Surah An-Najm

Arabic with an established translation

1. 1

   وَٱلنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ

   By the star when it sets,

   English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

2. 2

   مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ

   Your companion [i.e., the Prophet] has neither strayed nor is he deluded.

   English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

3. 3

   وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ

   Nor does he speak out of his own desire.

   English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

4. 4

   إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْىٌ يُوحَىٰ

   It is but a revelation sent down [to him].

   English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

5. 5

   عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلْقُوَىٰ

   He was taught by [an angel of] mighty power[1],

   English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

   Translation footnote [1]

   [1] i.e., the angel Gabriel.

6. 6

   ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَٱسْتَوَىٰ

   and of great perfection[2], who manifested himself [in his true form][3]

   English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

   Translation footnote [2] [3]

   [2] i.e., the strength of body and mind. [3] Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Prophet (ﷺ) only twice in his angelic form: once at the outset of the Prophet’s mission (as he manifested himself, filling the horizon, so the Prophet (ﷺ) lost his consciousness), and another time during the Prophet’s ascension to the seventh heaven where he directly received from Allah the order to pray five times a day. See 17:1.

7. 7

   وَهُوَ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

   when he was on the higher horizon[4].

   English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

   Translation footnote [4]

   [4] i.e., above the eastern horizon in the sky where the sun rises.

8. 8

   ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ

   Then he approached [the Prophet] and descended,

   English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

9. 9

   فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ

   until he was only two bow-lengths away or even closer.

   English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

10. 10

    فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦ مَآ أَوْحَىٰ

    Then he revealed to His slave[5] what he had to reveal.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [5]

    [5] i.e., the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

11. 11

    مَا كَذَبَ ٱلْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ

    The [Prophet’s] heart[6] did not deny what he saw.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [6]

    [6] i.e., his mind or perception.

12. 12

    أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ

    Do you dispute with him concerning what he saw?

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

13. 13

    وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ

    He certainly saw him a second time[7]

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [7]

    [7] i.e., During his ascent (al-Mi‘rāj) to the heavens, he saw Gabriel in his true angelic form.

14. 14

    عِندَ سِدْرَةِ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ

    at the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary [in the seventh heaven]

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

15. 15

    عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰٓ

    near which is the Garden of Abode,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

16. 16

    إِذْ يَغْشَى ٱلسِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ

    when the Lote Tree was overwhelmed with [divine] splendors.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

17. 17

    مَا زَاغَ ٱلْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

    His gaze did not wander, nor did it look beyond the limit.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

18. 18

    لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ

    He certainly saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

19. 19

    أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلْعُزَّىٰ

    Have you [O disbelievers] thought about [the idols of] Lāt and ‘Uzzā,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

20. 20

    وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰٓ

    and Manāt, the third one as well[8]?

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [8]

    [8] These were three well-known idols or goddesses worshiped by Arab pagans before the advent of Islam.

21. 21

    أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلْأُنثَىٰ

    Do you choose for yourselves males and for Him females?

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

22. 22

    تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَىٰٓ

    That is then an unfair division!

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

23. 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

    These [idols] are no more than names you and your forefathers have made up[9], for which Allah has not sent down any authority. They follow nothing but conjecture and what their souls desire, although there has come to them guidance from their Lord.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [9]

    [9] i.e., You have considered them gods while in fact, they are not.

24. 24

    أَمْ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ

    Is it that man can get whatever he wishes for[10]?

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [10]

    [10] The pagans worshiped these idols wishing that they would intercede for them on the Day of Resurrection. See 39:3.

25. 25

    فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ وَٱلْأُولَىٰ

    Rather, to Allah belongs the Hereafter and this world.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

26. 26

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

    How many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will be of no avail except after Allah’s permission to whom He wills and pleases.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

27. 27

    إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ تَسْمِيَةَ ٱلْأُنثَىٰ

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

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

28. 28

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

    They have no knowledge about it. They only follow conjecture, but conjecture is of no avail against the truth.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

29. 29

    فَأَعْرِضْ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا

    So pay no heed to those who turn away from Our message[11] and who only seek the life of this world.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [11]

    [11] i.e., the Qur’an.

