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