Al Najm

1 By the star when it descends,

1 By the Star when it goes down, -

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

2 Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled.

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

3 Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.

4 It is not but a revelation revealed,

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

5 Taught to him by one intense in strength -

5 He was taught by one Mighty in Power,

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

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

7 While he was in the higher [part of the] horizon.

7 While he was in the highest part of the horizon:

8 Then he approached and descended

8 Then he approached and came closer,

9 And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer.

9 And was at a distance of but two bow - lengths 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.

11 The heart did not lie [about] what it saw.

11 The (Prophet's) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw.

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

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

13 And he certainly saw him in another descent

13 For indeed he saw him at a second descent,

14 At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary -

14 Near the Lote - tree beyond which none may pass:

15 Near it is the Garden of Refuge -

15 Near it is the Garden of Abode.

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

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

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

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

18 He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.

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

19 So have you considered al - Lat and al - 'Uzza?

19 Have ye seen Lat. and 'Uzza,

20 And Manat, the third - the other one?

20 And another, the third (goddess), Manat?

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

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

22 That, then, is an unjust division.

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

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 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!

24 Or is there for man whatever he wishes?

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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 therein. They follow nothing but conjecture; and conjecture avails nothing against Truth.

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

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

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

33 Have you seen the one who turned away

33 Seest thou one who turns back,

34 And gave a little and [then] refrained?

34 Gives a little, then hardens (his heart)?

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

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

36 Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Moses

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

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

37 And of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements? -

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

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

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

39 That man can have nothing but what he strives for;

40 And that his effort is going to be seen -

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

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

41 Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;

42 And that to your Lord is the finality

42 That to thy Lord is the final Goal;

43 And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep

43 That it is He Who granteth Laughter and Tears;

44 And that it is He who causes death and gives life

44 That it is He Who granteth Death and Life;

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

45 That He did create in pairs, - male and female,

46 From a sperm - drop when it is emitted

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

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

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

48 And that it is He who enriches and suffices

48 That it is He Who giveth wealth and satisfaction;

49 And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

53 And the overturned towns He hurled down

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

54 And covered them by that which He covered.

54 So that (ruins unknown) have covered them up.

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

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

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

56 This is a Warner, of the (series of) Warners of old!

57 The Approaching Day has approached.

57 The (Judgment) ever approaching draws nigh:

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

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

59 Then at this statement do you wonder?

59 Do ye then wonder at this recital?

60 And you laugh and do not weep

60 And will ye laugh and not weep, -

61 While you are proudly sporting?

61 Wasting your time in vanities?

62 So prostrate to Allah and worship [Him].

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