Surah An-Najm - English Translation by Dr Laleh Bakhtiar
وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ
By the star when it hurled to ruin
Surah An-Najm, Verse 1
مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ
neither your companion went astray, nor he erred
Surah An-Najm, Verse 2
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ
nor speaks he for himself out of desire
Surah An-Najm, Verse 3
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡيٞ يُوحَىٰ
It is but a revelation that is revealed
Surah An-Najm, Verse 4
عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ
taught to him by The One Stronger in Strength
Surah An-Najm, Verse 5
ذُو مِرَّةٖ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ
Possessor of Forcefulness. Then, he stood poised
Surah An-Najm, Verse 6
وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ
while he was on the loftiest horizon
Surah An-Najm, Verse 7
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ
Again, he came to pass near and hung suspended
Surah An-Najm, Verse 8
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ
until he had been at a distance of two bow lengths or closer
Surah An-Najm, Verse 9
فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ
Then, He revealed to His servant what He revealed
Surah An-Najm, Verse 10
مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ
The mind lied not against what it saw
Surah An-Najm, Verse 11
أَفَتُمَٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ
Will you altercate with him about what he sees
Surah An-Najm, Verse 12
وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ
And, certainly, he saw it another time
Surah An-Najm, Verse 13
عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ
near the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary
Surah An-Najm, Verse 14
عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ
near which is the Garden of the Place of Shelter
Surah An-Najm, Verse 15
إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ
when overcomes the Lote Tree what overcomes it
Surah An-Najm, Verse 16
مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ
The sight swerved not, nor was it defiant
Surah An-Najm, Verse 17
لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ
Certainly, he saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord
Surah An-Najm, Verse 18
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ
Saw you, then, al-Lat and al-Uzza
Surah An-Najm, Verse 19
وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ
and Manat, the third, the other
Surah An-Najm, Verse 20
أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ
Have you males and has He, females
Surah An-Najm, Verse 21
تِلۡكَ إِذٗا قِسۡمَةٞ ضِيزَىٰٓ
That, then, is an unfair division
Surah An-Najm, Verse 22
إِنۡ هِيَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٞ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلۡطَٰنٍۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ
They are but names that you named, you and your fathers, for which God caused not to descend any authority. They follow nothing but opinion and that for which their souls yearn. And, certainly, drew near them the guidance from their Lord
Surah An-Najm, Verse 23
أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ
Or will the human being have what he coveted
Surah An-Najm, Verse 24
فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ
Then, to God belongs the Last and the First
Surah An-Najm, Verse 25
۞وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٖ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغۡنِي شَفَٰعَتُهُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ
And how many an angel in the heavens is there whose intercession will avail nothing at all, but after God gives permission to whom He wills and He is well-pleased
Surah An-Najm, Verse 26
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ
Truly, those who believe not in the world to come naming the angels with female names
Surah An-Najm, Verse 27
وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغۡنِي مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ شَيۡـٔٗا
while they have no knowledge of it, they follow nothing but opinion. And, truly, opinion avails them not at all against The Truth
Surah An-Najm, Verse 28
فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا
So turn thou aside from him who turns away from Our Remembrance and he wants nothing but this present life
Surah An-Najm, Verse 29
ذَٰلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ
That is their attainment of the knowledge. Truly, thy Lord, He is the One Who is greater in knowledge of whoever went astray from His way. And He is greater in knowledge of whoever were truly guided
Surah An-Najm, Verse 30
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔواْ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَى
And to God belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in and on the earth that He may give recompense to those who did evil for what they did and give recompense fairer to those who did good
Surah An-Najm, Verse 31
ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓئِرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٰسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِۚ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٞ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمۡۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ
those who avoid the major sins and the indecencies but the lesser offenses. Truly, thy Lord is One Who is Extensive in forgiveness. He is greater in knowledge of you when He caused you to grow from the earth and when you were an unborn child in the wombs of your mothers. So you make not pure yourselves. He is greater in knowledge of him who was Godfearing
Surah An-Najm, Verse 32
أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ
Hadst thou considered him who turned away
Surah An-Najm, Verse 33
وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلٗا وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ
and gave a little, giving grudgingly
Surah An-Najm, Verse 34
أَعِندَهُۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ
Is the knowledge of the unseen with him so that he sees it
Surah An-Najm, Verse 35
أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ
Or is he told what is in the scrolls of Moses
Surah An-Najm, Verse 36
وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِي وَفَّىٰٓ
and of Abraham who paid his account in full
Surah An-Najm, Verse 37
أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٞ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ
The burdened soul will not bear the heavy load of another
Surah An-Najm, Verse 38
وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ
The human being is not but what he endeavored for
Surah An-Najm, Verse 39
وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ
and that his endeavoring will be seen
Surah An-Najm, Verse 40
ثُمَّ يُجۡزَىٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ
Again, he will be given recompense for it with a more true recompense
Surah An-Najm, Verse 41
وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ
and that towards thy Lord is the Utmost Boundary
Surah An-Najm, Verse 42
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ
and that He caused laughter and caused weeping
Surah An-Najm, Verse 43
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا
and that He caused to die and gave life
Surah An-Najm, Verse 44
وَأَنَّهُۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ
and it is He, He created the pairs, the male and the female
Surah An-Najm, Verse 45
مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ
from seminal fluid when it is emitted
Surah An-Najm, Verse 46
وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ
and that with Him is another growth
Surah An-Najm, Verse 47
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ
and it is He, He Who Enriched and made rich
Surah An-Najm, Verse 48
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ
and that He, He is the Lord of Sirius
Surah An-Najm, Verse 49
وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ
and that He caused to perish the previous Ad
Surah An-Najm, Verse 50
وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ
and Thamud. He caused none to remain
Surah An-Najm, Verse 51
وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٖ مِّن قَبۡلُۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ
—and the folk of Noah before. Truly, they had been they who do greater wrong and ones who are defiant
Surah An-Najm, Verse 52
وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ
He caused to tumble that which are cities overthrown
Surah An-Najm, Verse 53
فَغَشَّىٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ
then, enwrapped them with what enwrapped
Surah An-Najm, Verse 54
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ
Then, which of the benefits of thy Lord wilt thou quarrel with
Surah An-Najm, Verse 55
هَٰذَا نَذِيرٞ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ
This is a warner among the previous warnings
Surah An-Najm, Verse 56
أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأٓزِفَةُ
The Impending Day is impending
Surah An-Najm, Verse 57
لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ
There is not other than God, One Who Uncovers it
Surah An-Najm, Verse 58
أَفَمِنۡ هَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ
Then, at this discourse you marvel
Surah An-Najm, Verse 59
وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ
And will you laugh and not weep
Surah An-Najm, Verse 60
وَأَنتُمۡ سَٰمِدُونَ
while you are ones who pass life in enjoyment
Surah An-Najm, Verse 61
فَٱسۡجُدُواْۤ لِلَّهِۤ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ۩
So prostrate yourselves to God and worship Him.‡
Surah An-Najm, Verse 62