Surah An-Najm

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1. 53:1 ▶

   وَٱلنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ ﴿١﴾

   wan-najmi 'idhā hawā

   By the star when it descends,

2. 53:2 ▶

   مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ ﴿٢﴾

   mā ḍalla ṣāḥibukum wamā ghawā

   Your companion [i.e., Muḥammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred,

3. 53:3 ▶

   وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ ﴿٣﴾

   wamā yanṭiqu ʿani l-hawā

   Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination.

4. 53:4 ▶

   إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْىٌ يُوحَىٰ ﴿٤﴾

   in huwa 'illā waḥyuy yūḥā

   It is not but a revelation revealed,

5. 53:5 ▶

   عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلْقُوَىٰ ﴿٥﴾

   ʿallamahū shadīdu l-quwā

   Taught to him by one intense in strength [i.e., Gabriel] -

6. 53:6 ▶

   ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَٱسْتَوَىٰ ﴿٦﴾

   dhū mirratin fastawā

   One of soundness. And he rose to [his] true form

   i.e., strength of body and of mind.

   Gabriel appeared to Muḥammad (ﷺ) at the outset of his prophethood in the angelic form in which Allāh originally created him.

7. 53:7 ▶

   وَهُوَ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ ﴿٧﴾

   wahuwa bil-ufuqi l-aʿlā

   While he was in the higher [part of the] horizon.

   i.e., in the sky, above the eastern horizon.

8. 53:8 ▶

   ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ ﴿٨﴾

   thumma danā fatadallā

   Then he approached and descended

9. 53:9 ▶

   فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ ﴿٩﴾

   fakāna qāba qawsayni 'aw 'adnā

   And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer.

10. 53:10 ▶

    فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦ مَآ أَوْحَىٰ ﴿١٠﴾

    fa'awḥā 'ilā ʿabdihī mā 'awḥā

    And he revealed to His Servant what he revealed [i.e., conveyed].

    i.e., to the Servant of Allāh, Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ).

11. 53:11 ▶

    مَا كَذَبَ ٱلْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ ﴿١١﴾

    mā kadhaba l-fu'ādu mā ra'ā

    The heart did not lie [about] what it saw.

    i.e., mind or perception (of the Prophet [ﷺ]).

12. 53:12 ▶

    أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ ﴿١٢﴾

    afatumārūnahū ʿalā mā yarā

    So will you dispute with him over what he saw?

13. 53:13 ▶

    وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ ﴿١٣﴾

    walaqad ra'āhu nazlatan 'ukhrā

    And he certainly saw him in another descent

    i.e., on another occasion. During his ascent into the heavens (al-Miʿrāj), the Prophet (ﷺ) also saw Gabriel in his true form.

14. 53:14 ▶

    عِندَ سِدْرَةِ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ ﴿١٤﴾

    ʿinda sidrati l-muntahā

    At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary -

15. 53:15 ▶

    عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰٓ ﴿١٥﴾

    ʿindahā jannatu l-ma'wā

    Near it is the Garden of Refuge [i.e., Paradise] -

16. 53:16 ▶

    إِذْ يَغْشَى ٱلسِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ ﴿١٦﴾

    idh yaghsha s-sidrata mā yaghshā

    When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it].

    Then and there he (ﷺ) saw Gabriel in angelic form.

17. 53:17 ▶

    مَا زَاغَ ٱلْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ ﴿١٧﴾

    mā zāgha l-baṣaru wamā ṭaghā

    The sight [of the Prophet (ﷺ)] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit].

18. 53:18 ▶

    لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ ﴿١٨﴾

    laqad ra'ā min 'āyāti rabbihi l-kubrā

    He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.

19. 53:19 ▶

    أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلْعُزَّىٰ ﴿١٩﴾

    afara'aytumu llāta wal-ʿuzzā

    So have you considered al-Lāt and al-ʿUzzā?

20. 53:20 ▶

    وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰٓ ﴿٢٠﴾

    wamanāta th-thālithata l-ukhrā

    And Manāt, the third - the other one?

    The three names given in this and the previous verse are those of well-known "goddesses" which were worshipped by the pagan Arabs before the spread of Islām.

21. 53:21 ▶

    أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلْأُنثَىٰ ﴿٢١﴾

    alakumu dh-dhakaru walahu l-unthā

    Is the male for you and for Him the female?

22. 53:22 ▶

    تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَىٰٓ ﴿٢٢﴾

    tilka 'idhan qismatun ḍīzā

    That, then, is an unjust division.

    According to their own standards.

23. 53:23 ▶

    إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى ٱلْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ ﴿٢٣﴾

    in hiya 'illā 'asmā'un sammaytumūhā 'antum wa'ābā'ukum mā 'anzala llāhu bihā min sulṭān | iy yattabiʿūna 'illa ẓ-ẓanna wamā tahwa l-anfus | walaqad jā'ahum mir rabbihimu l-hudā

    They are not but [mere] names you have named them - you and your forefathers - for which Allāh has sent down no authority. They follow not except assumption and what [their] souls desire, and there has already come to them from their Lord guidance.

