The Stars (Al-Najm)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
By the star when it sets: 1 Your comrade erreth not, nor is deceived; 2 Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire. 3 It is but a revelation revealed. 4 Bestowed on him by the Supreme Intellect, 5 Endued with Wisdom: for he appeared (in stately form); 6 While he was on the uppermost horizon. 7 Then the Spectacle became closer, and came down in full view. 8 two bows' length away, or nearer, 9 So did (Allah) convey the inspiration to His Servant- (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey. 10 The (Prophet's) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw. 11 Will you then argue with him about what he saw? 12 Indeed he saw him a second time, 13 Near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha [lote-tree of the utmost boundary (beyond which none can pass)], 14 near unto the garden of promise. 15 When the Lote-tree was covered over with what it was covered over; 16 [And withal,] the eye did not waver, nor yet did it stray: 17 Verily he saw one of the greater revelations of his Lord. 18 Have ye thought upon Al-Lat and Al-'Uzza 19 and the third one, Manat? -- 20 What! for you the male sex, and for Him, the female? 21 This is an unfair distinction! 22 These are only names given by yourselves and your fathers. God has not given them any authority. They, (unbelievers), only follow mere conjecture and the desires of their souls, even though guidance has already come to them from their Lord. 23 Nay, shall man have (just) anything he hankers after? 24 despite the fact that [both] the life to come and this present [one] belong to God [alone]? 25