The Stars (Al-Najm)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
I CALL TO witness the star of the pleiades when it has dipped 1 Your companion [Muhammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred, 2 Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. 3 It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired, 4 The Lord of Mighty Power has taught him, 5 and endowed with wisdom; who in time manifested himself; 6 appearing in the horizon's loftiest part, 7 and then drew near, and came close, 8 until he was but two bow-lengths away, or even nearer. 9 He revealed to God's servant whatever he wanted. 10 The heart was not untrue in (making him see) what he saw. 11 Will you dispute with him what he saw? 12 And certainly he saw him descend a second time: 13 by the lote-tree of the farthest limit, 14 close to the Garden of Refuge. 15 When that which shroudeth did enshroud the lote-tree, 16 [And withal,] the eye did not waver, nor yet did it stray: 17 truly did he see some of the most profound of his Sustainer's symbols. 18 Have ye then considered Al-Lat and AL-'uzza: 19 And Manat the other third? 20 Are yours the males and His the females? 21 That indeed is an unfair division -- 22 These are nothing but names that you and your forefathers have invented, for which Allah has sent down no authority. They are merely following their conjectures and their carnal desires although guidance has come to them from their Lord. 23 Does man imagine that it is his due to have all that he might wish for, 24 All that is in the life to come and all that is in this life belongs only to God. 25