Surah An-Najm - English Translation by Muhammad Asad
وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ
CONSIDER this unfolding [of God’s message], as it comes down from on high
Surah An-Najm, Verse 1
مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ
This fellow-man of yours has not gone astray, nor is he deluded
Surah An-Najm, Verse 2
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ
and neither does he speak out of his own desire
Surah An-Najm, Verse 3
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡيٞ يُوحَىٰ
that [which he conveys to you] is but [a divine] inspiration with which he is being inspired –
Surah An-Najm, Verse 4
عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ
something that a very mighty one has imparted to him
Surah An-Najm, Verse 5
ذُو مِرَّةٖ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ
[an angel] endowed with surpassing power, who in time manifested himself in his true shape and nature
Surah An-Najm, Verse 6
وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ
appearing in the horizon’s loftiest part
Surah An-Najm, Verse 7
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ
and then drew near, and came close
Surah An-Najm, Verse 8
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ
until he was but two bow-lengths away, or even nearer
Surah An-Najm, Verse 9
فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ
And thus did [God] reveal unto His servant whatever He deemed right to reveal
Surah An-Najm, Verse 10
مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ
The [servant’s] heart did not give the lie to what he saw
Surah An-Najm, Verse 11
أَفَتُمَٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ
will you, then, contend with him as to what he saw
Surah An-Najm, Verse 12
وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ
And, indeed, he saw him a second time
Surah An-Najm, Verse 13
عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ
by the lote-tree of the farthest limit
Surah An-Najm, Verse 14
عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ
near unto the garden of promise
Surah An-Najm, Verse 15
إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ
with the lote-tree veiled in a veil of nameless splendour…
Surah An-Najm, Verse 16
مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ
[And withal,] the eye did not waver, nor yet did it stray
Surah An-Najm, Verse 17
لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ
truly did he see some of the most profound of his Sustainer’s symbols
Surah An-Najm, Verse 18
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ
HAVE YOU, then, ever considered [what you are worshipping in] Al-Lat and Al-Uzza
Surah An-Najm, Verse 19
وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ
as well as [in] Manat, the third and last [of this triad]
Surah An-Najm, Verse 20
أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ
Why - for yourselves [you would choose only] male offspring, whereas to Him [you assign] female
Surah An-Najm, Verse 21
تِلۡكَ إِذٗا قِسۡمَةٞ ضِيزَىٰٓ
that, lo and behold, 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
These [allegedly divine beings] are nothing but empty names which you have invented - you and your forefathers - [and] for which God has bestowed no warrant from on high. They [who worship them] follow nothing but surmise and their own wishful thinking - although right guidance has now indeed come unto them from their Sustainer
Surah An-Najm, Verse 23
أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ
Does man imagine that it is his due to have all that he might wish for
Surah An-Najm, Verse 24
فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ
despite the fact that [both] the life to come and this present [one] belong to God [alone]
Surah An-Najm, Verse 25
۞وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٖ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغۡنِي شَفَٰعَتُهُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ
For, however many angels there be in the heavens, their intercession can be of no least avail [to anyone] - except after God has given leave [to intercede] for whomever He wills and with whom He is well-pleased
Surah An-Najm, Verse 26
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ
Behold, it is [only] such as do not [really] believe in the life to come that regard the angels as female beings
Surah An-Najm, Verse 27
وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغۡنِي مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ شَيۡـٔٗا
and [since] they have no knowledge whatever thereof, they follow nothing but surmise: yet, behold, never can surmise take the place of truth
Surah An-Najm, Verse 28
فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا
Avoid thou, therefore, those who turn away from all remembrance of Us and care for no more than the life of this world
Surah An-Najm, Verse 29
ذَٰلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ
which, to them, is the only thing worth knowing. Behold, thy Sustainer is fully aware as to who has strayed from His path, and fully aware is He as to who follows His guidance
Surah An-Najm, Verse 30
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔواْ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَى
