The Stars

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

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

bis'mi l-lahi l-raḥmāni l-raḥīm

As the stars fell away.

وَٱلنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ

wal-najmi idhā haw

Your friend (Muhammad) was not astray, nor was he deceived.

مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ

mā ḍalla ṣāḥibukum wamā ghaw

Nor was he speaking out of a personal desire.

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ

wamā yanṭiqu ʿani l-haw

It was divine inspiration.

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْىٌ يُوحَىٰ

in huwa illā waḥyun yūḥ

Dictated by the Most Powerful.

عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلْقُوَىٰ

ilmahu sheedun alqawi

Possessor of all authority. From His highest height.

ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَٱسْتَوَىٰ

dhū mirratin fa-is'taw

At the highest horizon.

وَهُوَ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

wahuwa bil-ufuqi l-aʿl

He drew nearer by moving down.

ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ

thumma danā fatadall

Until He became as close as possible.

فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ

fakāna qāba qawsayni aw adn

He then revealed to His servant what was to be revealed.

فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦ مَآ أَوْحَىٰ

fa-awḥā ilā ʿabdihi mā awḥ

The mind never made up what it saw.

مَا كَذَبَ ٱلْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ

mā kadhaba l-fuādu mā ra

Are you doubting what he saw?

أَفَتُمَٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ

afatumārūnahu ʿalā mā yar

He saw him in another descent.

وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ

walaqad raāhu nazlatan ukh'r

At the ultimate point.

عِندَ سِدْرَةِ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ

enda widratin almutenaaha

Where the eternal Paradise is located.

عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰٓ

endahaa jannatun almaawa

The whole place was overwhelmed.

إِذْ يَغْشَى ٱلسِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ

idh yaghshā l-sid'rata mā yaghsh

The eyes did not waver, nor go blind.

مَا زَاغَ ٱلْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

mā zāgha l-baṣaru wamā ṭagh

He saw great signs of his Lord.

لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ

laqad raā min āyāti rabbihi l-kub'r

Compare this with the female idols Allaat and Al-'Uzzah.

أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱللَّٰتَ وَٱلْعُزَّىٰ

afara-aytumu l-lāta wal-ʿuz

And Manaat, the third one.

وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰٓ

wamanata l-thālithata l-ukh'r

Do you have sons, while He has these as daughters?

أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلْأُنثَىٰ

alakumu l-dhakaru walahu l-unth

What a disgraceful distribution!

تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَىٰٓ

til'ka idhan qis'matun ḍīz

These are but names that you made up, you and your forefathers. GOD never authorized such a blasphemy. They follow conjecture, and personal desire, when the true guidance has come to them herein from their Lord.

إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَٰنٍ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى ٱلْأَنفُسُ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ

in hiya illā asmāon sammaytumūhā antum waābāukum mā anzala l-lahu bihā min sul'ṭānin in yattabiʿūna illā l-ẓana wamā tahwā l-anfusu walaqad jāahum min rabbihimu l-hud

What is it that the human being desires?

أَمْ لِلْإِنسَٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ

am lil'insāni mā tamann

To GOD belongs both the Hereafter, and this world.

فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْءَاخِرَةُ وَٱلْأُولَىٰ

falillahi l-ākhiratu wal-ūl

Not even the angels in heaven possess authority to intercede. The only ones permitted by GOD are those who act in accordance with His will and His approval.

وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغْنِى شَفَٰعَتُهُمْ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَن يَأْذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرْضَىٰٓ

wakam min malakin fī l-samāwāti lā tugh'nī shafāʿatuhum shayan illā min baʿdi an yadhana l-lahu liman yashāu wayarḍ

Those who disbelieve in the Hereafter have given the angels feminine names.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ تَسْمِيَةَ ٱلْأُنثَىٰ

inna alladhīna lā yu'minūna bil-ākhirati layusammūna l-malāikata tasmiyata l-unth

They had no knowledge about this; they only conjectured. Conjecture is no substitute for the truth.

وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِى مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ شَيْـًٔا

wamā lahum bihi min ʿil'min in yattabiʿūna illā l-ẓana wa-inna l-ẓana lā yugh'nī mina l-ḥaqi shaya

You shall disregard those who turn away from our message, and become preoccupied with this worldly life.

فَأَعْرِضْ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا

fa-aʿriḍ ʿan man tawallā ʿan dhik'rinā walam yurid illā l-ḥayata l-dun'y

This is the extent of their knowledge. Your Lord is fully aware of those who strayed away from His path, and He is fully aware of those who are guided.

ذَٰلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ

dhālika mablaghuhum mina l-ʿil'mi inna rabbaka huwa aʿlamu biman ḍalla ʿan sabīlihi wahuwa aʿlamu bimani ih'tad

To GOD belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. He will requite those who commit evil for their works, and will reward the righteous for their righteousness.

