Chapter 53, 62 verses
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. By the star when it goes down (or vanishes).
I swear by the star when it goes down.
By the Star when it goes down, -
Your companion (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) has neither gone astray nor has erred.
Your companion does not err, nor does he go astray;
Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled.
Nor does he speak of (his own) desire.
Nor does he speak out of desire.
Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.
It is only a Revelation revealed.
It is naught but revelation that is revealed,
It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:
He has been taught (this Qur'an) by one mighty in power [Jibril (Gabriel)]
The Lord of Mighty Power has taught him,
He was taught by one Mighty in Power,
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.
The Lord of Strength; so he attained completion,
Endued with Wisdom: for he appeared (in stately form);
While he [Jibril (Gabriel)] was in the highest part of the horizon, (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
And he is in the highest part of the horizon.
While he was in the highest part of the horizon:
Then he [Jibril (Gabriel)] approached and came closer,
Then he drew near, then he bowed
Then he approached and came closer,
And was at a distance of two bows' length or (even) nearer.
So he was the measure of two bows or closer still.
And was at a distance of but two bow - lengths or (even) nearer;
So (Allah) revealed to His slave [Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم through Jibril (Gabriel) عليه السلام] whatever 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 (Prophet's) heart lied not in what he (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw.
The heart was not untrue in (making him see) what he saw.
The (Prophet's) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw.
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)]
What! do you then dispute with him as to what he saw?
Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he saw?
And indeed he (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw him [Jibril (Gabriel)] at a second descent (i.e. another time).
And certainly he saw him in another descent,
For indeed he saw him at a second descent,
Near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (a lote-tree of the utmost boundary over the seventh heaven beyond which none can pass).
At the farthest lote - tree;
Near the Lote - tree beyond which none may pass:
Near it is the Paradise of Abode.
Near which is the garden, the place to be resorted to.
Near it is the Garden of Abode.
When that covered the lote-tree which did cover it!
When that which covers covered the lote - tree;
Behold, the Lote - tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!)
The sight (of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) turned not aside (right or left), nor it transgressed beyond the limit (ordained for it).
The eye did not turn aside, nor did it exceed the limit.
(His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong!
Indeed he (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) did see of the Greatest Signs, of his Lord (Allah).
Certainly he saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.
For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest!
Have you then considered Al-Lat, and Al-'Uzza (two idols of the pagan Arabs)
Have you then considered the Lat and the Uzza,
Have ye seen Lat. and 'Uzza,
And Manat (another idol of the pagan Arabs), the other third?
And Manat, the third, the last?
And another, the third (goddess), Manat?
Is it for you the males and for Him the females?
What! for you the males and for Him the females!
What! for you the male sex, and for Him, the female?
That indeed is a division most unfair!
This indeed is an unjust division!
Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair!
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!
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.
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 wishes?
Or shall man have what he wishes?
Nay, shall man have (just) anything he hankers after?
But to Allah belongs the last (Hereafter) and the first (the world).
Nay! for Allah is the hereafter and the former (life).
But it is to Allah that the End and the Beginning (of all things) belong.
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.
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.
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.
Verily, those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names.
Most surely they who do not believe in the hereafter name the angels with female names.
Those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names.
But they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and verily, guess is no substitute for the truth.
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.
But they have no knowledge therein. They follow nothing but conjecture; and conjecture avails nothing against Truth.
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.
Therefore turn aside from him who turns his back upon Our reminder and does not desire anything but this world's life.
Therefore shun those who turn away from Our Message and desire nothing but the life of this world.
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.
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.
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 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).
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.
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 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)].
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).
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.
Did you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) observe him who turned away (from Islam).
Have you then seen him who turns his back?
Seest thou one who turns back,
And gave a little, then stopped (giving)?
And gives a little and (then) withholds.
Gives a little, then hardens (his heart)?
Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees?
Has he the knowledge of the unseen so that he can see?