Indeed, unto God belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth: and so He will reward those who do evil in accordance with what they did, and will reward those who do good with ultimate 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
As for those who avoid the [truly] grave sins and shameful deeds - even though they may sometimes stumble behold, thy Sustainer is abounding in forgiveness. He is fully aware of you when He brings you into being out of dust, and when you are still hidden in your mothers’ wombs: do not, then, consider yourselves pure - [for] He knows best as to who is conscious of Him
Surah An-Najm, Verse 32
أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ
HAST THOU, then, ever considered him who turns away [from remembering Us, and cares for no more than the life of this world]
Surah An-Najm, Verse 33
وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلٗا وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ
and gives so little [of himself for the good of his soul], and so grudgingly
Surah An-Najm, Verse 34
أَعِندَهُۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ
Does he [claim to] have knowledge of something that is beyond the reach of human perception, so that he can see [it clearly]
Surah An-Najm, Verse 35
أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ
Or has he never yet been told of what was [said] in the revelations of Moses
Surah An-Najm, Verse 36
وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِي وَفَّىٰٓ
and of Abraham, who to his trust was true
Surah An-Najm, Verse 37
أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٞ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ
that no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another’s burden
Surah An-Najm, Verse 38
وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ
and that nought shall be accounted unto man but what he is striving for
Surah An-Najm, Verse 39
وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ
and that in time [the nature of] all his striving will be shown [to him in its true light]
Surah An-Najm, Verse 40
ثُمَّ يُجۡزَىٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ
whereupon he shall be requited for it with the fullest requital
Surah An-Najm, Verse 41
وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ
and that with thy Sustainer is the beginning and the end [of all that exists]
Surah An-Najm, Verse 42
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ
and that it is He alone who causes [you] to laugh and to weep
Surah An-Najm, Verse 43
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا
and that it is He alone who deals death and grants life
Surah An-Najm, Verse 44
وَأَنَّهُۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ
and that it is He who creates the two kinds - the male and the female –
Surah An-Najm, Verse 45
مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ
out of a [mere] drop of sperm as it is poured forth
Surah An-Najm, Verse 46
وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ
and that [therefore] it is within His power to bring about a second life
Surah An-Najm, Verse 47
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ
and that it is He alone who frees from want and causes to possess
Surah An-Najm, Verse 48
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ
and that it is He alone who sustains the brightest star
Surah An-Najm, Verse 49
وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ
and that it is He who destroyed the ancient [tribes of] Ad
Surah An-Najm, Verse 50
وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ
and Thamud, leaving no trace [of them]
Surah An-Najm, Verse 51
وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٖ مِّن قَبۡلُۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ
as well as the people of Noah before them - [since,] verily, they all had been most willful in their evildoing and most overweening –
Surah An-Najm, Verse 52
وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ
just as He thrust into perdition those cities that were overthrown
Surah An-Najm, Verse 53
فَغَشَّىٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ
and then covered them from sight forever
Surah An-Najm, Verse 54
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ
About which, then, of thy Sustainer’s powers canst thou [still] remain in doubt
Surah An-Najm, Verse 55
هَٰذَا نَذِيرٞ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ
THIS IS a warning like those warnings of old
Surah An-Najm, Verse 56
أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأٓزِفَةُ
that [Last Hour] which is so near draws ever nearer
Surah An-Najm, Verse 57
لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ
[although] none but God can unveil it
Surah An-Najm, Verse 58
أَفَمِنۡ هَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ
Do you, perchance, find this tiding strange
Surah An-Najm, Verse 59
وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ
And do you laugh instead of weeping
Surah An-Najm, Verse 60
وَأَنتُمۡ سَٰمِدُونَ
and divert yourselves all the while
Surah An-Najm, Verse 61
فَٱسۡجُدُواْۤ لِلَّهِۤ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ۩
[Nay,] but prostrate yourselves before God, and worship [Him alone]
Surah An-Najm, Verse 62