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَٰٓـُٔوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ بِٱلْحُسْنَى

walillahi mā fī l-samāwāti wamā fī l-arḍi liyajziya alladhīna asāū bimā ʿamilū wayajziya alladhīna aḥsanū bil-ḥus'n

They avoid gross sins and transgressions, except for minor offenses. Your Lord's forgiveness is immense. He has been fully aware of you since He initiated you from the earth, and while you were embryos in your mothers' bellies. Therefore, do not exalt yourselves; He is fully aware of the righteous.

ٱلَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَٰٓئِرَ ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٰسِعُ ٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمْ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

alladhīna yajtanibūna kabāira l-ith'mi wal-fawāḥisha illā l-lamama inna rabbaka wāsiʿu l-maghfirati huwa aʿlamu bikum idh ansha-akum mina l-arḍi wa-idh antum ajinnatun fī buṭūni ummahātikum falā tuzakkū anfusakum huwa aʿlamu bimani ittaq

Have you noted the one who turned away?

أَفَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ

afara-ayta alladhī tawall

Rarely did he give to charity, and then very little.

وَأَعْطَىٰ قَلِيلًا وَأَكْدَىٰٓ

wa-aʿṭā qalīlan wa-akd

Did he possess knowledge of the future? Could he see it?

أَعِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ

aʿindahu ʿil'mu l-ghaybi fahuwa yar

Was he not informed of the teachings in the scripture of Moses?

أَمْ لَمْ يُنَبَّأْ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ

am lam yunabba bimā fī ṣuḥufi mūs

And Abraham who fulfilled?

وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ

wa-ib'rāhīma alladhī waff

No soul bears the sins of another soul.

أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ

allā taziru wāziratun wiz'ra ukh'r

Every human being is responsible for his own works.

وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

wa-an laysa lil'insāni illā mā saʿ

And everyone's works will be shown.

وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُۥ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ

wa-anna saʿyahu sawfa yur

Then they will be paid fully for such works.

ثُمَّ يُجْزَىٰهُ ٱلْجَزَآءَ ٱلْأَوْفَىٰ

thumma yuj'zāhu l-jazāa l-awf

To your Lord is the final destiny.

وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ

wa-anna ilā rabbika l-muntah

He is the One who makes you laugh or cry.

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ

wa-annahu huwa aḍḥaka wa-abk

He is the One who controls death and life.

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا

wa-annahu huwa amāta wa-aḥy

He is the One who created the two kinds, male and female—

وَأَنَّهُۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوْجَيْنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلْأُنثَىٰ

wa-annahu khalaqa l-zawjayni l-dhakara wal-unth

from a tiny drop of semen.

مِن نُّطْفَةٍ إِذَا تُمْنَىٰ

min nuṭ'fatin idhā tum'n

He will effect the recreation.

وَأَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰ

wa-anna ʿalayhi l-nashata l-ukh'r

He is the One who makes you rich or poor.

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغْنَىٰ وَأَقْنَىٰ

wa-annahu huwa aghnā wa-aqn

He is the Lord of the galaxies.

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعْرَىٰ

wa-annahu huwa rabbu l-shiʿ'r

He is the One who annihilated ancient 'Ãd.

وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهْلَكَ عَادًا ٱلْأُولَىٰ

wa-annahu ahlaka ʿādan l-ūl

And wiped out Thamûd.

وَثَمُودَا۟ فَمَآ أَبْقَىٰ

wathamūdā famā abq

Also the people of Noah before that; they were evil transgressors.

وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ هُمْ أَظْلَمَ وَأَطْغَىٰ

waqawma nūḥin min qablu innahum kānū hum aẓlama wa-aṭgh

The evil communities (of Sodom and Gomorrah) were the lowliest.

وَٱلْمُؤْتَفِكَةَ أَهْوَىٰ

wal-mu'tafikata ahw

Consequently, they utterly vanished.

فَغَشَّىٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ

faghashāhā mā ghash

Which of your Lord's marvels can you deny?

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

fabi-ayyi ālāi rabbika tatamār

This is a warning like the older ones.

هَٰذَا نَذِيرٌ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلْأُولَىٰٓ

hādhā nadhīrun mina l-nudhuri l-ūl

The inevitable is imminent.

أَزِفَتِ ٱلْءَازِفَةُ

azifati l-āzifat

None besides GOD can relieve it.

لَيْسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ

laysa lahā min dūni l-lahi kāshifatu

Are you questioning this matter?

أَفَمِنْ هَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ

afamin hādhā l-ḥadīthi taʿjabūn

Are you laughing, instead of crying?

وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ

wataḍḥakūna walā tabkūn

Are you insisting on your ways?

وَأَنتُمْ سَٰمِدُونَ

wa-antum sāmidūn

You shall fall prostrate before GOD, and worship.

فَٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟

fa-us'judū lillahi wa-uʿ'bud