24. 53:24 ▶

    أَمْ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ ﴿٢٤﴾

    am lil-insāni mā tamannā

    Or is there for man whatever he wishes?

25. 53:25 ▶

    فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ وَٱلْأُولَىٰ ﴿٢٥﴾

    falillāhi l-ākhiratu wal-ūlā

    Rather, to Allāh belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].

26. 53:26 ▶

    ۞ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغْنِى شَفَـٰعَتُهُمْ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَن يَأْذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرْضَىٰٓ ﴿٢٦﴾

    wakam mim malakin fi s-samāwāti lā tughnī shafāʿatuhum shay'an 'illā mim baʿdi 'ay ya'dhana llāhu limay yashā'u wayarḍā

    And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail at all except [only] after Allāh has permitted [it] to whom He wills and approves.

27. 53:27 ▶

    إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ تَسْمِيَةَ ٱلْأُنثَىٰ ﴿٢٧﴾

    inna lladhīna lā yu'minūna bil-ākhirati layusammūna l-malā'ikata tasmiyata l-unthā

    Indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter name the angels female names,

28. 53:28 ▶

    وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ ۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِى مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ شَيْـًٔا ﴿٢٨﴾

    wamā lahum bihī min ʿilm | iy yattabiʿūna 'illa ẓ-ẓann | wa'inna ẓ-ẓanna lā yughnī mina l-ḥaqqi shay'ā

    And they have thereof no knowledge. They follow not except assumption, and indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all.

29. 53:29 ▶

    فَأَعْرِضْ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا ﴿٢٩﴾

    fa'aʿriḍ ʿam man tawallā ʿan dhikrinā walam yurid 'illa l-ḥayāta d-dunyā

    So turn away from whoever turns his back on Our message and desires not except the worldly life.

30. 53:30 ▶

    ذَٰلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ ﴿٣٠﴾

    dhālika mablaghuhum mina l-ʿilm | inna rabbaka huwa 'aʿlamu biman ḍalla ʿan sabīlihī wahuwa 'aʿlamu bimani htadā

    That is their sum of knowledge. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who strays from His way, and He is most knowing of who is guided.

31. 53:31 ▶

    وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ بِٱلْحُسْنَى ﴿٣١﴾

    walillāhi mā fi s-samāwāti wamā fi l-arḍi liyajziya lladhīna 'asā'ū bimā ʿamilū wayajziya lladhīna 'aḥsanū bil-ḥusnā

    And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth - that He may recompense those who do evil with [the penalty of] what they have done and recompense those who do good with the best [reward] -

32. 53:32 ▶

    ٱلَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓئِرَ ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٰسِعُ ٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ ﴿٣٢﴾

    alladhīna yajtanibūna kabā'ira l-ithmi wal-fawāḥisha 'illa llamama 'inna rabbaka wāsiʿu l-maghfirah | huwa 'aʿlamu bikum 'idh 'ansha'akum mina l-arḍi wa'idh 'antum 'ajinnatun fī buṭūni 'ummahātikum | falā tuzakkū 'anfusakum | huwa 'aʿlamu bimani ttaqā

    Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only [committing] slight ones. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He was most knowing of you when He produced you from the earth and when you were fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.

33. 53:33 ▶

    أَفَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ ﴿٣٣﴾

    afara'ayta lladhī tawallā

    Have you seen the one who turned away

34. 53:34 ▶

    وَأَعْطَىٰ قَلِيلًا وَأَكْدَىٰٓ ﴿٣٤﴾

    wa'aʿṭā qalīlaw wa'akdā

    And gave a little and [then] refrained?

35. 53:35 ▶

    أَعِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ ﴿٣٥﴾

    aʿindahū ʿilmu l-ghaybi fahuwa yarā

    Does he have knowledge of the unseen, so he sees?

    Knows that his provision will be exhausted if he spends on the poor, while Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) has promised otherwise.

36. 53:36 ▶

    أَمْ لَمْ يُنَبَّأْ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ ﴿٣٦﴾

    am lam yunabba' bimā fī ṣuḥufi mūsā

    Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Moses

37. 53:37 ▶

    وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ ﴿٣٧﴾

    wa'ibrāhīma lladhī waffā

    And [of] Abraham, who fulfilled [his obligations] -

38. 53:38 ▶

    أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ﴿٣٨﴾

    allā taziru wāziratuw wizra 'ukhrā

    That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another

39. 53:39 ▶

    وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ ﴿٣٩﴾

    wa'al laysa lil-insāni 'illā mā saʿā

    And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives

40. 53:40 ▶

    وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُۥ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ ﴿٤٠﴾

