

25 But to Allah belongs the last (Hereafter) and the first (the world).

26 And how many an angel is there in the heavens whose intercession does not avail at all except after Allah has given permission to whom He pleases and chooses.

26 And how many angels are in the heavens whose intercession availeth naught save after Allah giveth leave to whom He chooseth and accepteth.

26 And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.

27 Most surely they who do not believe in the hereafter name the angels with female names.

27 Lo! it is those who disbelieve in the Hereafter who name the angels with the names of females.

27 Verily, those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names.

28 And they have no knowledge of it; they do not follow anything but conjecture, and surely conjecture does not avail against the truth at all.

28 And they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and lo! a guess can never take the place of the truth.

28 But they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and verily, guess is no substitute for the truth.

29 Therefore turn aside from him who turns his back upon Our reminder and does not desire anything but this world's life.

29 Then withdraw (O Muhammad) from him who fleeth from Our remembrance and desireth but the life of the world.

29 Therefore withdraw (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) from him who turns away from Our Reminder (this Qur'an) and desires nothing but the life of this world.

30 That is their goal of knowledge; surely your Lord knows best him who goes astray from His path and He knows best him who follows the right direction.

30 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.

30 That is what they could reach of knowledge. Verily, your Lord it is He Who knows best him who goes astray from His Path, and He knows best him who receives guidance.

31 And Allah's is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, that He may reward those who do evil according to what they do, and (that) He may reward those who do good with goodness.

31 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.

31 And to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, that He may requite those who do evil with that which they have done (i.e. punish them in Hell), and reward those who do good, with what is best (i.e. Paradise).

32 Those who keep aloof from the great sins and the indecencies but the passing idea; surely your Lord is liberal in forgiving. He knows you best when He brings you forth from the earth and when you are embryos in the wombs of your mothers; therefore do not attribute purity to your souls; He knows him best who guards (against evil).

32 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).

32 Those who avoid great sins (See the Qur'an, Verses: 6:152,153) and Al-Fawahish (illegal sexual intercourse) except the small faults, - verily, your Lord is of Vast Forgiveness. He knows you well when He created you from the earth (Adam), and when you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs. So ascribe not purity to yourselves. He knows best him who fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him [i.e. those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious. See V.2:2)].

33 Have you then seen him who turns his back?

33 Didst thou (O Muhammad) observe him who turned away,

33 Did you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) observe him who turned away (from Islam).

34 And gives a little and (then) withholds.

34 And gave a little, then was grudging ?

34 And gave a little, then stopped (giving)?

35 Has he the knowledge of the unseen so that he can see?

35 Hath he knowledge of the Unseen so that he seeth ?

35 Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees?

36 Or, has he not been informed of what is in the scriptures of Musa?

36 Or hath he not had news of what is in the books of Moses

36 Or is he not informed with what is in the Pages (Scripture) of Musa (Moses),

37 And (of) Ibrahim who fulfilled (the commandments):

37 And Abraham who paid his debt:

37 And of Ibrahim (Abraham) who fulfilled (or conveyed) all that (Allah ordered him to do or convey):

38 That no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another -

38 That no laden one shall bear another's load,

38 That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.

39 And that man shall have nothing but what he strives for -

39 And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort,

39 And that man can have nothing but what he does (good or bad).

40 And that his striving shall soon be seen -

40 And that his effort will be seen.

40 And that his deeds will be seen.

41 Then shall he be rewarded for it with the fullest reward -

41 And afterward he will be repaid for it with fullest payment;

41 Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.

42 And that to your Lord is the goal -

42 And that thy Lord, He is the goal;

42 And that to your Lord (Allah) is the End (Return of everything).

43 And that He it is Who makes (men) laugh and makes (them) weep;

43 And that He it is who maketh laugh, and maketh weep,

43 And that it is He (Allah) Who makes (whom He wills) laugh, and makes (whom He wills) weep.

44 And that He it is Who causes death and gives life -

44 And that He it is Who giveth death and giveth life;

44 And that it is He (Allah) Who causes death and gives life.

45 And that He created pairs, the male and the female

45 And that He createth the two spouses, the male and the female,

45 And that He (Allah) creates the pairs, male and female,

46 From the small seed when it is adapted

46 From a drop (of seed) when it is poured forth;

46 From Nutfah (drops of semen - male and female discharges) when it is emitted.

47 And that on Him is the bringing forth a second time;

47 And that He hath ordained the second bringing forth;

47 And that upon Him (Allah) is another bringing forth (Resurrection).

48 And that He it is Who enriches and gives to hold;

48 And that He it is Who enricheth and contenteth;

48 And that it is He (Allah) Who gives much or a little (of wealth and contentment)

49 And that He is the Lord of the Sirius;

49 And that He it is Who is the Lord of Sirius;

49 And that He (Allah) is the Lord of Sirius (the star which the pagan Arabs used to worship).

50 And that He did destroy the Ad of old

50 And that He destroyed the former (tribe of) A'ad,

50 And that it is He (Allah) Who destroyed the former 'Ad (people),

51 And Samood, so He spared not

51 And (the tribe of) Thamud He spared not;

51 And Thamud (people): He spared none of them.

52 And the people of Nuh before; surely they were most unjust and inordinate;

52 And the folk of Noah aforetime, Lo! they were more unjust and more rebellious;

52 And the people of Nuh (Noah) aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing [in disobeying Allah and His Messenger Nuh (Noah) عليه السلام].

53 And the overthrown cities did He overthrow,

53 And Al - Mu'tafikah He destroyed

53 And He destroyed the overthrown cities [of Sodom to which Prophet Lut (Lot) was sent].

54 So there covered them that which covered.

54 So that there covered them that which did cover.

54 So there covered them that which did cover (i.e. torment with stones).

55 Which of your Lord's benefits will you then dispute about?

55 Concerning which then, of the bounties of thy Lord, canst thou dispute ?

55 Then which of the Graces of your Lord (O man!) will you doubt?

56 This is a warner of the warners of old.

56 This is a warner of the warners of old.

56 This (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) is a warner (Messenger) of the (series of) warners (Messengers) of old.

57 The near event draws nigh.

57 The threatened Hour is nigh.

57 The Day of Resurrection draws near.

58 There shall be none besides Allah to remove it.

58 None beside Allah can disclose it.

58 None besides Allah can avert it (or advance it or delay it).

59 Do you then wonder at this announcement?

59 Marvel ye then at this statement,

59 Do you then wonder at this recitation (the Qur'an)?

60 And will you laugh and not weep?

60 And laugh and not weep,

60 And you laugh at it and weep not,

61 While you are indulging in varieties.

61 While ye amuse yourselves ?

61 Wasting your (precious) lifetime in pastime and amusements (singing, etc.).

62 So make obeisance to Allah and serve (Him).

62 Rather prostrate yourselves before Allah and serve Him.

62 So fall you down in prostration to Allah and worship Him (Alone).