Al Najm

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

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,

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

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

2 Your comrade erreth not, nor is deceived;

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

3 Nor does he speak out of desire.

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

4 It is only a Revelation revealed.

4 It is naught but revelation that is revealed,

4 It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired,

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

5 The Lord of Mighty Power has taught him,

5 Which one of mighty powers hath taught him,

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.

6 The Lord of Strength; so he attained completion,

6 One vigorous; and he grew clear to view

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

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

7 When he was on the uppermost horizon.

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

8 Then he drew near, then he bowed

8 Then he drew nigh and came down

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

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

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

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

10 And He revealed to His servant what He revealed.

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

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

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

11 The heart lied not (in seeing) what it 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)]

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

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

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

13 And certainly he saw him in another descent,

13 And verily he saw him yet another time

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

14 At the farthest lote - tree;

14 By the lote - tree of the utmost boundary,

15 Near it is the Paradise of Abode.

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

15 Nigh unto which is the Garden of Abode.

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

16 When that which covers covered the lote - tree;

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

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).

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

17 The eye turned not aside nor yet was overbold.

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

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

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

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

19 Have you then considered the Lat and the Uzza,

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

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

20 And Manat, the third, the last?

20 And Manat, the third, the other ?

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

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

21 Are yours the males and His the females ?

22 That indeed is a division most unfair!

22 This indeed is an unjust division!

22 That indeed were an unfair division!

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!

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.

24 Or shall man have what he wishes?

24 Or shall man have what he wishes?

24 Or shall man have what he coveteth ?

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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)].

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).

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

33 Have you then seen him who turns his back?

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

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

34 And gives a little and (then) withholds.

34 And gave a little, then was grudging ?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

37 And Abraham who paid his debt:

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

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

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

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

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

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

40 And that his deeds will be seen.

40 And that his striving shall soon be seen -

40 And that his effort will be seen.

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

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

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

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

42 And that to your Lord is the goal -

42 And that thy Lord, He is the goal;

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

46 From the small seed when it is adapted

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

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

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

47 And that He hath ordained the second bringing forth;

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

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

48 And that He it is Who enricheth and contenteth;

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

49 And that He is the Lord of the Sirius;

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

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

50 And that He did destroy the Ad of old

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

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

51 And Samood, so He spared not

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

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].

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;

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

53 And the overthrown cities did He overthrow,

53 And Al - Mu'tafikah He destroyed

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

54 So there covered them that which covered.

54 So that there covered them that which did cover.

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

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 ?

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

56 This is a warner of the warners of old.

56 This is a warner of the warners of old.

57 The Day of Resurrection draws near.

57 The near event draws nigh.

57 The threatened Hour is nigh.

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

58 There shall be none besides Allah to remove it.

58 None beside Allah can disclose it.

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

59 Do you then wonder at this announcement?

59 Marvel ye then at this statement,

60 And you laugh at it and weep not,

60 And will you laugh and not weep?

60 And laugh and not weep,

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

61 While you are indulging in varieties.

61 While ye amuse yourselves ?

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

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

62 Rather prostrate yourselves before Allah and serve Him.