Al Najm

1 By the Star when it goes down, -

1 I swear by the star when it goes down.

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

2 Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled.

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

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

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

3 Nor does he speak out of desire.

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

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

4 It is naught but revelation that is revealed,

4 It is only a Revelation revealed.

5 He was taught by one Mighty in Power,

5 The Lord of Mighty Power has taught him,

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

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

6 The Lord of Strength; so he attained completion,

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 While he was in the highest part of the horizon:

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

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

8 Then he approached and came closer,

8 Then he drew near, then he bowed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 What! do you then dispute with him as to 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 For indeed he saw him at a second descent,

13 And certainly he 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 Near the Lote - tree beyond which none may pass:

14 At the farthest lote - tree;

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

15 Near it is the Garden of Abode.

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

15 Near it is the Paradise of Abode.

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

16 When that which covers covered the lote - tree;

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

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

17 The eye did not turn aside, nor did it exceed the 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 For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest!

18 Certainly he 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 ye seen Lat. and 'Uzza,

19 Have you then considered the Lat and the Uzza,

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

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

20 And Manat, the third, the last?

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

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

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

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

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

22 This indeed is an unjust division!

22 That indeed is a division most unfair!

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

24 Or shall man have what he wishes?

24 Or shall man have what he wishes?

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

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

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

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

28 But they have no knowledge therein. They follow nothing but conjecture; and conjecture avails nothing against 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 But they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and verily, guess is no substitute for the truth.

29 Therefore shun those who turn away from Our Message and desire 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 (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 Seest thou one who turns back,

33 Have you then seen him who turns his back?

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

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

34 And gives a little and (then) withholds.

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

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

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

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

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

36 Or, has he not been informed of what is in the scriptures of Musa?

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

37 And of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements? -

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

40 And that his striving shall soon be seen -

40 And that his deeds will be seen.

41 Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;

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

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

42 That to thy Lord is the final Goal;

42 And that to your Lord is the goal -

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

43 That it is He Who granteth Laughter and Tears;

43 And that He it is Who makes (men) laugh and makes (them) weep;

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

44 That it is He Who granteth Death and Life;

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

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

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

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

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

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

46 From the small seed when it is adapted

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

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

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

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

48 That it is He Who giveth wealth and satisfaction;

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

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

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

49 And that He is the Lord of the Sirius;

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

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

50 And that He did destroy the Ad of old

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

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

51 And Samood, so He spared not

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

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

52 And the people of Nuh before; surely they were most unjust and inordinate;

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

53 And the overthrown cities did He overthrow,

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

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

54 So there covered them that which covered.

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

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

55 Which of your Lord's benefits will you then dispute about?

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

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

56 This is a warner of the warners of old.

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

57 The (Judgment) ever approaching draws nigh:

57 The near event draws nigh.

57 The Day of Resurrection draws near.

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

58 There shall be none besides Allah to remove it.

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

59 Do ye then wonder at this recital?

59 Do you then wonder at this announcement?

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

60 And will ye laugh and not weep, -

60 And will you laugh and not weep?

60 And you laugh at it and weep not,

61 Wasting your time in vanities?

61 While you are indulging in varieties.

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

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

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

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