Surah An-Najm - English Translation by Shabbir Ahmed

وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ

Witness are the Stars that set along a course appointed. (They never misguide you. He Who commands them, commands the Messenger (6:98), (56:75). 'Wa' = And = Consider = Witness = For = By. 'Najm' is singular as well as plural in the form of a galaxy
Surah An-Najm, Verse 1

مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ

Your honored companion is neither in error, nor is he misled
Surah An-Najm, Verse 2

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

Nor does he utter the Word out of his desire
Surah An-Najm, Verse 3

إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡيٞ يُوحَىٰ

This (Qur'an) is but a Revelation that is being revealed to him
Surah An-Najm, Verse 4

عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ

He has been taught by the One Mighty in Powers
Surah An-Najm, Verse 5

ذُو مِرَّةٖ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ

The Owner of Authority and Wisdom established him (the Prophet)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 6

وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ

At the highest horizon
Surah An-Najm, Verse 7

ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ

Of human wisdom and knowledge as he drew near and approached (the point where the human intellect comes to a halt)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 8

فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ

Till he was but two bow-lengths away, or even closer. (The Divine Will and the will of the Messenger merged together, like the two of you join your bows as a bond of friendship)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 9

فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ

And thus He revealed to His servant what He revealed
Surah An-Najm, Verse 10

مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ

And never did he find contrary to reason what he learned. ((2:285), (6:164). 'Raa' = Saw, learned, observed, took to heart
Surah An-Najm, Verse 11

أَفَتُمَٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ

Will you, then, contend with him concerning what he learned (and you have not)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 12

وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ

And indeed, he learned it again and yet again
Surah An-Najm, Verse 13

عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ

At the Ultimate Mark ('Sidratil muntaha' = The last Lote-tree = The point where the human intellect is left with nothing but astonishment)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 14

عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ

Near unto the Garden of Abode. (The Revelation tells the Messenger how to establish a paradise on earth)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 15

إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

Overwhelming is the spectacle at the overwhelming Ultimate Mark
Surah An-Najm, Verse 16

مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

Yet, his sight wavered not and wandered not
Surah An-Najm, Verse 17

لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

And indeed, he has seen the great Signs of his Lord. (The shackles of mental and physical bondage will be broken and humanity will come from darkness to Light (7:157), (17:1)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 18

أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ

Have you seen and thought about Lat, and Uzza
Surah An-Najm, Verse 19

وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ

And Manat, the third other? (All three goddesses of yours)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 20

أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ

Why - for yourselves you would prefer only sons, whereas to Him you assign daughters
Surah An-Najm, Verse 21

تِلۡكَ إِذٗا قِسۡمَةٞ ضِيزَىٰٓ

Behold, this indeed is an unfair division. (You worship female idols and resent having daughters)
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 have named, you and your fathers, for which Allah has revealed no authority. They follow nothing but conjecture and their own fancies. But now the Guidance from their Lord has come to them
Surah An-Najm, Verse 23

أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ

Nay, should man get all that he covets and fancies
Surah An-Najm, Verse 24

فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ

Even though unto Allah belong the later life and the former. (His are the Keys of the heavens and the earth (7:96), (28:77), (39:63), (41)
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 forces are in the Universe whose company avails not except whom Allah permits. This is so, because such a person works by His Laws and thus obtains His Approval. (Science can only be mastered by understanding the physical laws in Nature)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 26

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ

Behold, it is only those who do not believe in the life to come that consider 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 do not learn the Law of Cause and Effect, they can follow nothing but guesswork. And behold, guesswork can never take the place of Truth
Surah An-Najm, Verse 28

فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا

Therefore, avoid him who turns away from Our Reminder and cares for no more than (the dogmas prevalent in) the life at hand
Surah An-Najm, Verse 29

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

Such is the sum-total of their knowledge. Behold, your Lord knows best who strays from His Way, and He best knows who goes right
Surah An-Najm, Verse 30

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔواْ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَى

And unto Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. (He has designed the Universe such that no action goes without a consequence). That He may requite those who destabilized lives, with their own deeds, and reward with goodness those who benefited humanity. (
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 abstain from the greater transgressions that deplete the communal energy, and from shameful deeds and stinginess, even though they may sometimes waver, behold, your Lord is Immense in absolving their imperfections. He knows you best since He brings you into being from the earth, and when you were still hidden in the bellies of your mothers? Therefore, claim not piety for yourselves. He knows best as to who walks aright
Surah An-Najm, Verse 32

أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ

Have you, then, noticed him who turns away
Surah An-Najm, Verse 33

وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلٗا وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ

And gives so little of himself, yet with a heavy heart
Surah An-Najm, Verse 34

أَعِندَهُۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ

What! Does he have the knowledge of the innermost psyche that he sees unfolded before him
Surah An-Najm, Verse 35

أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ

Nay, did he never hear of what was in the Scrolls of Moses
Surah An-Najm, Verse 36

وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِي وَفَّىٰٓ

And of Abraham who fulfilled his obligations
Surah An-Najm, Verse 37

أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٞ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

i That no laden one shall bear the load of another
Surah An-Najm, Verse 38

وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

ii And that every human being shall be responsible for, and compensated for, his labor
Surah An-Najm, Verse 39

وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

iii And that his effort (and not the outcome) will be seen
Surah An-Najm, Verse 40

ثُمَّ يُجۡزَىٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

iv And then he will be given the full wage
Surah An-Najm, Verse 41

وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ

v And that to your Lord is the final destination. (Your goal shall be the Lord's Rule on earth)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 42

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ

vi And that He it is Who makes laugh, and makes weep. (Nations that establish His Rule will have inner happiness, whereas the others will be in misery)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 43

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا

vii And that He it is Who gives death and gives life. (The rise and fall of nations follow His Laws)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 44

وَأَنَّهُۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ

viii And that He it is Who creates the two companions, the male and the female (pairs and opposites among His creation)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 45

مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ

From gametes that unite
Surah An-Najm, Verse 46

وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ

ix And that He has promised to bring about a second life (the ultimate accountability)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 47

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

x And that He it is Who gives wealth and contentment. (Only His Laws can bestow true prosperity)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 48

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ

xi And that He it is Who is the Lord of the brightest star, the human intellect
Surah An-Najm, Verse 49

وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ

xii And that He it is Who annihilated the former tribe of Aad. (They were men of intellect but refused to establish the Divine System (7:65). A wrong system, however smartly run, is bound to collapse
Surah An-Najm, Verse 50

وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ

And the tribe of Thamud, sparing no one
Surah An-Najm, Verse 51

وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٖ مِّن قَبۡلُۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ

And the people of Noah before them. Behold, they were even more unjust and more rebellious
Surah An-Najm, Verse 52

وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ

And His Law of Requital annihilated the cities such that they were overthrown
Surah An-Najm, Verse 53

فَغَشَّىٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ

So that there covered each of them what covered them. (Sodom and Gomorrah buried under the Dead Sea. Also applies to other townships covered with Doom)
Surah An-Najm, Verse 54