The Stars (Al-Najm)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
I CALL TO witness the star of the pleiades when it has dipped 1 This fellow-man of yours has not gone astray, nor is he deluded, 2 and neither does he speak out of his own desire: 3 It is no less than inspiration sent down to him: 4 One of mighty powers hath taught it him. 5 Lord of power and wisdom. So he acquired poise and balance, 6 while he was in the highest horizon; 7 Then he drew near, then he bowed 8 And was at a distance of two bows' length or (even) nearer, 9 And he revealed to His Servant what he revealed. 10 His heart did not lie of what he saw. 11 what, will you dispute with him what he sees? 12 Indeed he saw him a second time, 13 by the Lote-Tree of the Boundary 14 Close to which is the Garden of Tranquility, 15 with the lote-tree veiled in a veil of nameless splendour 16 His eye did not waver, nor did it stray, 17 Indeed he saw some of the greatest signs of His Lord. 18 HAVE YOU, then, ever considered [what you are worshipping in] Al-Lat and Al-Uzza, 19 and the third one, Manat? -- 20 What, have you males, and He females! 21 That indeed is a division unfair! 22 They are but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which Allah hath revealed no warrant. They follow but a guess and that which (they) themselves desire. And now the guidance from their Lord hath come unto them. 23 Can the human being have whatever he wishes? 24 To Allah belongs the Eternal life and the first life. 25