The Stars (Al-Najm)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
I CALL TO witness the star of the pleiades when it has dipped 1 That your companion is not confused, nor has he gone astray, 2 He does not speak out of his own desires. 3 It [the Quran] is nothing but revelation sent down to him. 4 Taught to him by one intense in strength - 5 [an angel] endowed with surpassing power, who in time manifested himself in his true shape and nature, 6 while he was in the highest horizon; 7 Then he drew near and hung above suspended, 8 Until a space of two bow (arcs) or even less remained, 9 So Allah divinely revealed to His bondman, whatever He divinely revealed. 10 His heart added no untruth to what he saw. 11 will you, then, contend with him as to what he saw? 12 And certainly he saw him in another descent, 13 by the lote-tree of the farthest limit, 14 Near it is the Paradise of Abode. 15 When the tree was covered with a covering, 16 Neither did sight falter nor exceed the bounds. 17 Indeed he saw some of the greatest signs of His Lord. 18 Have you then considered Al-Lat, and Al-'Uzza (two idols of the pagan Arabs). 19 And Manat (another idol of the pagan Arabs), the other third? 20 Are yours the males and His the females? 21 This indeed is an unjust division! 22 They are naught but names yourselves have named, and your fathers; God has sent down no authority touching them. They follow only surmise, and what the souls desire; and yet guidance has come to them from their Lord. 23 Or is there for man whatever he wishes? 24 And to God belongs the First and the Last. 25