Al Najm

1 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 [Muhammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred,

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

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

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

4 It is not but a revelation revealed,

5 He was taught by one Mighty in Power,

5 Taught to him by one intense in strength -

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

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

7 While he was 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 approached and descended

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

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.

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

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

12 Will ye then dispute with him concerning 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 he certainly saw him in another descent

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

14 At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary -

15 Near it is the Garden of Abode.

15 Near it is the Garden of Refuge -

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

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

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

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 He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.

19 Have ye seen Lat. and 'Uzza,

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

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

20 And Manat, the third - the other one?

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

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

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

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 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 is there for man whatever he wishes?

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

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 seen the one who turned away

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

34 And gave a little and [then] refrained?

35 What! Has he 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 was in the scriptures of Moses

37 And of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements? -

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 burdens will bear the burden of another

39 That man can 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 effort is going to be seen -

41 Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;

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 finality

43 That it is He Who granteth Laughter and Tears;

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 it is He who causes death and gives life

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

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

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

46 From a sperm - drop when it is emitted

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

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

48 That it is He Who giveth wealth and satisfaction;

48 And that it is He who enriches and suffices

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

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 destroyed the first [people of] 'Aad

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

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 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 overturned towns He hurled down

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

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 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 [Prophet] is a warner like the former warners.

57 The (Judgment) ever approaching draws nigh:

57 The Approaching Day has approached.

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

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

59 Do ye then wonder at this recital?

59 Then at this statement do you wonder?

60 And will ye laugh and not weep, -

60 And you laugh and do not weep

61 Wasting your time in vanities?

61 While you are proudly sporting?

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

62 So prostrate to Allah and worship [Him].