53. THE STAR (an-Najm)

In the name of Allah,
the Gracious, the Merciful

1. By the star as it goes down.
2. Your friend has not gone astray, nor has he
   erred.
3. Nor does he speak out of desire.
4. It is but a revelation revealed.
5. Taught to him by the Extremely Powerful.
6. The one of vigor. He settled.
7. While he was at the highest horizon.
8. Then he came near, and hovered around.
9. He was within two bows’ length, or closer.
10. Then He revealed to His servant what He
    revealed.
11. The heart did not lie about what it saw.
12. Will you dispute with him concerning
    what he saw?
13. He saw him on another descent.
14. At the Lotus Tree of the Extremity.
15. Near which is the Garden of Repose.
16. As there covered the Lotus Tree what covered it.
17. The sight did not waver, nor did it exceed.
18. He saw some of the Great Signs of his Lord.
19. Have you considered al-Lat and al-Uzza?
20. And Manat, the third one, the other?
21. Are you to have the males, and He the females?
22. What a bizarre distribution.
23. These are nothing but names, which you
    have devised, you and your ancestors, for
    which Allah sent down no authority. They
    follow nothing but assumptions, and what
    the ego desires, even though guidance has
    come to them from their Lord.
24. Or is the human being to have whatever he
    desires?
25. To Allah belong the Last and the First.
26. How many an angel is there in the heavens
    whose intercession avails nothing, except after Allah gives permission to whomever He
    wills, and approves?
27. Those who do not believe in the Hereafter
    give the angels the names of females.
28. They have no knowledge of that. They only
    follow assumptions, and assumptions are no
    substitute for the truth.
29. So avoid him who has turned away from
    Our remembrance, and desires nothing but
    the present life.
30. That is the extent of their knowledge. Your
    Lord knows best who has strayed from His
    path, and He knows best who has accepted
    guidance.
31. To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. He will repay
    those who do evil according to their deeds,
    and recompense those who do good with the
    best.
32. Those who avoid gross sins and indecencies—except for minor lapses—your Lord is
    of Vast Forgiveness. He knows you well, ever
    since He created you from the earth, and ever
    since you were embryos in your mothers’
    wombs. So do not acclaim your own virtue;
    He is fully aware of the righteous.
33. Have you considered him who turned
    away?
34. And gave a little, and held back?
35. Does he possess knowledge of the unseen,
    and can therefore foresee?
36. Or was he not informed of what is in the
    Scrolls of Moses?
37. And of Abraham, who fulfilled?
38. That no soul bears the burdens of another
    soul.
39. And that the human being attains only
    what he strives for.
40. And that his efforts will be witnessed.
41. Then he will be rewarded for it the fullest
    reward.
42. And that to your Lord is the finality.
43. And that it is He who causes laughter and
    weeping.
    44.And that it is He who gives death and life.
44. And that it is He who created the two
    kinds—the male and the female.
45. From a sperm drop, when emitted.
46. And that upon Him is the next existence.
47. And that it is He who enriches and impoverishes.
    49.And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius.
48. And that it is He who destroyed the first
    Aad.
49. And Thamood, sparing no one.
50. And the people of Noah before that; for
    they were most unjust and most oppressive.
51. And He toppled the ruined cities.
52. And covered them with whatever covered
    them.
53. So which of your Lord’s marvels can you
    deny?
54. This is a warning, just like the first warnings.
55. The inevitable is imminent.
56. None besides Allah can unveil it.
57. Do you marvel at this discourse?
58. And laugh, and do not weep?
59. Lost in your frivolity?
60. So bow down to Allah, and worship!