    wa'anna saʿyahū sawfa yurā

    And that his effort is going to be seen -

41. 53:41 ▶

    ثُمَّ يُجْزَىٰهُ ٱلْجَزَآءَ ٱلْأَوْفَىٰ ﴿٤١﴾

    thumma yujzāhu l-jazā'a l-awfā

    Then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense -

42. 53:42 ▶

    وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ ﴿٤٢﴾

    wa'anna 'ilā rabbika l-muntahā

    And that to your Lord is the finality

43. 53:43 ▶

    وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ ﴿٤٣﴾

    wa'annahū huwa 'aḍḥaka wa'abkā

    And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep

44. 53:44 ▶

    وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا ﴿٤٤﴾

    wa'annahū huwa 'amāta wa'aḥyā

    And that it is He who causes death and gives life

45. 53:45 ▶

    وَأَنَّهُۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوْجَيْنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلْأُنثَىٰ ﴿٤٥﴾

    wa'annahū khalaqa z-zawjayni dh-dhakara wal-unthā

    And that He creates the two mates - the male and female -

46. 53:46 ▶

    مِن نُّطْفَةٍ إِذَا تُمْنَىٰ ﴿٤٦﴾

    min nuṭfatin 'idhā tumnā

    From a sperm-drop when it is emitted

47. 53:47 ▶

    وَأَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰ ﴿٤٧﴾

    wa'anna ʿalayhi n-nash'ata l-ukhrā

    And that [incumbent] upon Him is the other [i.e., next] creation.

48. 53:48 ▶

    وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغْنَىٰ وَأَقْنَىٰ ﴿٤٨﴾

    wa'annahū huwa 'aghnā wa'aqnā

    And that it is He who enriches and suffices

49. 53:49 ▶

    وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعْرَىٰ ﴿٤٩﴾

    wa'annahū huwa rabbu sh-shiʿrā

    And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius

    A star worshipped by some of the pagan Arabs.

50. 53:50 ▶

    وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهْلَكَ عَادًا ٱلْأُولَىٰ ﴿٥٠﴾

    wa'annahū 'ahlaka ʿādani l-ūlā

    And that He destroyed the first [people of] ʿAad

51. 53:51 ▶

    وَثَمُودَا۟ فَمَآ أَبْقَىٰ ﴿٥١﴾

    wathamūda famā 'abqā

    And Thamūd - and He did not spare [them] -

52. 53:52 ▶

    وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ هُمْ أَظْلَمَ وَأَطْغَىٰ ﴿٥٢﴾

    waqawma nūḥim min qabl | innahum kānū hum 'aẓlama wa'aṭghā

    And the people of Noah before. Indeed, it was they who were [even] more unjust and oppressing.

53. 53:53 ▶

    وَٱلْمُؤْتَفِكَةَ أَهْوَىٰ ﴿٥٣﴾

    wal-mu'tafikata 'ahwā

    And the overturned towns He hurled down

    Whose inhabitants defied Prophet Lot.

54. 53:54 ▶

    فَغَشَّىٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ ﴿٥٤﴾

    faghashshāhā mā ghashshā

    And covered them by that which He covered.

    i.e., a rain of stones.

55. 53:55 ▶

    فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ ﴿٥٥﴾

    fabi'ayyi 'ālā'i rabbika tatamārā

    Then which of the favors of your Lord do you doubt?

56. 53:56 ▶

    هَـٰذَا نَذِيرٌ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلْأُولَىٰٓ ﴿٥٦﴾

    hādhā nadhīrum mina n-nudhuri l-ūlā

    This [Prophet (ﷺ)] is a warner from [i.e., like] the former warners.

57. 53:57 ▶

    أَزِفَتِ ٱلْـَٔازِفَةُ ﴿٥٧﴾

    azifati l-āzifah

    The Approaching Day has approached.

58. 53:58 ▶

    لَيْسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ ﴿٥٨﴾

    laysa lahā min dūni llāhi kāshifah

    Of it, [from those] besides Allāh, there is no remover.

59. 53:59 ▶

    أَفَمِنْ هَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ ﴿٥٩﴾

    afamin hādha l-ḥadīthi taʿjabūn

    Then at this statement do you wonder?

60. 53:60 ▶

    وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ ﴿٦٠﴾

    wataḍḥakūna walā tabkūn

    And you laugh and do not weep

61. 53:61 ▶

    وَأَنتُمْ سَـٰمِدُونَ ﴿٦١﴾

    wa'antum sāmidūn

    While you are proudly sporting?

    Additional meanings are "singing [with expanded chest]," "heedless," or "lost in vain amusements."

62. 53:62 ▶

    فَٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ۩ ﴿٦٢﴾

    fasjudū lillāhi waʿbudū

    So prostrate to Allāh and worship [Him].

In the transliteration, “|”: the reciter stops; “·”: sakt, a brief cut without taking a breath.