Surah An-Najm

Verse 53:1

وَالنَّجْمِ اِذَا هَوٰی ۟ۙ

Wan-NAJMI ʹiẓaa hawaa,―

By the stars when they fade away!

Verse 53:2

مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوٰی ۟ۚ

Maa- ḍalla Ṣaaḥibukum wa-maa g̣awaa,

Your fellow man is neither misguided nor astray.

Verse 53:3

وَمَا یَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوٰی ۟ؕ

Wa-maa yañṭiq̣u ʻanil hawaa.

Nor does he speak of his own whims.

Verse 53:4

اِنْ هُوَ اِلَّا وَحْیٌ یُّوْحٰی ۟ۙ

ʹIn huwa ʹillaa Waḥyuñy yooḥaa:

It is only a revelation sent down ˹to him˺.

Verse 53:5

عَلَّمَهٗ شَدِیْدُ الْقُوٰی ۟ۙ

ʻAllamahoo Shadeedul Q̣uwaa,―

He has been taught by one ˹angel˺ of mighty power

Verse 53:6

ذُوْ مِرَّةٍ ؕ فَاسْتَوٰی ۟ۙ

Ẓoo Mirratiñ fastawaa,

and great perfection, who once rose to ˹his˺ true form

Verse 53:7

وَهُوَ بِالْاُفُقِ الْاَعْلٰی ۟ؕ

Wa-huwa bil-ʹufuq̣il ʹaʻlaa:

while on the highest point above the horizon,

Verse 53:8

ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلّٰی ۟ۙ

S̤umma danaa fatadallaa,

then he approached ˹the Prophet˺, coming so close

Verse 53:9

فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَیْنِ اَوْ اَدْنٰی ۟ۚ

Fakaana Q̣aaba q̣awsayni ʹaw ʹadnaa.

that he was only two arms-lengths away or even less.

Verse 53:10

فَاَوْحٰۤی اِلٰی عَبْدِهٖ مَاۤ اَوْحٰی ۟ؕ

Faʹawḥaaa ʹilaa ʻAbdihee maaa ʹawḥaa.

Then Allah revealed to His servant what He revealed ˹through Gabriel˺.

Verse 53:11

مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَاٰی ۟

Maa- kaẓabal fuʹaadu maa- raʹaa.

The ˹Prophet’s˺ heart did not doubt what he saw.

Verse 53:12

اَفَتُمٰرُوْنَهٗ عَلٰی مَا یَرٰی ۟

ʹAfatumaaroonahoo ʹalaa maa- yaraa?

How can you ˹O pagans˺ then dispute with him regarding what he saw?

Verse 53:13

وَلَقَدْ رَاٰهُ نَزْلَةً اُخْرٰی ۟ۙ

Wa-laq̣ad raʹaahu nazlatan ʹukhraa,

And he certainly saw that ˹angel descend˺ a second time

Verse 53:14

عِنْدَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهٰی ۟

ʻIñda Sidratil muñtahaa:

at the Lote Tree of the most extreme limit ˹in the seventh heaven˺—

Verse 53:15

عِنْدَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَاْوٰی ۟ؕ

ʻIñdahaa Jannatul Maʹwaa.

near which is the Garden of ˹Eternal˺ Residence—

Verse 53:16

اِذْ یَغْشَی السِّدْرَةَ مَا یَغْشٰی ۟ۙ

ʹIẓ yag̣shas Sidrata maa- yag̣shaa!

while the Lote Tree was overwhelmed with ˹heavenly˺ splendours!

Verse 53:17

مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغٰی ۟

Maa- zaag̣al baṣaru wa-maa ṭag̣aa!

The ˹Prophet’s˺ sight never wandered, nor did it overreach.

Verse 53:18

لَقَدْ رَاٰی مِنْ اٰیٰتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرٰی ۟

Laq̣ad raʹaa min ʹAayaati Rabbihil Kubraa!

He certainly saw some of his Lord’s greatest signs.

Verse 53:19

اَفَرَءَیْتُمُ اللّٰتَ وَالْعُزّٰی ۟ۙ

ʹAfaraʹaytumul Laata wal-ʻUzzaa,

Now, have you considered ˹the idols of˺ Lât and ’Uzza,

Verse 53:20

وَمَنٰوةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْاُخْرٰی ۟

Wa-Manaatas̤ s̤aalis̤atal ʹukhraa?

and the third one, Manât, as well?

Verse 53:21

اَلَكُمُ الذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ الْاُ ۟

ʹA-lakumuẓ ẓakaru wa-lahul ʹuñs̤aa?

Do you ˹prefer to˺ have sons while ˹you attribute˺ to Him daughters?

Verse 53:22

تِلْكَ اِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِیْزٰی ۟

Tilka ʹiẓañ q̣ismatuñ ḍeezaa!

