Chapter 53, 62 verses
By the Star when it goes down, -
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَالنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. By the Star when it setteth,
Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled.
مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ
Your comrade erreth not, nor is deceived;
Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ
Nor doth he speak of (his own) desire.
It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ
It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired,
He was taught by one Mighty in Power,
عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ
Which one of mighty powers hath taught him,
Endued with Wisdom: for he appeared (in stately form);
ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَىٰ
One vigorous; and he grew clear to view
While he was in the highest part of the horizon:
وَهُوَ بِالْأُفُقِ الْأَعْلَىٰ
When he was on the uppermost horizon.
Then he approached and came closer,
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ
Then he drew nigh and came down
And was at a distance of but two bow - lengths or (even) nearer;
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ
Till he was (distant) two bows' length or even nearer,
So did (Allah) convey the inspiration to His Servant - (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey.
فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَىٰ
And He revealed unto His slave that which He revealed.
The (Prophet's) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw.
مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰ
The heart lied not (in seeing) what it saw.
Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he saw?
أَفَتُمَارُونَهُ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ
Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he seeth ?
For indeed he saw him at a second descent,
وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ
And verily he saw him yet another time
Near the Lote - tree beyond which none may pass:
عِندَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنتَهَىٰ
By the lote - tree of the utmost boundary,
Near it is the Garden of Abode.
عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَىٰ
Nigh unto which is the Garden of Abode.
Behold, the Lote - tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!)
إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ
When that which shroudeth did enshroud the lote - tree,
(His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong!
مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ
The eye turned not aside nor yet was overbold.
For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest!
لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَىٰ
Verily he saw one of the greater revelations of his Lord.
Have ye seen Lat. and 'Uzza,
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ اللَّاتَ وَالْعُزَّىٰ
Have ye thought upon Al - Lat and Al - 'Uzza
And another, the third (goddess), Manat?
وَمَنَاةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْأُخْرَىٰ
And Manat, the third, the other ?
What! for you the male sex, and for Him, the female?
أَلَكُمُ الذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ الْأُنثَىٰ
Are yours the males and His the females ?
Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair!
تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَىٰ
That indeed were an unfair division!
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!
إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ الْهُدَىٰ
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.
Nay, shall man have (just) anything he hankers after?
أَمْ لِلْإِنسَانِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ
Or shall man have what he coveteth ?
But it is to Allah that the End and the Beginning (of all things) belong.
فَلِلَّهِ الْآخِرَةُ وَالْأُولَىٰ
But unto Allah belongeth the after (life), and the former.
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.
۞ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ لَا تُغْنِي شَفَاعَتُهُمْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِ أَن يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَيَرْضَىٰ
And how many angels are in the heavens whose intercession availeth naught save after Allah giveth leave to whom He chooseth and accepteth.
Those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تَسْمِيَةَ الْأُنثَىٰ
Lo! it is those who disbelieve in the Hereafter who name the angels with the names of females.
But they have no knowledge therein. They follow nothing but conjecture; and conjecture avails nothing against Truth.
وَمَا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ ۖ وَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا
And they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and lo! a guess can never take the place of the truth.
Therefore shun those who turn away from Our Message and desire nothing but the life of this world.
فَأَعْرِضْ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا
Then withdraw (O Muhammad) from him who fleeth from Our remembrance and desireth but the life of the world.
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.
ذَٰلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اهْتَدَىٰ
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.
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.
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسَاءُوا بِمَا عَمِلُوا وَيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا بِالْحُسْنَى
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.
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.
الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَاسِعُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ
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).
Seest thou one who turns back,
أَفَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ
Didst thou (O Muhammad) observe him who turned away,
Gives a little, then hardens (his heart)?
وَأَعْطَىٰ قَلِيلًا وَأَكْدَىٰ
And gave a little, then was grudging ?
What! Has he knowledge of the Unseen so that he can see?
أَعِندَهُ عِلْمُ الْغَيْبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰ
Hath he knowledge of the Unseen so that he seeth ?
Nay, is he not acquainted with what is in the Books of Moses -
أَمْ لَمْ يُنَبَّأْ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ
Or hath he not had news of what is in the books of Moses
And of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements? -
وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ الَّذِي وَفَّىٰ
And Abraham who paid his debt:
Namely, that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another;
أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ
That no laden one shall bear another's load,
That man can have nothing but what he strives for;
وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ
And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort,
That (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight:
وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ
And that his effort will be seen.
Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;
ثُمَّ يُجْزَاهُ الْجَزَاءَ الْأَوْفَىٰ
And afterward he will be repaid for it with fullest payment;
That to thy Lord is the final Goal;
وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ الْمُنتَهَىٰ
And that thy Lord, He is the goal;
That it is He Who granteth Laughter and Tears;
وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ
And that He it is who maketh laugh, and maketh weep,
That it is He Who granteth Death and Life;
وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا
And that He it is Who giveth death and giveth life;
That He did create in pairs, - male and female,
وَأَنَّهُ خَلَقَ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنثَىٰ
And that He createth the two spouses, the male and the female,
From a seed when lodged (in its place);
مِن نُّطْفَةٍ إِذَا تُمْنَىٰ
From a drop (of seed) when it is poured forth;
That He hath promised a Second Creation (Raising of the Dead);
وَأَنَّ عَلَيْهِ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُخْرَىٰ
And that He hath ordained the second bringing forth;
That it is He Who giveth wealth and satisfaction;
وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَغْنَىٰ وَأَقْنَىٰ
And that He it is Who enricheth and contenteth;
That He is the Lord of Sirius (the Mighty Star);
وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ رَبُّ الشِّعْرَىٰ
And that He it is Who is the Lord of Sirius;
And that it is He Who destroyed the (powerful) ancient 'Ad (people),
وَأَنَّهُ أَهْلَكَ عَادًا الْأُولَىٰ
And that He destroyed the former (tribe of) A'ad,
And the Thamud nor gave them a lease of perpetual life.
وَثَمُودَ فَمَا أَبْقَىٰ
And (the tribe of) Thamud He spared not;
And before them, the people of Noah, for that they were (all) most unjust and most insolent transgressors,
وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا هُمْ أَظْلَمَ وَأَطْغَىٰ
And the folk of Noah aforetime, Lo! they were more unjust and more rebellious;
And He destroyed the Overthrown Cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah).
وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَةَ أَهْوَىٰ
And Al - Mu'tafikah He destroyed
So that (ruins unknown) have covered them up.
فَغَشَّاهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ
So that there covered them that which did cover.
Then which of the gifts of thy Lord, (O man,) wilt thou dispute about?
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ
Concerning which then, of the bounties of thy Lord, canst thou dispute ?
This is a Warner, of the (series of) Warners of old!
هَٰذَا نَذِيرٌ مِّنَ النُّذُرِ الْأُولَىٰ
This is a warner of the warners of old.
The (Judgment) ever approaching draws nigh:
أَزِفَتِ الْآزِفَةُ
The threatened Hour is nigh.
No (soul) but Allah can lay it bare.
لَيْسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ
None beside Allah can disclose it.
Do ye then wonder at this recital?
أَفَمِنْ هَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ
Marvel ye then at this statement,
And will ye laugh and not weep, -
وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ
And laugh and not weep,
Wasting your time in vanities?
وَأَنتُمْ سَامِدُونَ
While ye amuse yourselves ?
But fall ye down in prostration to Allah, and adore (Him)!
فَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ وَاعْبُدُوا ۩
Rather prostrate yourselves before Allah and serve Him.