The Stars (Al-Najm)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
CONSIDER this unfolding [of God's message,] as it comes down from on high! 1 your comrade is not astray, neither errs, 2 And he does not say anything by his own desire. 3 that [which he conveys to you] is but [a divine] inspiration with which he is being inspired 4 Bestowed on him by the Supreme Intellect, 5 [an angel] endowed with surpassing power, who in time manifested himself in his true shape and nature, 6 standing poised at the highest point on the horizon, 7 then drew near and suspended hung, 8 Till he was two bows length off or yet nearer. 9 And thus did [God] reveal unto His servant whatever He deemed right to reveal. 10 The heart did not deny, what it saw. (The Holy Prophet was bestowed with seeing Allah – see also preceding verses 8, 9, 10.) 11 Will you then dispute with him as to what he saw? 12 Indeed he saw him a second time, 13 by the lote-tree of the farthest limit, 14 Near it is the Garden of Abode. 15 (This was) when the lote-tree was covered with that which covered it. 16 (Muhammad's) eyes did not deceive him, nor did they lead him to falsehood. 17 Assuredly he beheld of the sign of his Lord, the greatest. 18 Have you considered El-Lat and El-'Uzza 19 And subsequently the third, the Manat? 20 Are there sons for you, and daughters for Him? 21 Then that is surely a very unjust distribution! 22 They are not but [mere] names you have named them - you and your forefathers - for which Allah 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. 23 Can ever man get what he desires? 24 But it is to Allah that the End and the Beginning (of all things) belong. 25