Then this is ˹truly˺ a biased distribution!

Verse 53:23

اِنْ هِیَ اِلَّاۤ اَسْمَآءٌ سَمَّیْتُمُوْهَاۤ اَنْتُمْ وَاٰبَآؤُكُمْ مَّاۤ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطٰنٍ ؕ اِنْ یَّتَّبِعُوْنَ اِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَی الْاَنْفُسُ ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُمْ مِّنْ رَّبِّهِمُ الْهُدٰی ۟ؕ

ʹIn hiya ʹillaaa ʹasmaaaʹuñ sammaytumoohaaa ʹañtum wa-ʹaabaaaʹukum maaa ʹañzalal laahu bihaa miñ sulṭaan. ʹIñy yattabiʻoona ʹillaz̤̣ z̤̣anna wa-maa tahwal ʹañfus!- Walaq̣ad jaaaʹahum mir Rabbihimul Hudaa!

These ˹idols˺ are mere names that you and your forefathers have made up—a practice Allah has never authorized. They follow nothing but ˹inherited˺ assumptions and whatever ˹their˺ souls desire, although ˹true˺ guidance has already come to them from their Lord.

Verse 53:24

اَمْ لِلْاِنْسَانِ مَا تَمَنّٰی ۟ؗۖ

ʹAm lil-ʹiñsaani maa- tamannaa?

Or should every person ˹simply˺ have whatever ˹intercessors˺ they desire?

Verse 53:25

فَلِلّٰهِ الْاٰخِرَةُ وَالْاُوْلٰی ۟۠

Falillahil ʹAakhiratu wal-ʹoolaa.

In fact, to Allah ˹alone˺ belongs this world and the next.

Verse 53:26

وَكَمْ مِّنْ مَّلَكٍ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ لَا تُغْنِیْ شَفَاعَتُهُمْ شَیْـًٔا اِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ اَنْ یَّاْذَنَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ یَّشَآءُ وَیَرْضٰی ۟

Wa-kam mim malakiñ fis samaawaati laa- tug̣nee shafaaʻatuhum shayʹan ʹillaa mim baʻdi ʹañy yaʹẓanal laahu limañy yashaaaʹu wa-yarḍaa.

˹Imagine˺ how many ˹noble˺ angels are in the heavens! ˹Even˺ their intercession would be of no benefit whatsoever, until Allah gives permission to whoever He wills and ˹only for the people He˺ approves.

Verse 53:27

اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ لَا یُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِالْاٰخِرَةِ لَیُسَمُّوْنَ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةَ تَسْمِیَةَ الْاُ ۟

ʹInnal laẓeena laa- yuʹminoona bil-ʹAakhirati layusammoonal malaaaʹikata tasmiyatal ʹuñs̤aa.

Indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter label angels as female,

Verse 53:28

وَمَا لَهُمْ بِهٖ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ؕ اِنْ یَّتَّبِعُوْنَ اِلَّا الظَّنَّ ۚ وَاِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا یُغْنِیْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَیْـًٔا ۟ۚ

Wa-maa lahum̃ bihee min ʻilm. ʹIñy yattabiʻoona ʹillaz̤̣ z̤̣ann: wa-ʹinnaz̤̣ z̤̣anna laa- yug̣nee minal Ḥaq̣q̣i shayʹaa.

although they have no knowledge ˹in support˺ of this. They follow nothing but ˹inherited˺ assumptions. And surely assumptions can in no way replace the truth.

Verse 53:29

فَاَعْرِضْ عَنْ مَّنْ تَوَلّٰی ۙ۬ عَنْ ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ یُرِدْ اِلَّا الْحَیٰوةَ الدُّنْیَا ۟ؕ

Faʹaʻriḍ ʻam mañ tawallaa ʻañ ẓikrinaa wa-lam yurid ʹillal ḥayaatad dunyaa.

So turn away ˹O Prophet˺ from whoever has shunned Our Reminder, only seeking the ˹fleeting˺ life of this world.

Verse 53:30

ذٰلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُمْ مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ ؕ اِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ ضَلَّ عَنْ سَبِیْلِهٖ ۙ وَهُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اهْتَدٰی ۟

Ẓaalika mablag̣uhum minal ʻilm. ʹInna Rabbaka Huwa ʹaʻlamu bimañ ḍalla ʻañ sabeelihee wa-Huwa ʹaʻlamu bimanih tadaa.

This is the extent of their knowledge. Surely your Lord knows best who has strayed from His Way and who is ˹rightly˺ guided.

