Surah Al Najm

وَالنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَى  

By the Star when it goes down --

مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَى

Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled,

وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى

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

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَى

It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:

عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَى

He was taught by one mighty in Power,

ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَى  

Endued with Wisdom: For he appeared (in stately form)

وَهُوَ بِالْأُفُقِ الْأَعْلَى

While he was in the highest part of the horizon:

ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّى

Then he approached and came closer,

فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَى 

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

فَأَوْحَى إِلَى عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَى

So did (Allah) convey the inspiration to His Servant -- (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey.

مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَى  

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

أَفَتُمَارُونَهُ عَلَى مَا يَرَى  

Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he saw?

وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَى  

For indeed he saw him at a second descent.

عِنْدَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى  

Near the Lote-tree beyond which none may pass:

عِنْدَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَى  

Near it is the Garden of Abode.

إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَى  

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

مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَى  

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

لَقَدْ رَأَى مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَى  

For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest!

أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ اللَّاتَ وَالْعُزَّى  

Have ye seen Lat, an Uzza,

وَمَنَاةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْأُخْرَى  

And another, the third (goddess), Manat?

أَلَكُمُ الذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ الْأُنْثَى  

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

تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَى  

Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair!

إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ ۚ

These are nothing but names which ye have devised -- ye and your fathers -- for which Allah has sent down no authority (whatever).

إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنْفُسُ ۖ

They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire! --

وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنْ رَبِّهِمُ الْهُدَى  

even though there has already come to them Guidance from their Lord!

أَمْ لِلْإِنْسَانِ مَا تَمَنَّى  

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

فَلِلَّهِ الْآخِرَةُ وَالْأُولَى  

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

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

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.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تَسْمِيَةَ الْأُنْثَى  

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

وَمَا لَهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ

But they have no knowledge therein.

إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ ۖ وَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا  

They follow nothing but conjecture; and conjecture avails nothing against Truth.

فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْ مَنْ تَوَلَّى عَنْ ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا  

Therefore shun those who turn away from Our Message and desire nothing but the life of this world.

ذَلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ ۚ

That is as far as knowledge will reach them.

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ ضَلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ  وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اهْتَدَى  

Verily thy Lord knoweth best those who stray from His path, and He knoweth best those who receive guidance.

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ

Yea, to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth;

 لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسَاءُوا بِمَا عَمِلُوا وَيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا بِالْحُسْنَى

so that He rewards those who do evil, according to their deeds, and He rewards those who do good, with what is best.

الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ ۚ

Those who avoid great sins and shameful deeds. Only (falling into) small faults,

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَاسِعُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ

verily thy Lord is ample in forgiveness.

هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنْشَأَكُمْ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنْتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ ۖ

He knows you well when He brings you out of the earth, and when ye are hidden in your mother's wombs,

فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ ۖ

therefore justifya not yourselves.

هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَى  

He knows best who it is that guards against evil.

أَفَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّى  

Seest thou one who turns back.

وَأَعْطَى قَلِيلًا وَأَكْدَى  

Gives a little, then hardens (his heart)?

أَعِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْغَيْبِ فَهُوَ يَرَى  

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

أَمْ لَمْ يُنَبَّأْ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَى

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

وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ الَّذِي وَفَّى  

And of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements? --

أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى  

Namely,

- that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another;

وَأَنْ لَيْسَ لِلْإِنْسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَى  

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

وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُ سَوْفَ يُرَى  

- That (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight;

ثُمَّ يُجْزَاهُ الْجَزَاءَ الْأَوْفَى  

Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;

وَأَنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ الْمُنْتَهَى  

- That to thy Lord is the final Goal;

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَى  

- That it is He who Granteth Laughter and Tears;

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا  

- That it is He who Granteth Death and Life;

وَأَنَّهُ خَلَقَ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنْثَى  

- That He did create in pairs -- male and female.

مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ إِذَا تُمْنَى  

From a seed when lodged (in its place);

وَأَنَّ عَلَيْهِ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُخْرَى  

- That He hath promised a Second Creation (raising of the Dead)

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَغْنَى وَأَقْنَى  

- That it is He Who giveth wealth and satisfaction;

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ رَبُّ الشِّعْرَى  

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

وَأَنَّهُ أَهْلَكَ عَادًا الْأُولَى  

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

وَثَمُودَ فَمَا أَبْقَى

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

‏ وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِنْ قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا هُمْ أَظْلَمَ وَأَطْغَى  

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

وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَةَ أَهْوَى

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

فَغَشَّاهَا مَا غَشَّى  

So that (ruins unknown) have covered them up.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَى  

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

هَذَا نَذِيرٌ مِنَ النُّذُرِ الْأُولَى  

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

أَزِفَتِ الْآزِفَةُ  

The (Judgment) ever approaching draws nigh:

لَيْسَ لَهَا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ  

No (soul) but Allah can lay it bare.

أَفَمِنْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ  

Do ye then wonder at this recital?

وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ  

And will ye laugh and not weep --

وَأَنْتُمْ سَامِدُونَ  

Wasting your time in vanities?

فَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ وَاعْبُدُوا ۩

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

*********