An-Najm

وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ

By the star when it goes down (or vanishes).

مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ

Your companion (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) has neither gone astray nor has erred.

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

Nor does he speak of (his own) desire.

إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌۭ يُوحَىٰ

It is only a Revelation revealed.

عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ

He has been taught (this Qur’ân) by one mighty in power [Jibrîl (Gabriel)]

ذُو مِرَّةٍۢ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ

One free from any defect in body and mind then he (Jibrîl - Gabriel in his real shape as created by Allah) rose and became stable.

وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ

While he [Jibrîl (Gabriel)] was in the highest part of the horizon, (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ

Then he [Jibrîl (Gabriel)] approached and came closer,

فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ

And was at a distance of two bows’ length or (even) nearer.

فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ

So (Allâh) revealed to His slave [Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم through Jibrîl (Gabriel) عليه السلام] whatever He revealed.

مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ

The (Prophet’s) heart lied not in what he (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw.

أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ

Will you then dispute with him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) about what he saw [during the Mi‘râj: (Ascent of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to the seven heavens)][1]

وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ

And indeed he (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) saw him [Jibrîl (Gabriel)] at a second descent (i.e. another time).

عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ

Near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (a lote-tree of the utmost boundary over the seventh heaven beyond which none can pass).

عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ

Near it is the Paradise of Abode.

إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

When that covered the lote-tree which did cover it![2]

مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

The sight (of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) turned not aside (right or left), nor it transgressed beyond the limit (ordained for it).

لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

Indeed he (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) did see of the Greatest Signs, of his Lord (Allâh).

أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ

Have you then considered Al-Lât, and Al-‘Uzzâ (two idols of the pagan Arabs)[3]

وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ

And Manât (another idol of the pagan Arabs), the other third?

أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ

Is it for you the males and for Him the females?

تِلۡكَ إِذًۭا قِسۡمَةٌۭ ضِيزَىٰٓ

That indeed is a division most unfair!

إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٌۭ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ

They are but names which you have named - you and your fathers - for which Allâh has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the Guidance from their Lord!

أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ

Or shall man have what he wishes?

فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ

But to Allâh belongs the last (Hereafter) and the first (the world).

۞ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍۢ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُهُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allâh has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ

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

وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ ۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ ۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغۡنِى مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ شَيۡـًۭٔا

But they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and verily, guess is no substitute for the truth.

فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا

Therefore withdraw (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) from him who turns away from Our Reminder (this Qur’ân) and desires nothing but the life of this world.

ذَٰلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ

That is what they could reach of knowledge. Verily, your Lord it is He Who knows best him who goes astray from His Path, and He knows best him who receives guidance.

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيَجۡزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَيَجۡزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُوا۟ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَى

And to Allâh belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, that He may requite those who do evil with that which they have done (i.e. punish them in Hell), and reward those who do good, with what is best (i.e. Paradise).

ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓئِرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٰسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِ ۚ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٌۭ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمۡ ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمۡ ۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

Those who avoid great sins (See the Qur’ân, Verses: 6:152,153) and Al-Fawâhish (illegal sexual intercourse) except the small faults, - verily, your Lord is of Vast Forgiveness. He knows you well when He created you from the earth (Adam), and when you were fetuses in your mothers’ wombs. So ascribe not purity to yourselves. He knows best him who fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him [i.e. those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious. See V.2:2)].

أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ

Did you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) observe him who turned away (from Islâm).

وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلًۭا وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ

And gave a little, then stopped (giving)?

أَعِندَهُۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ

Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees?

أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ

Or is he not informed with what is in the Pages (Scripture) of Mûsâ (Moses),

وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ

And of Ibrâhîm (Abraham) who fulfilled (or conveyed) all that (Allâh ordered him to do or convey):

أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌۭ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.

وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

And that man can have nothing but what he does (good or bad).[4]

وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

And that his deeds will be seen.

ثُمَّ يُجۡزَىٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense.[5]

وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ

And that to your Lord (Allâh) is the End (Return of everything).

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ

And that it is He (Allâh) Who makes (whom He wills) laugh, and makes (whom He wills) weep.

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا

And that it is He (Allâh) Who causes death and gives life.

وَأَنَّهُۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ

And that He (Allâh) creates the pairs, male and female,

مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ

From Nutfah (drops of semen - male and female discharges) when it is emitted.

وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ

And that upon Him (Allâh) is another bringing forth (Resurrection).

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

And that it is He (Allâh) Who gives much or a little (of wealth and contentment)

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ

And that He (Allâh) is the Lord of Sirius (the star which the pagan Arabs used to worship).

وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ

And that it is He (Allâh) Who destroyed the former ‘Âd (people),

وَثَمُودَا۟ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ

And Thamûd (people): He spared none of them.

وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٍۢ مِّن قَبۡلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُوا۟ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ

And the people of Nûh (Noah) aforetime. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious and transgressing [in disobeying Allâh and His Messenger Nûh (Noah) عليه السلام].

وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ

And He destroyed the overthrown cities [of Sodom to which Prophet Lût (Lot) was sent].

فَغَشَّىٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ

So there covered them that which did cover (i.e. torment with stones).

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

Then which of the Graces of your Lord (O man!) will you doubt?

هَـٰذَا نَذِيرٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ

This (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) is a warner (Messenger) of the (series of) warners (Messengers) of old.[6]

أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡـَٔازِفَةُ

The Day of Resurrection draws near.

لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ

None besides Allâh can avert it (or advance it or delay it).

أَفَمِنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ

Do you then wonder at this recitation (the Qur’ân)?

وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ

And you laugh at it and weep not,

وَأَنتُمۡ سَـٰمِدُونَ

Wasting your (precious) lifetime in pastime and amusements (singing, etc.).

فَٱسۡجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَٱعۡبُدُوا۟ ۩

So fall you down in prostration to Allâh and worship Him (Alone).