Verse 53:31

وَلِلّٰهِ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِی الْاَرْضِ ۙ لِیَجْزِیَ الَّذِیْنَ اَسَآءُوْا بِمَا عَمِلُوْا وَیَجْزِیَ الَّذِیْنَ اَحْسَنُوْا بِالْحُسْنٰی ۟ۚ

Walillaahi maa- fis samaawaati wa-maa fil ʹarḍi liyajziyal laẓeena ʹasaaaʹoo bimaa ʻamiloo wa-yajziyal laẓeena ʹaḥsanoo bilḥusnaa.

To Allah ˹alone˺ belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth so that He may reward the evildoers according to what they did, and reward the good-doers with the finest reward—

Verse 53:32

اَلَّذِیْنَ یَجْتَنِبُوْنَ كَبٰٓىِٕرَ الْاِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ اِلَّا اللَّمَمَ ؕ اِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَاسِعُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ ؕ هُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ اِذْ اَنْشَاَكُمْ مِّنَ الْاَرْضِ وَاِذْ اَنْتُمْ اَجِنَّةٌ فِیْ بُطُوْنِ اُمَّهٰتِكُمْ ۚ فَلَا تُزَكُّوْۤا اَنْفُسَكُمْ ؕ هُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقٰی ۟۠

ʹAllaẓeena yajtaniboona kabaaaʹiral ʹis̤mi walfawaaḥisha ʹillal lamam,― ʹinna Rabbaka Waasiʻul Mag̣firah. Huwa ʹaʻlamu bikum ʹiz ʹañshaʹakum minal ʹarḍi wa-ʹiz ʹañtum ʹajinnatuñ fee buṭooni ʹummahaatikum. Falaa tuzakkooo ʹañfusakum: Huwa ʹaʻlamu bimanit taq̣aa.

those who avoid major sins and shameful deeds, despite ˹stumbling on˺ minor sins. Surely your Lord is infinite in forgiveness. He knew well what would become of you as He created you from the earth and while you were ˹still˺ fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not ˹falsely˺ elevate yourselves. He knows best who is ˹truly˺ righteous.

Verse 53:33

اَفَرَءَیْتَ الَّذِیْ تَوَلّٰی ۟ۙ

ʹAfaraʹaytal laẓee tawallaa,

Have you seen the one who turned away ˹from Islam,˺

Verse 53:34

وَاَعْطٰی قَلِیْلًا وَّاَكْدٰی ۟

Wa-ʹaʻṭaa q̣aleelañw waʹakdaa?

and ˹initially˺ paid a little ˹for his salvation˺, and then stopped?

Verse 53:35

اَعِنْدَهٗ عِلْمُ الْغَیْبِ فَهُوَ یَرٰی ۟

ʹAʻiñdahoo ʻilmul g̣aybi fahuwa yaraa?

Does he have the knowledge of the unseen so that he sees ˹the Hereafter˺?

Verse 53:36

اَمْ لَمْ یُنَبَّاْ بِمَا فِیْ صُحُفِ مُوْسٰی ۟ۙ

ʹAm lam yunabbaʹ bimaa fee Ṣuḥufi Moosaa.

Or has he not been informed of what is in the Scripture of Moses,

Verse 53:37

وَاِبْرٰهِیْمَ الَّذِیْ وَ ۟ۙ

Wa-ʹIbraaheemal laẓee waffaa?―

and ˹that of˺ Abraham, who ˹perfectly˺ fulfilled ˹his covenant˺?

Verse 53:38

اَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِّزْرَ اُخْرٰی ۟ۙ

ʹAllaa taziru waaziratuñw wizra ʹukhraa;

˹They state˺ that no soul burdened with sin will bear the burden of another,

Verse 53:39

وَاَنْ لَّیْسَ لِلْاِنْسَانِ اِلَّا مَا سَعٰی ۟ۙ

Wa-ʹal laysa lil-ʹiñsaani ʹillaa maa- saʻaa;

and that each person will only have what they endeavoured towards,

Verse 53:40

وَاَنَّ سَعْیَهٗ سَوْفَ یُرٰی ۪۟

Wa-ʹanna saʻyahoo sawfa yuraa;

and that ˹the outcome of˺ their endeavours will be seen ˹in their record˺,

Verse 53:41

ثُمَّ یُجْزٰىهُ الْجَزَآءَ الْاَوْفٰی ۟ۙ

S̤umma yujzaahul jazaaa ʹal-ʹawfaa;

then they will be fully rewarded,

Verse 53:42

وَاَنَّ اِلٰی رَبِّكَ الْمُنْتَهٰی ۟ۙ

Wa-ʹanna ʹilaa Rabbikal Muñtahaa;

and that to your Lord ˹alone˺ is the ultimate return ˹of all things˺.

Verse 53:43

وَاَنَّهٗ هُوَ اَضْحَكَ وَاَبْكٰی ۟ۙ

Wa-ʹannahoo Huwa ʹaḍḥaka wa-ʹabkaa;

Moreover, He is the One Who brings about joy and sadness.

