Al Najm

1 By the Star when it goes down, -

1 I swear by the star when it goes down.

1 By the star when it descends,

2 Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled.

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

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

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

3 Nor does he speak out of desire.

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

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

4 It is naught but revelation that is revealed,

4 It is not but a revelation revealed,

5 He was taught by one Mighty in Power,

5 The Lord of Mighty Power has taught him,

5 Taught to him by one intense in strength -

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

6 The Lord of Strength; so he attained completion,

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

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 was in the higher [part of the] horizon.

8 Then he approached and came closer,

8 Then he drew near, then he bowed

8 Then he approached and descended

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 bow lengths or 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 And he revealed to His Servant what 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 heart did not lie [about] what it 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 So will you dispute with him over what he saw?

13 For indeed he saw him at a second descent,

13 And certainly he saw him in another descent,

13 And he certainly saw him in another descent

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

14 At the farthest lote - tree;

14 At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary -

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 Garden of Refuge -

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

16 When that which covers covered the lote - tree;

16 When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [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 the Prophet] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit].

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 He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.

19 Have ye seen Lat. and 'Uzza,

19 Have you then considered the Lat and the Uzza,

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

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

20 And Manat, the third, the last?

20 And Manat, the third - the other one?

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 the male for you and for Him the female?

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

22 This indeed is an unjust division!

22 That, then, is an unjust division.

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 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.

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

24 Or shall man have what he wishes?

24 Or is there for man whatever 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 Rather, to Allah belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].

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 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.

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 Indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter name the angels 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 And they have thereof no knowledge. They follow not except assumption, and indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all.

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

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 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.

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 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] -

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 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.

33 Seest thou one who turns back,

33 Have you then seen him who turns his back?

33 Have you seen the one who turned away

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

34 And gives a little and (then) withholds.

34 And gave a little and [then] refrained?

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 Does he have knowledge of the unseen, so 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 has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Moses

37 And of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements? -

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

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

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 bearer of burdens will bear the burden 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 there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives

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 effort is going to 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 for it with the fullest 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 is the finality

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 who makes [one] laugh and 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 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 creates the two mates - the male and female -

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

46 From the small seed when it is adapted

46 From a sperm - drop 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 [incumbent] upon Him is the next creation

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 who enriches and suffices

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

49 And that He is the Lord of the Sirius;

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

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 He destroyed the first [people of] 'Aad

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

51 And Samood, so He spared not

51 And Thamud - and He did not spare [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 Noah before. Indeed, it was they who were [even] more unjust and oppressing.

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

53 And the overthrown cities did He overthrow,

53 And the overturned towns He hurled down

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

54 So there covered them that which covered.

54 And covered them by that which He covered.

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 favors of your Lord do 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 [Prophet] is a warner like the former warners.

57 The (Judgment) ever approaching draws nigh:

57 The near event draws nigh.

57 The Approaching Day has approached.

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

58 There shall be none besides Allah to remove it.

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

59 Do ye then wonder at this recital?

59 Do you then wonder at this announcement?

59 Then at this statement do you wonder?

60 And will ye laugh and not weep, -

60 And will you laugh and not weep?

60 And you laugh and do not weep

61 Wasting your time in vanities?

61 While you are indulging in varieties.

61 While you are proudly sporting?

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

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

62 So prostrate to Allah and worship [Him].