Sūra LIII. Najm, or the Star.

The Holy Quran, tr. by Yusuf Ali, [1934], at sacred-texts.com

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Sūra LIII.

Najm, or the Star.

In the name of God, Most Gracious,
Most Merciful.

1. By the Star
When it goes down,—

2. Your Companion is neither
Astray nor being misled,

3. Nor does he say (aught)
Of (his own) Desire.

4. It is no less than
Inspiration sent down to him:

5. He was taught by one
Mighty in Power,

6. Endued with Wisdom:
For he appeared
(In stately form)

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7. While he was in
The highest part
Of the horizon:

8. Then he approached
And came closer,

9. And was at a distance
Of but two bow-lengths
Or (even) nearer;

10. So did (God) convey
The inspiration to His Servant—
(Conveyed) what He (meant)
To convey.

11. The (Prophet's) (mind and) heart
In no way falsified
That which he saw.

12. Will ye then dispute
With him concerning
What he saw?

13. For indeed he saw him
At a second descent,

14. Near the Lote-tree
Beyond which none may pass:

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15. Near it is the Garden
Of Abode.

16. Behold, the Lote-tree
Was shrouded
(In mystery unspeakable!)

17. (His) sight never swerved,
Nor did it go wrong!

18. For truly did he see,
Of the Signs of his Lord,
The Greatest!

19. Have ye seen
Lāt, and ‘Uzzā,

20. And another,
The third (goddess), Manāt?

21. What! For you
The male sex,
And for Him, the female?

22. Behold, such would be
Indeed a division
Most unfair!

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23. These are nothing but names
Which ye have devised,—
Ye and your fathers,
For which God 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!

24. Nay, shall man have (just)
Anything he hankers after?

25. But it is to God
That the End and
The Beginning (of all things)
Belong.

SECTION 2.

26. How many-so-ever be
The angels in the heavens,
Their intercession will avail nothing
Except after God has given
Leave for whom He pleases
And that he is acceptable
To Him.

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27. Those who believe not
In the Hereafter, name
The angels with female names.

28. But they have no knowledge
Therein. They follow nothing
But conjecture; and conjecture
Avails nothing against Truth.

29. Therefore shun those who
Turn away from Our Message
And desire nothing but
The life of this world.

30. 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.

31. Yea, to God 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.

32. Those who avoid
Great sins and shameful deeds,

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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.

SECTION 3.

33. Seest thou one
Who turns back,

34. Gives a little,
Then hardens (his heart)?

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35. What! Has he knowledge
Of the unseen
So that he can see?

36. Nay, is he not acquainted
With what is in the books
Of Moses—

37. And of Abraham
Who fulfilled his
engagements;—

38. Namely, that no bearer
Of burdens can bear
The burden of another;

39. That man can have nothing
But what he strives for;

40. That (the fruit of) his striving
Will soon come in sight;

41. Then will he be rewarded
With a reward complete;

42. That to thy Lord
Is the final Goal;

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43. That it is He Who
Granteth Laughter and Tears;

44. That it is He Who
Granteth Death and Life;

45. That He did create
In pairs,—male and female,

46. From a seed when lodged
(In its place);

47. That He hath promised
A Second Creation
(Raising of the Dead);

48. That it is He Who
Giveth wealth and satisfaction;

49. That He is the Lord
Of Sirius (the Mighty Star);

50. And that it is He
Who destroyed the (powerful)
Ancient ‘Ād (people),

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51. And the Thamūd,
Nor gave them a lease
Of perpetual life.

52. And before them,
The people of Noah,
For that they were (all)
Most unjust
And most insolent transgressors,

53. And He destroyed
The Overthrown Cities
(Of Sodom and Gomorrah),

54. So that (ruins unknown)
Have covered them up.

55. Then which of the gifts
Of thy Lord, (O man,)
Wilt thou dispute about?

56. This is a Warner,
Of the (series of) Warners
Of old!

57. The (Judgment) ever approaching
Draws nigh:

58. No (soul) but God
Can lay it bare.

59. Do ye then wonder
At this recital?

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60. And will ye laugh
And not weep,—

61. Wasting your time
In vanities?

62. But fall ye down in prostration
To God, and adore (Him)!

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