Verse 53:44

وَاَنَّهٗ هُوَ اَمَاتَ وَاَحْیَا ۟ۙ

Wa-ʹannahoo Huwa ʹamaata wa-ʹaḥyaa;

And He is the One Who gives life and causes death.

Verse 53:45

وَاَنَّهٗ خَلَقَ الزَّوْجَیْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْاُ ۟ۙ

Wa-ʹannahoo khalaq̣az zawjayniẓ ẓakara wal-ʹuñs̤aa,

And He created the pairs—males and females—

Verse 53:46

مِنْ نُّطْفَةٍ اِذَا تُمْنٰی ۪۟

Min nuṭfatin ʹiẓaa tumnaa;

from a sperm-drop when it is emitted.

Verse 53:47

وَاَنَّ عَلَیْهِ النَّشْاَةَ الْاُخْرٰی ۟ۙ

Wa-ʹanna ʻalayhin Nashʹatal ʹUkhraa;

And it is upon Him to bring about re-creation.

Verse 53:48

وَاَنَّهٗ هُوَ اَغْنٰی وَاَقْنٰی ۟ۙ

Wa-ʹannahoo Huwa ʹag̣naa wa-ʹaq̣naa;

And He is the One Who enriches and impoverishes.

Verse 53:49

وَاَنَّهٗ هُوَ رَبُّ الشِّعْرٰی ۟ۙ

Wa-ʹannahu Huwa Rabbush Shiʻraa;

And He alone is the Lord of Sirius.

Verse 53:50

وَاَنَّهٗۤ اَهْلَكَ عَادَا لْاُوْلٰی ۟ۙ

Wa-ʹannahooo ʹahlaka ʻAadanil ʹOolaa,

And He destroyed the first ˹people of˺ ’Ȃd,

Verse 53:51

وَثَمُوْدَاۡ فَمَاۤ اَبْقٰی ۟ۙ

Wa-S̤amooda famaaa ʹabq̣aa,

and ˹then˺ Thamûd, sparing no one.

Verse 53:52

وَقَوْمَ نُوْحٍ مِّنْ قَبْلُ ؕ اِنَّهُمْ كَانُوْا هُمْ اَظْلَمَ وَاَطْغٰی ۟ؕ

Wa-q̣awma Nooḥim miñ q̣ablu ʹinnahum kaanoo hum ʹaz̤̣lama wa-ʹaṭg̣aa;

And before ˹that He destroyed˺ the people of Noah, who were truly far worse in wrongdoing and transgression.

Verse 53:53

وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَةَ اَهْوٰی ۟ۙ

Wal-muʹtafikata ʹahwaa,

And ˹it was˺ He ˹Who˺ turned the cities ˹of Sodom and Gomorrah˺ upside down.

Verse 53:54

فَغَشّٰىهَا مَا غَشّٰی ۟ۚ

Fag̣ashshaahaa maa- g̣ashshaa.

How overwhelming was what covered ˹them˺!

Verse 53:55

فَبِاَیِّ اٰلَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارٰی ۟

Fabiʹayyi ʹaalaaaʹi Rabbika tatamaaraa?

Now, which of your Lord’s favours will you dispute?

Verse 53:56

هٰذَا نَذِیْرٌ مِّنَ النُّذُرِ الْاُوْلٰی ۟

Haaẓaa Naẓeerum minan nuẓuril ʹoolaa!

This ˹Prophet˺ is a warner like earlier ones.

Verse 53:57

اَزِفَتِ الْاٰزِفَةُ ۟ۚ

ʹAzifatil ʹAazifah:

The approaching ˹Hour˺ has drawn near.

Verse 53:58

لَیْسَ لَهَا مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ كَاشِفَةٌ ۟ؕ

Laysa lahaa miñ doonil laahi kaashifah.

None but Allah can disclose it.

Verse 53:59

اَفَمِنْ هٰذَا الْحَدِیْثِ تَعْجَبُوْنَ ۟ۙ

ʹAfamin haaẓal ḥadees̤i taʻjaboon?

Do you find this revelation astonishing,

Verse 53:60

وَتَضْحَكُوْنَ وَلَا تَبْكُوْنَ ۟ۙ

Wa-taḍḥakoona wa-laa tabkoon,―

laughing ˹at it˺ and not weeping ˹in awe˺,

Verse 53:61

وَاَنْتُمْ سٰمِدُوْنَ ۟

Wa-ʹañtum saamidoon?

while persisting in heedlessness?

Verse 53:62

فَاسْجُدُوْا لِلّٰهِ وَاعْبُدُوْا ۟

Fasjudoo lillaahi waʻbudoo!

Instead, prostrate to Allah and worship ˹Him alone˺!