The Stars (Al-Najm)The Stars (Al-Najm)

As the stars fell away.*

As the stars fell away.

وَالنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَى

Your friend (Muhammad) was not astray, nor was he deceived.

Your friend (Muhammad) was not astray, nor was he deceived.

مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَى

Nor was he speaking out of a personal desire.

Nor was he speaking out of a personal desire.

وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنْ الْهَوَى

It was divine inspiration.

It was divine inspiration.

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَى

Dictated by the Most Powerful.

Dictated by the Most Powerful.

عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَى

Possessor of all authority. From His highest height.

Possessor of all authority. From His highest height.

ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَى

At the highest horizon.

At the highest horizon.

وَهُوَ بِالْأُفُقِ الْأَعْلَى

He drew nearer by moving down.

He drew nearer by moving down.

ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّى

Until He became as close as possible.

Until He became as close as possible.

فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَى

He then revealed to His servant what was to be revealed.

He then revealed to His servant what was to be revealed.

فَأَوْحَى إِلَى عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَى

The mind never made up what it saw.

The mind never made up what it saw.

مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَى

Are you doubting what he saw?

Are you doubting what he saw?

أَفَتُمَرُونَهُ عَلَى مَا يَرَى

He saw him in another descent.

He (God) saw him (Muhammad) in another descent.**

وَلَقَدْ رَءاهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَى

At the ultimate point.

At the ultimate point.

عِنْدَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى

Where the eternal Paradise is located.

Where the eternal Paradise is located.

عِنْدَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَى

The whole place was overwhelmed.

The whole place was overwhelmed.

إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَى

The eyes did not waver, nor go blind.

The eyes did not waver, nor go blind.

مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَى

He saw great signs of his Lord.

He saw great signs of his Lord.

لَقَدْ رَأَى مِنْ ءايَتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَى

Compare this with the female idols Allaat and Al-`Uzzah.

Compare this with the female idols Allaat and Al-`Uzzah.

أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ اللَّتَ وَالْعُزَّى

And Manaat, the third one.

And Manaat, the third one.

وَمَنَوةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْأُخْرَى

Do you have sons, while He has these as daughters?

Do you have sons, while He has these as daughters?

أَلَكُمْ الذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ الْأُنثَى

What a disgraceful distribution!

What a disgraceful distribution!

تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَى

These are but names that you made up, you and your forefathers. GOD never authorized such a blasphemy. They follow conjecture, and personal desire, when the true guidance has come to them herein from their Lord.

These are but names that you made up, you and your forefathers. GOD never authorized such a blasphemy. They follow conjecture, and personal desire, when the true guidance has come to them herein from their Lord.

إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنْتُمْ وَءابَاؤُكُمْ مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطَنٍ إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنْفُسُ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ الْهُدَى

What is it that the human being desires?

What is it that the human being desires?

أَمْ لِلْإِنسَنِ مَا تَمَنَّى

To GOD belongs both the Hereafter, and this world.

To GOD belongs both the Hereafter, and this world.

فَلِلَّهِ الاءخِرَةُ وَالْأُولَى

Not even the angels in heaven possess authority to intercede. The only ones permitted by GOD are those who act in accordance with His will and His approval.

Not even the angels in heaven possess authority to intercede. The only ones permitted by GOD are those who act in accordance with His will and His approval.

وَكَمْ مِنْ مَلَكٍ فِي السَّمَوَتِ لَا تُغْنِي شَفَعَتُهُمْ شَيْءا إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ أَنْ يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَرْضَى

Those who disbelieve in the Hereafter have given the angels feminine names.

Those who disbelieve in the Hereafter have given the angels feminine names.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالاءخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ الْمَلَئِكَةَ تَسْمِيَةَ الْأُنْثَى

They had no knowledge about this; they only conjectured. Conjecture is no substitute for the truth.

They had no knowledge about this; they only conjectured. Conjecture is no substitute for the truth.

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

You shall disregard those who turn away from our message, and become preoccupied with this worldly life.

You shall disregard those who turn away from our message, and become preoccupied with this worldly life.

فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْ مَنْ تَوَلَّى عَنْ ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا الْحَيَوةَ الدُّنْيَا

This is the extent of their knowledge. Your Lord is fully aware of those who strayed away from His path, and He is fully aware of those who are guided.

This is the extent of their knowledge. Your Lord is fully aware of those who strayed away from His path, and He is fully aware of those who are guided.

ذَلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُمْ مِنْ الْعِلْمِ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ ضَلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ اهْتَدَى

To GOD belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. He will requite those who commit evil for their works, and will reward the righteous for their righteousness.

