النَّجۡمِ
- Meccan
- 62 verses
- Surah 53 of 114
Introduction to Surah An-Najm
Sixty-two verses, Meccan, fifty-third in the written order. The verses are very short. It is one of the surahs at whose end reciters traditionally prostrate, and the traditional accounts report that when it was first recited publicly the people present prostrated, including those who had not accepted the message.
The claim about the source
Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him: (53:3–4)
This is the most direct statement in the Qur’an about the relation between the Prophet and what he recited, and it is put as a denial rather than a description.
What follows is the passage most argued over by commentators: one mighty in power, on the highest horizon, who then drew near and came down until he was at a distance of two bow-lengths or nearer, and revealed to His servant what he revealed. Whether the one who drew near is Gabriel or God has been disputed since the earliest period, and both readings are ancient. The surah then mentions a second sighting, near the lote-tree of the utmost boundary, and says that the eye did not swerve nor go wrong.
The three names
The surah names the three principal goddesses of the Meccan sanctuary — Lat, Uzza and Manat — and makes two arguments against them. The first is that the Meccans assigned daughters to God while preferring sons for themselves. The second is more fundamental: that these are names, invented by them and their fathers, for which God sent down no authority, and that they follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire.
The last section
The closing verses are a short list of things attributed to the scrolls of Moses and Abraham: that no bearer of burdens bears the burden of another; that a person gets nothing except what he strives for; that the striving will be seen. Then a run of statements of what God does — that it is He who makes people laugh and weep, who gives death and life, who enriches and gives contentment — and the surah ends on a question asking whether, at this, the listener is going to marvel and laugh instead of weeping.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
وَٱلنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ
Wannajmi izaa hawaa
By the Star when it goes down,-
By the Star when it setteth,
مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ
Maa dalla saahibukum wa maa ghawaa
Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled.
Your comrade erreth not, nor is deceived;
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ
Wa maa yyantiqu ‘anilhawaaa
Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.
Nor doth he speak of (his own) desire.
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْىٌۭ يُوحَىٰ
In huwa illaa Wahyuny yoohaa
It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:
It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired,
عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلْقُوَىٰ
‘Allamahoo shadeedul quwaa
He was taught by one Mighty in Power,
Which one of mighty powers hath taught him,
ذُو مِرَّةٍۢ فَٱسْتَوَىٰ
Zoo mirratin fastawaa
Endued with Wisdom: for he appeared (in stately form);
One vigorous; and he grew clear to view
وَهُوَ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Wa huwa bil ufuqil a’laa
While he was in the highest part of the horizon:
When he was on the uppermost horizon.
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ
Summa danaa fatadalla
Then he approached and came closer,
Then he drew nigh and came down
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ
Fakaana qaaba qawsaini aw adnaa
And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer;
Till he was (distant) two bows’ length or even nearer,
فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦ مَآ أَوْحَىٰ
Fa awhaaa ilaa ‘abdihee maaa awhaa
So did (Allah) convey the inspiration to His Servant- (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey.
And He revealed unto His slave that which He revealed.
مَا كَذَبَ ٱلْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ
Maa kazabal fu’aadu maa ra aa
The (Prophet’s) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw.
The heart lied not (in seeing) what it saw.
أَفَتُمَٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ
Afatumaaroonahoo ‘alaa maayaraa
Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he saw?
Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he seeth?
وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ
Wa laqad ra aahu nazlatan ukhraa
For indeed he saw him at a second descent,
And verily he saw him yet another time
عِندَ سِدْرَةِ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ
‘Inda sidratil muntaha
Near the Lote-tree beyond which none may pass:
By the lote-tree of the utmost boundary,
عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰٓ
‘Indahaa jannatul maawaa
Near it is the Garden of Abode.
Nigh unto which is the Garden of Abode.
إِذْ يَغْشَى ٱلسِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ
Iz yaghshas sidrata maa yaghshaa
Behold, the Lote-tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!)
When that which shroudeth did enshroud the lote-tree,
مَا زَاغَ ٱلْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ
Maa zaaghal basaru wa maa taghaa
(His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong!
The eye turned not aside nor yet was overbold.
لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ
Laqad ra aa min aayaati Rabbihil kubraaa
For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest!
Verily he saw one of the greater revelations of his Lord.
أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱللَّٰتَ وَٱلْعُزَّىٰ
Afara’aytumul laata wal ‘uzzaa
Have ye seen Lat. and ‘Uzza,
Have ye thought upon Al-Lat and Al-‘Uzza
وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰٓ
Wa manaatas saalisatal ukhraa
And another, the third (goddess), Manat?
And Manat, the third, the other?
أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلْأُنثَىٰ
A-lakumuz zakaru wa lahul unsaa
What! for you the male sex, and for Him, the female?
Are yours the males and His the females?
تِلْكَ إِذًۭا قِسْمَةٌۭ ضِيزَىٰٓ
Tilka izan qismatun deezaa
Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair!
That indeed were an unfair division!
إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءٌۭ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَٰنٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى ٱلْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ
In hiya illaaa asmaaa’un sammaitumoohaaa antum wa aabaaa’ukum maaa anzalal laahu bihaa min sultaan; inyyattabi’oona illaz zanna wa maa tahwal anfusu wa laqad jaaa’ahum mir Rabbihimul hudaa
These are nothing but names which ye have devised,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah has sent down no authority (whatever). They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire!- Even though there has already come to them Guidance from their Lord!
They are but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which Allah hath revealed no warrant. They follow but a guess and that which (they) themselves desire. And now the guidance from their Lord hath come unto them.
أَمْ لِلْإِنسَٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ
Am lil insaani maa taman naa
Nay, shall man have (just) anything he hankers after?
Or shall man have what he coveteth?
فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْءَاخِرَةُ وَٱلْأُولَىٰ
Falillaahil aakhiratu wal oolaa
But it is to Allah that the End and the Beginning (of all things) belong.
But unto Allah belongeth the after (life), and the former.
۞ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍۢ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغْنِى شَفَٰعَتُهُمْ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَن يَأْذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرْضَىٰٓ
Wa kam mim malakin fissamaawaati laa tughnee shafaa’atuhum shai’an illaa mim ba’di anyyaazanal laahu limany yashaaa’u wa yardaa
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.
And how many angels are in the heavens whose intercession availeth naught save after Allah giveth leave to whom He chooseth and accepteth.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ تَسْمِيَةَ ٱلْأُنثَىٰ
innal lazeena laa yu’minoona bil aakhirati la yusammoonal malaaa’ikata tasmiyatal unsaa
Those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names.
Lo! it is those who disbelieve in the Hereafter who name the angels with the names of females.
وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ ۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِى مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ شَيْـًۭٔا
Wa maa lahum bihee min ‘ilmin iny yattabi’oona illaz zanna wa innaz zanna laa yughnee minal haqqi shai’aa
But they have no knowledge therein. They follow nothing but conjecture; and conjecture avails nothing against Truth.
And they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and lo! a guess can never take the place of the truth.
فَأَعْرِضْ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا
Fa a’rid ‘am man tawallaa ‘an zikrinaa wa lam yurid illal hayaatad dunyaa
Therefore shun those who turn away from Our Message and desire nothing but the life of this world.
Then withdraw (O Muhammad) from him who fleeth from Our remembrance and desireth but the life of the world.
ذَٰلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ
Zalika mablaghuhum minal ‘ilm; inna rabbaka huwa a’lamu biman dalla ‘an sabee lihee wa huwa a’lamu bimanih tadaa
That is as far as knowledge will reach them. Verily thy Lord knoweth best those who stray from His Path, and He knoweth best those who receive guidance.
Such is their sum of knowledge. Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth, and He is Best Aware of him whom goeth right.
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَٰٓـُٔوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ بِٱلْحُسْنَى
Wa lillaahi maa fis samaawaati wa maa fil ardi liyajziyal lazeena asaaa’oo bimaa ‘amiloo wa yajziyal lazeena ahsanoo bilhusnaa
Yea, to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: so that He rewards those who do evil, according to their deeds, and He rewards those who do good, with what is best.
And unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, that He may reward those who do evil with that which they have done, and reward those who do good with goodness.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَٰٓئِرَ ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٰسِعُ ٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌۭ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ
Allazeena yajtaniboona kabaaa’iral ismi walfawaa hisha illal lamam; inna rabbaka waasi’ul maghfirah; huwa a’lamu bikum iz ansha akum minal ardi wa iz antum ajinnatun fee butooni umma haatikum falaa tuzakkooo anfusakum huwa a’lamu bimanit taqaa
Those who avoid great sins and shameful deeds, only (falling into) small faults,- verily thy Lord is ample in forgiveness. He knows you well when He brings you out of the earth, And when ye are hidden in your mothers’ wombs. Therefore justify not yourselves: He knows best who it is that guards against evil.
Those who avoid enormities of sin and abominations, save the unwilled offences – (for them) lo! thy Lord is of vast mercy. He is Best Aware of you (from the time) when He created you from the earth, and when ye were hidden in the bellies of your mothers. Therefor ascribe not purity unto yourselves. He is Best Aware of him who wardeth off (evil).
أَفَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ
Afara’ayatal lazee tawallaa
Seest thou one who turns back,
Didst thou (O Muhammad) observe him who turned away,
وَأَعْطَىٰ قَلِيلًۭا وَأَكْدَىٰٓ
Wa a’taa qaleelanw wa akdaa
Gives a little, then hardens (his heart)?
And gave a little, then was grudging?
أَعِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ
A’indahoo ‘ilmul ghaibi fahuwa yaraa
What! Has he knowledge of the Unseen so that he can see?
Hath he knowledge of the Unseen so that he seeth?
