The Stars (Al-Najm)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
I CALL TO witness the star of the pleiades when it has dipped 1 your companion is not in error nor has he gone astray. 2 and neither does he speak out of his own desire: 3 It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired, 4 and taught to him 5 Lord of power and wisdom. So he acquired poise and balance, 6 being on the higher horizon. 7 then came down close 8 And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer; 9 So Allah divinely revealed to His bondman, whatever He divinely revealed. 10 His heart did not lie of what he saw. 11 Will you dispute with him what he saw? 12 And verily he saw him yet another time 13 Near the lote-tree of the last boundary. 14 Near it is the Paradise of Abode. 15 when the lote tree was covered in mystic splendour. 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 you ever thought about al-Lat and al-Uzza, 19 as well as [in] Manat, the third and last [of this triad]? 20 Do sons belong to you and daughters to God? 21 That indeed is an unfair division -- 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 Does man imagine that whatever he wishes for is right for him? 24 To God belong the End and the Beginning. 25