SURAH
53: AL NAJM (The Star).
In the name of Allah, the Gracious,
the Merciful
1
By the star when it goes down,
2
Your companion is neither astray nor being misled.
3
Nor does he speak from personal 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
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 less;
10
So he conveyed the inspiration to his servant that he meant to convey.
11
The heart in no way falsified that which it saw.
12
Will you 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:
15
Near it is the garden of Abode.
16
Behold, the lote tree was shrouded.
17
His sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong!
18
For truly did he see the signs of his Lord, the greatest!
19
Have you seen Lat, and Uzza,
20
And the third, Manat?
21
What! For you the male sex, and for him, the female?
22
Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair!
23
These are nothing but names which you have devised, you and your fathers, for
which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow nothing but conjecture and
what their own souls desire, though there has already come to them guidance
form their Lord!
24
No, shall man have anything he hankers after?
25
But it is to Allah that the end and the beginning belong.
26
How ever many be the angels in the heavens, their intercession will avail
nothing; only the one[1]
who is pleasing to Allah and to whom Allah has given leave and is acceptable to
him.
27
Those who believe not in the hereafter, name the angels with female names.
28
But they have no knowledge about it. 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. Truly your Lord knows best those
who stray from his path, and he knows best those who receive guidance.
31
Yes, 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.
32
Those who avoid great sins and shameful deeds, only with small sins, truly your
Lord is ample in forgiveness. He knows you well when he brings you out of the
earth, and when you are hidden in your mothers' wombs. Therefore justify not
yourselves; he knows best who it is that guards against evil.
33
Do you see one who turns back,
34
Gives a little, then hardens himself?
35
What! Has he knowledge of the unseen so that he can see?
36
No, is he not acquainted with what is in the books of Musa?
37
And of Ibrahim 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 his striving will soon come in sight;
41
Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;
42
That to your Lord is the final goal;
43
That it is he who grants laughter and tears;
44
That it is he who grants death and life;
45
That he created in pairs, male and female,
46
From a seed when lodged;
47
That he has promised a second creation;
48
That it is he who gives wealth and satisfaction;
49
That he is the Lord of Sirius;
50
And that it is he who destroyed the ancient people of Aad,
51
And Thamud, nor gave them a lease of perpetual life.
52
And before them, the people of Nuh, for that
they were most unjust and insolent transgressors,
53
And he destroyed the overthrown cities,
54
So that have been covered up.
55
Then which of the gifts of your Lord will you dispute about?
56
This is a warner, like the warners of old!
57
The ever approaching draws near.
58
None but Allah can lay it bare.
59
Do you then wonder at this recital?
60
And will you laugh and not weep,
61
Wasting your time in vanities?
62
But fall down in prostration to Allah, and adore him!
[1] No angel can intercede for men before Allah. Al-Kitab identifies only one person as having the power of intercession--Prophet 'Isa al-Masih. The Taurat says prophetically that 'Isa "bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors" (Shaya 53:12). The Injil plainly teaches that 'Isa "is also able to save completely those who draw near to Allah through him, seeing he lives forever to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).