53. An-Najm

By the star when it descends,

By the setting star

Witness are the Stars that set along a course appointed. (They never misguide you. He Who commands them, commands the Messenger (6:98), (56:75). 'Wa' = And = Consider = Witness = For = By. 'Najm' is singular as well as plural in the form of a galaxy

Your companion [i.e., Muḥammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred,

your companion has neither strayed nor is he misguided

Your honored companion is neither in error, nor is he misled

Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination.

nor does he speak out of his own desire

Nor does he utter the Word out of his desire

It is not but a revelation revealed,

It [the Quran] is nothing but revelation sent down to him

This (Qur'an) is but a Revelation that is being revealed to him

Taught to him by one intense in strength [i.e., Gabriel] -

He was taught by [an angel] who is mighty in power

He has been taught by the One Mighty in Powers

One of soundness.1 And he rose to [his] true form2

and endowed with wisdom; who in time manifested himself

The Owner of Authority and Wisdom established him (the Prophet)

While he was in the higher [part of the] horizon.1

standing poised at the highest point on the horizon

At the highest horizon

Then he approached and descended

then came down close

Of human wisdom and knowledge as he drew near and approached (the point where the human intellect comes to a halt)

And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer.

until he was two bow-lengths away or even closer

Till he was but two bow-lengths away, or even closer. (The Divine Will and the will of the Messenger merged together, like the two of you join your bows as a bond of friendship)

And he revealed to His Servant1 what he revealed [i.e., conveyed].

and revealed to God's servant what he revealed

And thus He revealed to His servant what He revealed

The heart1 did not lie [about] what it saw.

The heart [of the Prophet] did not misconstrue what he saw

And never did he find contrary to reason what he learned. ((2:285), (6:164). 'Raa' = Saw, learned, observed, took to heart

So will you dispute with him over what he saw?

Will you then dispute with him as to what he saw

Will you, then, contend with him concerning what he learned (and you have not)

And he certainly saw him in another descent1

And certainly he saw him descend a second time

And indeed, he learned it again and yet again

At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary -

by the lote tree beyond which none may pass

At the Ultimate Mark ('Sidratil muntaha' = The last Lote-tree = The point where the human intellect is left with nothing but astonishment)

Near it is the Garden of Refuge [i.e., Paradise] -

by the Garden of [Eternal] Repose

Near unto the Garden of Abode. (The Revelation tells the Messenger how to establish a paradise on earth)

When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it].1

when the lote tree was covered in mystic splendour

Overwhelming is the spectacle at the overwhelming Ultimate Mark

The sight [of the Prophet (ﷺ)] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit].

His sight did not waver nor was it unduly bold

Yet, his sight wavered not and wandered not

He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.

He saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord

And indeed, he has seen the great Signs of his Lord. (The shackles of mental and physical bondage will be broken and humanity will come from darkness to Light (7:157), (17:1)

So have you considered al-Lāt and al-ʿUzzā?

Have you really considered al-Lat and al-"Uzza

Have you seen and thought about Lat, and Uzza

And Manāt, the third - the other one?1

and the third one, Manat

And Manat, the third other? (All three goddesses of yours)

Is the male for you and for Him the female?

What! For you the males and for Him the females

Why - for yourselves you would prefer only sons, whereas to Him you assign daughters

That, then, is an unjust division.1

That indeed is an unfair division

Behold, this indeed is an unfair division. (You worship female idols and resent having daughters)

They are not but [mere] names you have named them - you and your forefathers - for which Allāh 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.

these are nothing but names which you yourselves have devised, you and your forefathers. God has sent down no authority for them. They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own selves desire, even though guidance has already come to them from their Lord

They are but names that you have named, you and your fathers, for which Allah has revealed no authority. They follow nothing but conjecture and their own fancies. But now the Guidance from their Lord has come to them

Or is there for man whatever he wishes?

Shall man have whatever he craves

Nay, should man get all that he covets and fancies

Rather, to Allāh belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].

But it is to God that the Hereafter and this world belong

Even though unto Allah belong the later life and the former. (His are the Keys of the heavens and the earth (7:96), (28:77), (39:63), (41)

And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail at all except [only] after Allāh has permitted [it] to whom He wills and approves.

There may be countless angels in heaven, but their intercession will be of no avail until God has given permission to those whom he chooses and accepts

And how many forces are in the Universe whose company avails not except whom Allah permits. This is so, because such a person works by His Laws and thus obtains His Approval. (Science can only be mastered by understanding the physical laws in Nature)

Indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter name the angels female names,

Those who do not believe in the life to come call the angels by female names

Behold, it is only those who do not believe in the life to come that consider the angels as female beings

And they have thereof no knowledge. They follow not except assumption, and indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all.

They have no knowledge to base this on. They merely indulge in guess-work which can never replace the truth

And since they do not learn the Law of Cause and Effect, they can follow nothing but guesswork. And behold, guesswork can never take the place of Truth

So turn away from whoever turns his back on Our message and desires not except the worldly life.

So ignore those who turn away from Our revelation and seek nothing but the life of this world

Therefore, avoid him who turns away from Our Reminder and cares for no more than (the dogmas prevalent in) the life at hand

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.