30. 30

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

    That is the limit of their knowledge. Indeed, your Lord knows best who has strayed from His Way, and He knows best who is guided.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

31. 31

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

    To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth, so that He may recompense the evildoers for what they did, and reward those who do good with the best reward[12],

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [12]

    [12] i.e., Paradise.

32. 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

    those who avoid major sins and shameful acts, except for minor lapses. Indeed, your Lord is ample in forgiveness. He knows you best, as He created you from the earth[13] and when you were fetuses in the wombs of your mothers[14]. So do not claim purity for yourselves, for He knows best who is truly righteous.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [13] [14]

    [13] i.e., created your father, Adam. [14] See footnote 31:34.

33. 33

    أَفَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ

    Have you seen the one who turned away [from Islam],

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

34. 34

    وَأَعْطَىٰ قَلِيلًا وَأَكْدَىٰٓ

    who gave a little, and then stopped?

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

35. 35

    أَعِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ

    Does he have knowledge of the unseen, so he has insight[15]?

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [15]

    [15] i.e., the knowledge that his wealth will be exhausted if he spends on the poor, while Allah has promised that it nourishes wealth.

36. 36

    أَمْ لَمْ يُنَبَّأْ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ

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

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

37. 37

    وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ

    and of Abraham, who fulfilled his duty?

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

38. 38

    أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ

    That no bearer of burden will bear the burden of another,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

39. 39

    وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

    and that man will not receive except what he strives for,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

40. 40

    وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُۥ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ

    and that his efforts will be examined,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

41. 41

    ثُمَّ يُجْزَىٰهُ ٱلْجَزَآءَ ٱلْأَوْفَىٰ

    then he will be recompensed in full,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

42. 42

    وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ

    and that to your Lord is the final return,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

43. 43

    وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ

    and that He is the One Who makes people laugh and weep[16],

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [16]

    [16] i.e., brings happiness or sadness to people.

44. 44

    وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا

    and that He is the One Who causes death and gives life,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

45. 45

    وَأَنَّهُۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوْجَيْنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلْأُنثَىٰ

    and that He created the pairs, male and female,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

46. 46

    مِن نُّطْفَةٍ إِذَا تُمْنَىٰ

    from a drop of sperm when it is emitted,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

47. 47

    وَأَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰ

    and it is upon Him to bring about the second creation.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

48. 48

    وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغْنَىٰ وَأَقْنَىٰ

    And He is the One Who enriches and bestows wealth,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

49. 49

    وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعْرَىٰ

    and that He is the Lord of Sirius[17].

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [17]

    [17] i.e., a star worshiped by some pagans before Islam.

50. 50

    وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهْلَكَ عَادًا ٱلْأُولَىٰ

    And that He destroyed the earlier ‘Ād[18],

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [18]

    [18] i.e., the people of Prophet Hūd.

51. 51

    وَثَمُودَا۟ فَمَآ أَبْقَىٰ

    and Thamūd[19], sparing none,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [19]

    [19] i.e., the people of Prophet Sālih, who are called second Ād.

52. 52

    وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ هُمْ أَظْلَمَ وَأَطْغَىٰ

    and [He destroyed] the people of Noah before them; they were indeed more wicked and more rebellious.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

53. 53

    وَٱلْمُؤْتَفِكَةَ أَهْوَىٰ

    And He toppled the cities[20] upside down,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [20]

    [20] Of Sodom and Gomorrah whose dwellers defied Prophet Lot (عليه السلام).

54. 54

    فَغَشَّىٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ

    and they were utterly covered [by stones][21].

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

    Translation footnote [21]

    [21] They were rained by stones.

55. 55

    فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

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

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

56. 56

    هَـٰذَا نَذِيرٌ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلْأُولَىٰٓ

    This [Prophet] is a warner like the earlier warners.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

57. 57

    أَزِفَتِ ٱلْـَٔازِفَةُ

    The imminent Hour has drawn near,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

58. 58

    لَيْسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ

    none but Allah can disclose it.

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

59. 59

    أَفَمِنْ هَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ

    Do you find this discourse astonishing,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

60. 60

    وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ

    and you laugh [at it] and not weep,

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

61. 61

    وَأَنتُمْ سَـٰمِدُونَ

    while heedlessly lost in amusement?

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

62. 62

    فَٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ۩

    So prostrate to Allah and worship [Him].

    English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center