The Stars (Al-Najm)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
I CALL TO witness the star of the pleiades when it has dipped 1 Your companion hath not gone astray, nor hath he erred. 2 Neither does he speak of his own will. 3 that [which he conveys to you] is but [a divine] inspiration with which he is being inspired 4 something that a very powerful one has imparted to him, 5 by the great mighty one (Gabriel), 6 While he [Jibrael (Gabriel)] was in the highest part of the horizon, 7 then came down close 8 Till he was (distant) two bows' length or even 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 And assuredly he saw him at another descent. 13 Nigh unto the lote-tree at the boundary. 14 near unto the garden of promise. 15 When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it]. 16 His sight did not waver nor was it unduly bold. 17 He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord. 18 So have you considered al-Lat and al-'Uzza? 19 And Manat, the third, the other? 20 What! unto you the males and unto Him the females? 21 That is indeed an unjust 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 Can the human being have whatever he wishes? 24 But to Allah belongs the last (Hereafter) and the first (the world). 25