أَمْ لَمْ يُنَبَّأْ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ
Am lam yunabbaa bimaa fee suhuhfi Moosa
Nay, is he not acquainted with what is in the Books of Moses-
Or hath he not had news of what is in the books of Moses
وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ
Wa Ibraaheemal lazee waffaaa
And of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements?-
And Abraham who paid his debt:
أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌۭ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ
Allaa taziru waaziratunw wizra ukhraa
Namely, that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another;
That no laden one shall bear another’s load,
وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ
Wa al laisa lil insaani illaa maa sa’aa
That man can have nothing but what he strives for;
And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort,
وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُۥ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ
Wa anna sa’yahoo sawfa yuraa
That (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight:
And that his effort will be seen.
ثُمَّ يُجْزَىٰهُ ٱلْجَزَآءَ ٱلْأَوْفَىٰ
Summa yujzaahul jazaaa ‘al awfaa
Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;
And afterward he will be repaid for it with fullest payment;
وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ
Wa anna ilaa rabbikal muntahaa
That to thy Lord is the final Goal;
And that thy Lord, He is the goal;
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ
Wa annahoo huwa adhaka wa abkaa
That it is He Who granteth Laughter and Tears;
And that He it is who maketh laugh, and maketh weep,
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا
Wa annahoo huwa amaata wa ahyaa
That it is He Who granteth Death and Life;
And that He it is Who giveth death and giveth life;
وَأَنَّهُۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوْجَيْنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلْأُنثَىٰ
Wa annahoo khalaqaz zawjainiz zakara wal unsaa
That He did create in pairs,- male and female,
And that He createth the two spouses, the male and the female,
مِن نُّطْفَةٍ إِذَا تُمْنَىٰ
Min nutfatin izaa tumnaa
From a seed when lodged (in its place);
From a drop (of seed) when it is poured forth;
وَأَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰ
Wa anna ‘alaihin nash atal ukhraa
That He hath promised a Second Creation (Raising of the Dead);
And that He hath ordained the second bringing forth;
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغْنَىٰ وَأَقْنَىٰ
Wa annahoo huwa aghnaa wa aqnaa
That it is He Who giveth wealth and satisfaction;
And that He it is Who enricheth and contenteth;
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعْرَىٰ
Wa annahoo huwa rabbush shi’raa
That He is the Lord of Sirius (the Mighty Star);
And that He it is Who is the Lord of Sirius;
وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهْلَكَ عَادًا ٱلْأُولَىٰ
Wa annahooo ahlak a ‘Aadanil oolaa
And that it is He Who destroyed the (powerful) ancient ‘Ad (people),
And that He destroyed the former (tribe of) A’ad,
وَثَمُودَا۟ فَمَآ أَبْقَىٰ
Wa samooda famaaa abqaa
And the Thamud nor gave them a lease of perpetual life.
And (the tribe of) Thamud He spared not;
وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍۢ مِّن قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ هُمْ أَظْلَمَ وَأَطْغَىٰ
Wa qawma Noohim min qablu innahum kaanoo hum azlama wa atghaa
And before them, the people of Noah, for that they were (all) most unjust and most insolent transgressors,
And the folk of Noah aforetime, Lo! they were more unjust and more rebellious;
وَٱلْمُؤْتَفِكَةَ أَهْوَىٰ
Wal mu’tafikata ahwaa
And He destroyed the Overthrown Cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah).
And Al-Mu’tafikah He destroyed
فَغَشَّىٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ
Faghashshaahaa maa ghashshaa
So that (ruins unknown) have covered them up.
So that there covered them that which did cover.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ
Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbika tatamaaraa
Then which of the gifts of thy Lord, (O man,) wilt thou dispute about?
Concerning which then, of the bounties of thy Lord, canst thou dispute?
هَٰذَا نَذِيرٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلْأُولَىٰٓ
Haazaa nazeerum minan nuzuril oolaa
This is a Warner, of the (series of) Warners of old!
This is a warner of the warners of old.
أَزِفَتِ ٱلْءَازِفَةُ
Azifatil laazifah
The (Judgment) ever approaching draws nigh:
The threatened Hour is nigh.
لَيْسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ
Laisa lahaa min doonil laahi kaashifah
No (soul) but Allah can lay it bare.
None beside Allah can disclose it.
أَفَمِنْ هَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ
Afamin hazal hadeesi ta’jaboon
Do ye then wonder at this recital?
Marvel ye then at this statement,
وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ
Wa tadhakoona wa laa tabkoon
And will ye laugh and not weep,-
And laugh and not weep,
وَأَنتُمْ سَٰمِدُونَ
Wa antum saamidoon
Wasting your time in vanities?
While ye amuse yourselves?
فَٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ۩
Fasjudoo lillaahi wa’budoo
But fall ye down in prostration to Allah, and adore (Him)!
Rather prostrate yourselves before Allah and serve Him.
Sources. Arabic text: Tanzil Uthmani edition. Translations: Abdullah Yusuf Ali (original edition, 1934–1938) and Marmaduke Pickthall (1930), both in the public domain. Any introduction above is original writing and is not part of any translation.