The Stars (Al-Najm)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
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 speaks he out of caprice. 3 This is nothing but a revelation that is conveyed to him, 4 taught by One who is Stern in power. 5 Of might, he (Gabriel) stood firm 6 And he is in the highest part of the horizon. 7 Then he drew near, then he bowed 8 And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer; 9 And he revealed to His Servant what he revealed. 10 His heart did not falsify what he perceived. 11 Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he seeth? 12 And indeed he did see the Spectacle again. 13 At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary - 14 near which is the Garden of Abode. 15 when there covered the Lote-Tree that which covered; 16 His sight did not waver nor was it unduly bold. 17 Verily he saw one of the greater revelations of his Lord. 18 Have you considered El-Lat and El-'Uzza 19 and the third one, Manat? -- 20 What! for you the males and for Him the females! 21 Then that is surely a very unjust distribution! 22 They are naught but names which you have named, you and your fathers; Allah has not sent for them any authority. They follow naught but conjecture and the low desires which (their) souls incline to; and certainly the guidance has come to them from their Lord. 23 Can ever man get what he desires? 24 And to God belongs the First and the Last. 25