53An-Najm

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَالنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ

By the star when it goes down, (or vanishes).

مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ

Your companion (Muhammad SAW) has neither gone astray nor has erred.

وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ

Nor does he speak of (his own) desire.

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ

It is only an Inspiration that is inspired.

عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ

He has been taught (this Quran) by one mighty in power [Jibrael (Gabriel)].

ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَىٰ

Dhu Mirrah (free from any defect in body and mind), Fastawa [then he (Jibrael - Gabriel) rose and became stable]. [Tafsir At-Tabari].

وَهُوَ بِالْأُفُقِ الْأَعْلَىٰ

While he [Jibrael (Gabriel)] was in the highest part of the horizon,

ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ

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

فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ

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

فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَىٰ

So did (Allah) convey the Inspiration to His slave [Muhammad SAW through Jibrael (Gabriel)].

مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰ

The (Prophet's) heart lied not (in seeing) what he (Muhammad SAW) saw.

أَفَتُمَارُونَهُ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ

Will you then dispute with him (Muhammad SAW) about what he saw [during the Mi'raj: (Ascent of the Prophet SAW over the seven heavens)].

وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ

And indeed he (Muhammad SAW) saw him [Jibrael (Gabriel)] at a second descent (i.e. another time).

عِنْدَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَىٰ

Near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha [lote-tree of the utmost boundary (beyond which none can pass)],

عِنْدَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَىٰ

Near it is the Paradise of Abode.

إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ

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

مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

The sight (of Prophet Muhammad SAW) turned not aside (right or left), nor it transgressed beyond (the) limit (ordained for it).

لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَىٰ

Indeed he (Muhammad SAW) did see, of the Greatest Signs, of his Lord (Allah).

أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ اللَّاتَ وَالْعُزَّىٰ

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

وَمَنَاةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْأُخْرَىٰ

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

أَلَكُمُ الذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ الْأُنْثَىٰ

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

تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَىٰ

That indeed is a division most unfair!

إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنْفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنْ رَبِّهِمُ الْهُدَىٰ

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!

أَمْ لِلْإِنْسَانِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ

Or shall man have what he wishes?

فَلِلَّهِ الْآخِرَةُ وَالْأُولَىٰ

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

۞ وَكَمْ مِنْ مَلَكٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ لَا تُغْنِي شَفَاعَتُهُمْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ أَنْ يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَرْضَىٰ

And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and pleases.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تَسْمِيَةَ الْأُنْثَىٰ

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

وَمَا لَهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ ۖ وَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا

While they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and verily, guess is no substitute for the truth.

فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْ مَنْ تَوَلَّىٰ عَنْ ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا

Therefore withdraw (O Muhammad SAW) from him who turns away from Our Reminder (this Quran) and desires nothing but the life of this world.

ذَٰلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ ضَلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اهْتَدَىٰ

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.

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسَاءُوا بِمَا عَمِلُوا وَيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا بِالْحُسْنَى

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).

الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَاسِعُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنْشَأَكُمْ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنْتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ

Those who avoid great sins (see the Quran, Verses: 6:152, 153) and Al-Fawahish (illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) 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 keep his duty to Him [i.e. those who are Al-Muttaqun (pious - see V. 2:2)].

أَفَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ

Did you (O Muhammad SAW) observe him who turned away (from Islam).

وَأَعْطَىٰ قَلِيلًا وَأَكْدَىٰ

And gave a little, then stopped (giving)?

أَعِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْغَيْبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰ

Is with him the knowledge of the unseen so that he sees?

أَمْ لَمْ يُنَبَّأْ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ

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

وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ الَّذِي وَفَّىٰ

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

أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ

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

وَأَنْ لَيْسَ لِلْإِنْسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

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

وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ

And that his deeds will be seen,

ثُمَّ يُجْزَاهُ الْجَزَاءَ الْأَوْفَىٰ

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

وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ الْمُنْتَهَىٰ

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

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ

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

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا

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

وَأَنَّهُ خَلَقَ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنْثَىٰ

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

مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ إِذَا تُمْنَىٰ

From Nutfah (drops of semen male and female discharges) when it is emitted;

وَأَنَّ عَلَيْهِ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُخْرَىٰ

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

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَغْنَىٰ وَأَقْنَىٰ

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

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ رَبُّ الشِّعْرَىٰ

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

وَأَنَّهُ أَهْلَكَ عَادًا الْأُولَىٰ

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

وَثَمُودَ فَمَا أَبْقَىٰ

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

وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِنْ قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا هُمْ أَظْلَمَ وَأَطْغَىٰ

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)].

وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَةَ أَهْوَىٰ

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

فَغَشَّاهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ

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

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

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

هَٰذَا نَذِيرٌ مِنَ النُّذُرِ الْأُولَىٰ

This (Muhammad SAW) is a warner (Messenger) of the (series of) warners (Messengers) of old.

أَزِفَتِ الْآزِفَةُ

The Day of Resurrection draws near,

لَيْسَ لَهَا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ

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

أَفَمِنْ هَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ

Do you then wonder at this recital (the Quran)?

وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ

And you laugh at it and weep not,

وَأَنْتُمْ سَامِدُونَ

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

فَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ وَاعْبُدُوا ۩

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