Al Najm

1 I swear by the star when it goes down.

1 By the Star when it goes down, -

1 By the star when it descends,

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 Companion is neither astray nor being misled.

2 Your companion [Muhammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred,

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 does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.

3 Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination.

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

4 It is naught but revelation that is revealed,

4 It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:

4 It is not but a revelation revealed,

4 It is only a Revelation revealed.

5 The Lord of Mighty Power has taught him,

5 He was taught by one Mighty in Power,

5 Taught to him by one intense in strength -

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 Endued with Wisdom: for he appeared (in stately form);

6 One of soundness. And he rose to [his] true form

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 While he was in the highest part of the horizon:

7 While he was in the higher [part of the] 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 approached and came closer,

8 Then he approached and descended

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

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

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

9 And was at a distance of two bow lengths or 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 So did (Allah) convey the inspiration to His Servant - (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey.

10 And he revealed to His Servant what 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 (Prophet's) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw.

11 The heart did not lie [about] 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 saw?

12 So will you dispute with him over what he saw?

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 For indeed he saw him at a second descent,

13 And he certainly saw him in another descent

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 Near the Lote - tree beyond which none may pass:

14 At 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 Near it is the Garden of Abode.

15 Near it is the Garden of Refuge -

15 Near it is the Paradise of Abode.

16 When that which covers covered the lote - tree;

16 Behold, the Lote - tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!)

16 When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it].

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 (His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong!

17 The sight [of the Prophet] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit].

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 For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest!

18 He certainly saw of the greatest signs 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 seen Lat. and 'Uzza,

19 So have you considered 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 another, the third (goddess), Manat?

20 And Manat, the third - the other one?

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

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

21 What! for you the male sex, and for Him, the female?

21 Is the male for you and for Him the female?

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

22 This indeed is an unjust division!

22 Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair!

22 That, then, is an unjust 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 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!

23 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.

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 Nay, shall man have (just) anything he hankers after?

24 Or is there for man whatever he wishes?

24 Or shall man have what he wishes?

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

25 But it is to Allah that the End and the Beginning (of all things) belong.

25 Rather, to Allah belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].

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 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.

26 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.

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 Those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names.

27 Indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter name the angels female names,

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 But they have no knowledge therein. They follow nothing but conjecture; and conjecture avails nothing against Truth.

28 And they have thereof no knowledge. They follow not except assumption, and indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all.

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 Therefore shun those who turn away from Our Message and desire nothing but the life of this world.

29 So turn away from whoever turns his back on Our message and desires not except the worldly life.

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 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.

30 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.

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 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.

31 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] -

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 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.

32 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.

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 Seest thou one who turns back,

33 Have you seen the one 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 Gives a little, then hardens (his heart)?

34 And gave a little and [then] refrained?

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

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

35 What! Has he knowledge of the Unseen so that he can see?

35 Does he have knowledge of the unseen, so he sees?

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 Nay, is he not acquainted with what is in the Books of Moses -

36 Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures 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 of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements? -

37 And [of] Abraham, who fulfilled [his obligations] -

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 Namely, that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another;

38 That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another

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 That man can have nothing but what he strives for;

39 And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives

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

40 And that his striving shall soon be seen -

40 That (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight:

40 And that his effort is going to be seen -

40 And that his deeds will be seen.

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

41 Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;

41 Then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense

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

42 And that to your Lord is the goal -

42 That to thy Lord is the final Goal;

42 And that to your Lord is the finality

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 That it is He Who granteth Laughter and Tears;

43 And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and 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 That it is He Who granteth Death and Life;

44 And that it is He who causes death and gives 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 That He did create in pairs, - male and female,

45 And that He creates the two mates - the male and female -

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

46 From the small seed when it is adapted

46 From a seed when lodged (in its place);

46 From a sperm - drop when it is emitted

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 That He hath promised a Second Creation (Raising of the Dead);

47 And that [incumbent] upon Him is the next creation

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

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

48 That it is He Who giveth wealth and satisfaction;

48 And that it is He who enriches and suffices

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 That He is the Lord of Sirius (the Mighty Star);

49 And that it is He 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 it is He Who destroyed the (powerful) ancient 'Ad (people),

50 And that He destroyed the first [people of] 'Aad

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

51 And Samood, so He spared not

51 And the Thamud nor gave them a lease of perpetual life.

51 And Thamud - and He did not spare [them] -

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 before them, the people of Noah, for that they were (all) most unjust and most insolent transgressors,

52 And the people of Noah before. Indeed, it was they who were [even] more unjust and oppressing.

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 He destroyed the Overthrown Cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah).

53 And the overturned towns He hurled down

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 (ruins unknown) have covered them up.

54 And covered them by that which He covered.

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 Then which of the gifts of thy Lord, (O man,) wilt thou dispute about?

55 Then which of the favors of your Lord do you doubt?

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 (series of) Warners of old!

56 This [Prophet] is a warner like the former warners.

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 (Judgment) ever approaching draws nigh:

57 The Approaching Day has approached.

57 The Day of Resurrection draws near.

58 There shall be none besides Allah to remove it.

58 No (soul) but Allah can lay it bare.

58 Of it, [from those] besides Allah, there is no remover.

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

59 Do you then wonder at this announcement?

59 Do ye then wonder at this recital?

59 Then at this statement do you wonder?

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

60 And will you laugh and not weep?

60 And will ye laugh and not weep, -

60 And you laugh and do not weep

60 And you laugh at it and weep not,

61 While you are indulging in varieties.

61 Wasting your time in vanities?

61 While you are proudly sporting?

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

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

62 But fall ye down in prostration to Allah, and adore (Him)!

62 So prostrate to Allah and worship [Him].

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