The Stars (Al-Najm)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
I CALL TO witness the star of the pleiades when it has dipped 1 Your comrade erreth not, nor is deceived; 2 nor does he speak out of desire. 3 This is only revelation communicated, 4 and taught to him 5 The Lord of Strength; so he attained completion, 6 And he was on the horizon of the highest heaven. 7 then he drew near, and became close 8 Until a space of two bow (arcs) or even less remained, 9 And he revealed to His Servant what he revealed. 10 His (Muhammad's) heart did not lie to him about what his eyes had seen. 11 Are you, then, going to contend with him regarding what he sees with his eyes? 12 For indeed he saw him at a second descent, 13 Nigh unto the lote-tree at the boundary. 14 by the Garden of [Eternal] Repose, 15 with the lote-tree veiled in a veil of nameless splendour 16 The sight did not shift, nor did it cross the limits. 17 truly did he see some of the most profound of his Sustainer's symbols. 18 So did you observe the idols Lat and Uzza? 19 And Manat, the other third (of the pagan deities)? 20 Are there sons for you, and daughters for Him? 21 That is indeed an unjust division. 22 These are nothing but names which ye have devised,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah has sent down no authority (whatever). They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire!- Even though there has already come to them Guidance from their Lord! 23 Nay, shall man have (just) anything he hankers after? 24 To Allah belong both the Next World and the present. 25