The Stars (Al-Najm)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
By oath of the beloved shining star when he returned from the Ascent. 1 Your companion hath not gone astray, nor hath he erred. 2 and neither does he speak out of his own desire: 3 that [which he conveys to you] is but [a divine] inspiration with which he is being inspired 4 taught by One who is Stern in power. 5 and endowed with wisdom; who in time manifested himself; 6 while he was in the highest horizon; 7 Then he drew near and hung above suspended, 8 And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer. 9 And He revealed to His servant what He revealed. 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 ye then dispute with him concerning what he seeth? 12 He certainly saw him (Gabriel) during his other ascent 13 Nigh unto the lote-tree at the boundary. 14 Nigh thereto is the Garden of Abode. 15 When the lote-tree was being enveloped, by whatever around it. 16 The eye did not turn aside, nor did it exceed the limit. 17 for indeed he saw one of the greatest signs of his Lord. 18 So have you considered al-Lat and al-'Uzza? 19 And Manat (another idol of the pagan Arabs), the other third? 20 "What! For you the males and for Him the females?" 21 This is certainly an unjust apportioning. 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 shall man have what he coveteth? 24 despite the fact that [both] the life to come and this present [one] belong to God [alone]? 25