What! Has he knowledge of the Unseen so that he can see?
Or is he not with what is in the Pages (Scripture) of Musa (Moses),
Or, has he not been of what is in the scriptures of Musa?
Nay, is he not acquainted with what is in the Books of Moses -
And of Ibrahim (Abraham) who fulfilled (or conveyed) all that (Allah ordered him to do or convey):
And (of) Ibrahim who fulfilled (the commandments):
And of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements? -
That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.
That no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another -
Namely, that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another;
And that man can have nothing but what he does (good or bad).
And that man shall have nothing but what he strives for -
That man can have nothing but what he strives for;
And that his deeds will be seen.
And that his striving shall soon be seen -
That (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight:
Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.
Then shall he be rewarded for it with the fullest reward -
Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;
And that to your Lord (Allah) is the End (Return of everything).
And that to your Lord is the goal -
That to thy Lord is the final Goal;
And that it is He (Allah) Who makes (whom He wills) laugh, and makes (whom He wills) weep.
And that He it is Who makes (men) laugh and makes (them) weep;
That it is He Who granteth Laughter and Tears;
And that it is He (Allah) Who causes death and gives life.
And that He it is Who causes death and gives life -
That it is He Who granteth Death and Life;
And that He (Allah) creates the pairs, male and female,
And that He created pairs, the male and the female
That He did create in pairs, - male and female,
From Nutfah (drops of semen - male and female discharges) when it is emitted.
From the small seed when it is adapted
From a seed when lodged (in its place);
And that upon Him (Allah) is another bringing forth (Resurrection).
And that on Him is the bringing forth a second time;
That He hath promised a Second Creation (Raising of the Dead);
And that it is He (Allah) Who gives much or a little (of wealth and contentment)
And that He it is Who enriches and gives to hold;
That it is He Who giveth wealth and satisfaction;
And that He (Allah) is the Lord of Sirius (the star which the pagan Arabs used to worship).
And that He is the Lord of the Sirius;
That He is the Lord of Sirius (the Mighty Star);
And that it is He (Allah) Who destroyed the former 'Ad (people),
And that He did destroy the Ad of old
And that it is He Who destroyed the (powerful) ancient 'Ad (people),
And Thamud (people): He spared none of them.
And Samood, so He spared not
And the Thamud nor gave them a lease of perpetual life.
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].
And the people of Nuh before; surely they were most unjust and inordinate;
And before them, the people of Noah, for that they were (all) most unjust and most insolent transgressors,
And He destroyed the overthrown cities [of Sodom to which Prophet Lut (Lot) was sent].
And the overthrown cities did He overthrow,
And He destroyed the Overthrown Cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah).
So there covered them that which did cover (i.e. torment with stones).
So there covered them that which covered.
So that (ruins unknown) have covered them up.
Then which of the Graces of your Lord (O man!) will you doubt?
Which of your Lord's benefits will you then dispute about?
Then which of the gifts of thy Lord, (O man,) wilt thou dispute about?
This (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) is a warner (Messenger) of the (series of) warners (Messengers) of old.
This is a warner of the warners of old.
This is a Warner, of the (series of) Warners of old!
The Day of Resurrection draws near.
The near event draws nigh.
The (Judgment) ever approaching draws nigh:
None besides Allah can avert it (or advance it or delay it).
There shall be none besides Allah to remove it.
No (soul) but Allah can lay it bare.
Do you then wonder at this recitation (the Qur'an)?
Do you then wonder at this announcement?
Do ye then wonder at this recital?
And you laugh at it and weep not,
And will you laugh and not weep?
And will ye laugh and not weep, -
Wasting your (precious) lifetime in pastime and amusements (singing, etc.).
While you are indulging in varieties.
Wasting your time in vanities?
So fall you down in prostration to Allah and worship Him (Alone).
So make obeisance to Allah and serve (Him).
But fall ye down in prostration to Allah, and adore (Him)!