That is the ultimate extent of their knowledge. Surely your Lord knows best those who stray from His path and He knows best those who follow His guidance

Such is the sum-total of their knowledge. Behold, your Lord knows best who strays from His Way, and He best knows who goes right

And to Allāh 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] -

Everything in the heavens and on the earth belongs to God and so He will requite those who do evil in accordance with their deeds and will reward those left with that which is best, for those who do good

And unto Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. (He has designed the Universe such that no action goes without a consequence). That He may requite those who destabilized lives, with their own deeds, and reward with goodness those who benefited humanity. (

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.

As for those who refrain from committing grave sins and indecent acts, though they may commit minor offences, your Lord is unstinting in His forgiveness. He knows you when He brings you out of the earth, and when you were embryos in the wombs of your mothers; so do not make claims to be pure. He knows best who is truly righteous

Those who abstain from the greater transgressions that deplete the communal energy, and from shameful deeds and stinginess, even though they may sometimes waver, behold, your Lord is Immense in absolving their imperfections. He knows you best since He brings you into being from the earth, and when you were still hidden in the bellies of your mothers? Therefore, claim not piety for yourselves. He knows best as to who walks aright

Have you seen the one who turned away

Have you [Prophet] considered the man who turned away

Have you, then, noticed him who turns away

And gave a little and [then] refrained?

who at first gave a little, then later held back

And gives so little of himself, yet with a heavy heart

Does he have knowledge of the unseen, so he sees?1

Has he knowledge of the unseen, so that he sees

What! Does he have the knowledge of the innermost psyche that he sees unfolded before him

Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Moses

Has he not been made acquainted with what was written in the scriptures of Moses

Nay, did he never hear of what was in the Scrolls of Moses

And [of] Abraham, who fulfilled [his obligations] -

And with Abraham who kept his word

And of Abraham who fulfilled his obligations

That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another

that no soul shall bear the burden of another

i That no laden one shall bear the load of another

And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives

and that man shall have only that for which he strives

ii And that every human being shall be responsible for, and compensated for, his labor

And that his effort is going to be seen -

and that [the fruit of] his striving shall soon be seen

iii And that his effort (and not the outcome) will be seen

Then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense -

and in the end he will be repaid for it in full

iv And then he will be given the full wage

And that to your Lord is the finality

that all things in the end shall return to God

v And that to your Lord is the final destination. (Your goal shall be the Lord's Rule on earth)

And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep

that it is He who brings laughter and tears

vi And that He it is Who makes laugh, and makes weep. (Nations that establish His Rule will have inner happiness, whereas the others will be in misery)

And that it is He who causes death and gives life

that it is He who causes death and gives life

vii And that He it is Who gives death and gives life. (The rise and fall of nations follow His Laws)

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

and that He Himself created the two sexes: male and female

viii And that He it is Who creates the two companions, the male and the female (pairs and opposites among His creation)

From a sperm-drop when it is emitted

from an ejected drop of sperm

From gametes that unite

And that [incumbent] upon Him is the other [i.e., next] creation.

and that He will bring about the Second Creation

ix And that He has promised to bring about a second life (the ultimate accountability)

And that it is He who enriches and suffices

that it is He who gives wealth and possessions

x And that He it is Who gives wealth and contentment. (Only His Laws can bestow true prosperity)

And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius1.

that He is the Lord of Sirius

xi And that He it is Who is the Lord of the brightest star, the human intellect

And that He destroyed the first [people of] ʿAad.

It was He who totally destroyed the former 'Ad

xii And that He it is Who annihilated the former tribe of Aad. (They were men of intellect but refused to establish the Divine System (7:65). A wrong system, however smartly run, is bound to collapse

And Thamūd - and He did not spare [them] -

and Thamud tribes

And the tribe of Thamud, sparing no one

And the people of Noah before. Indeed, it was they who were [even] more unjust and oppressing.

and before them the people of Noah who were even more unjust and insolent

And the people of Noah before them. Behold, they were even more unjust and more rebellious

And the overturned towns1 He hurled down.

and He overthrew the subverted cities [of Sodom and Gomorrah]

And His Law of Requital annihilated the cities such that they were overthrown

And covered them by that which He covered.1

and then covered them from sight forever

So that there covered each of them what covered them. (Sodom and Gomorrah buried under the Dead Sea. Also applies to other townships covered with Doom)

Then which of the favors of your Lord do you doubt?

On which then of your Lord's signs do you cast doubt

Then, which facet of your Lord's Power will you doubt or deny

This [Prophet (ﷺ)] is a warner from [i.e., like] the former warners.

This is a warning just like those of former times

This Prophet is a Warner like the previous Warners

The Approaching Day has approached.

The Hour that was to come draws ever nearer

The Inevitable is now imminent. (The opponents of the Divine System will soon be subdued)

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

None but God can avert it

None but Allah can dispel it. (Stop attacking the System)

Then at this statement do you wonder?

Do you then find these tidings strange

Do you, then, marvel at this statement

And you laugh and do not weep

Why do you laugh rather than weep

And will you laugh and not weep

While you are proudly sporting?1

Will you remain proudly heedless

Just amusing yourselves

So prostrate to Allāh and worship [Him].

Prostrate yourselves before God, and worship Him alone

Nay, rather prostrate yourselves before Allah and serve Him