To GOD belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. He will requite those who commit evil for their works, and will reward the righteous for their righteousness.

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَوَتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسَءُوا بِمَا عَمِلُوا وَيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا بِالْحُسْنَى

They avoid gross sins and transgressions, except for minor offenses. Your Lord's forgiveness is immense. He has been fully aware of you since He initiated you from the earth, and while you were embryos in your mothers' bellies. Therefore, do not exalt yourselves; He is fully aware of the righteous.

They avoid gross sins and transgressions, except for minor offenses. Your Lord's forgiveness is immense. He has been fully aware of you since He initiated you from the earth, and while you were embryos in your mothers' bellies. Therefore, do not exalt yourselves; He is fully aware of the righteous.

الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَئِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَسِعُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنشَأَكُمْ مِنْ الْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنْتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَتِكُمْ فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنفُسَكُمْ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ اتَّقَى

Have you noted the one who turned away?

Have you noted the one who turned away?

أَفَرَءيْتَ الَّذِي تَوَلَّى

Rarely did he give to charity, and then very little.

Rarely did he give to charity, and then very little.

وَأَعْطَى قَلِيلًا وَأَكْدَى

Did he possess knowledge of the future? Could he see it?

Did he possess knowledge of the future? Could he see it?

أَعِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْغَيْبِ فَهُوَ يَرَى

Was he not informed of the teachings in the scripture of Moses?

Was he not informed of the teachings in the scripture of Moses?

أَمْ لَمْ يُنَبَّأْ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَى

And Abraham who fulfilled?

And Abraham who fulfilled?

وَإِبْرَهِيمَ الَّذِي وَفَّى

No soul bears the sins of another soul.

No soul bears the sins of another soul.

أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى

Every human being is responsible for his own works.

Every human being is responsible for his own works.

وَأَنْ لَيْسَ لِلْإِنسَنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَى

And everyone's works will be shown.

And everyone's works will be shown.

وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُ سَوْفَ يُرَى

Then they will be paid fully for such works.

Then they will be paid fully for such works.

ثُمَّ يُجْزَهُ الْجَزَاءَ الْأَوْفَى

To your Lord is the final destiny.

To your Lord is the final destiny.

وَأَنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ الْمُنْتَهَى

He is the One who makes you laugh or cry.

He is the One who makes you laugh or cry.

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَى

He is the One who controls death and life.

He is the One who controls death and life.

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا

He is the One who created the two kinds, male and female -

He is the One who created the two kinds, male and female

وَأَنَّهُ خَلَقَ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنْثَى

from a tiny drop of semen.

from a tiny drop of semen.

مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ إِذَا تُمْنَى

He will effect the recreation.

He will effect the recreation.

وَأَنَّ عَلَيْهِ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُخْرَى

He is the One who makes you rich or poor.

He is the One who makes you rich or poor.

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَغْنَى وَأَقْنَى

He is the Lord of the galaxies.

He is the Lord of the Sirius.

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ رَبُّ الشِّعْرَى

He is the One who annihilated ancient `Ãd.

He is the One who annihilated ancient `Aad.

وَأَنَّهُ أَهْلَكَ عَادًا الْأُولَى

And wiped out Thamoud.

And wiped out Thamoud.

وَثَمُودَا فَمَا أَبْقَى

Also the people of Noah before that; they were evil transgressors.

Also the people of Noah before that; they were evil transgressors.

وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِنْ قَبْلُ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا هُمْ أَظْلَمَ وَأَطْغَى

The evil communities (of Sodom and Gomorrah) were the lowliest.

The evil communities (of Sodom and Gomorrah) were the lowliest.

وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَةَ أَهْوَى

Consequently, they utterly vanished.

Consequently, they utterly vanished.

فَغَشَّهَا مَا غَشَّى

Which of your Lord's marvels can you deny?

Which of your Lord's marvels can you deny?

فَبِأَيِّ ءالَاءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَى

This is a warning like the older ones.

This is a warning like the older ones.

هَذَا نَذِيرٌ مِنْ النُّذُرِ الْأُولَى

The inevitable is imminent.

The inevitable is imminent.

أَزِفَتْ الاءزِفَةُ

None besides GOD can relieve it.

None beside GOD can relieve it.

لَيْسَ لَهَا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ

Are you questioning this matter?

Are you questioning this matter?

أَفَمِنْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ

Are you laughing, instead of crying?

Are you laughing, instead of crying?

وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ

Are you insisting on your ways?

Are you insisting on your ways?

وَأَنْتُمْ سَمِدُونَ

You shall fall prostrate before GOD, and worship.

You shall fall prostrate before GOD, and worship.

فَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ وَاعْبُدُوا