النجم
Surah An-Najm
The Star · Surah 53 · Meccan · 62 verses
1وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ ١By the Star when it setteth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “najm” has several meanings: a star, the Pleiades, the Qur’an revealed in parts, or a stemless plant; each is considered possible here.2مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ ٢Your comrade erreth not, nor is deceived.InsightElmalılı explains “dalal” as losing the way and “ghayy” as losing soundness of mind: the Prophet neither lost his way nor his judgement.3وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ ٣Nor doth he speak of (his own) desire.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, his speech, especially his recitation of the Qur’an, does not arise from his own opinion, wish or inclination.4إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡيࣱ يُوحَىٰ ٤It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Qur’an was spoken by being revealed and conveyed to him by Allah; it could not be spoken otherwise.5عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ٥Which one of mighty powers hath taught him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there is no doubt that Allah teaches the Qur’an; but Gabriel, who brought it down by Allah’s leave, is also described as mighty in strength.6ذُو مِرَّةࣲ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ ٦One vigorous; and he grew clear to view.7وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ٧When he was on the uppermost horizon.InsightElmalılı explains “ufuq” as originally an edge or shore; it is used especially for the edges of the sky.8ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ ٨Then he drew nigh and came down.InsightElmalılı says “tadalla” may derive from three roots; one is showing a gracious closeness and openness.9فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ ٩Till he was (distant) two bows’ length or even nearer.InsightElmalılı explains “qaws” as a bow and “qab” as the distance between its grip and tip: a very close distance.10فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ ١٠And He revealed unto His slave that which He revealed.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there is no disagreement that the pronoun refers to Allah: the content of the revelation is left unstated because of its greatness.11مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ ١١The heart lied not (in seeing) what it saw.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this seeing was with the eyes; his heart did not deny what his eyes saw.12أَفَتُمَٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ ١٢Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he seeth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the imperfect tense indicates the continuity of the seeing.13وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ ١٣And verily he saw him yet another time.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Prophet saw Gabriel, who taught him, once more in his true form and with all his power.14عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ ١٤By the lote-tree of the utmost boundary.InsightElmalılı explains “Sidrat al-Muntaha” as the lote tree of the end, where the final limit is reached: the furthest point the knowledge of created beings attains.15عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ ١٥Nigh unto which is the Garden of Abode.16إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ ١٦When that which shroudeth did enshroud the lote-tree.InsightElmalılı relates Anas’s report from the hadiths of the Ascension: what covered the Lote Tree was of indescribable beauty.17مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ ١٧The eye turned not aside nor yet was overbold.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Messenger’s gaze did not slip or look askew; nor did it exceed the bounds of sight and see something false.18لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ ١٨Verily he saw one of the greater revelations of his Lord.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “ayat” means wonders; “al-kubra” means either the greatest of them or some of the great ones.19أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ ١٩Have ye thought upon Al-Lat and Al-’Uzza.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, after affirming the mission and the greatness of Allah’s power, the idolaters are shown the worthlessness of what they worship.20وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ ٢٠And Manat, the third, the other.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, al-Lat, al-‘Uzza and Manat were idols they worshipped; they named their children ‘Abd al-Lat, ‘Abd al-‘Uzza and the like.21أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ٢١Are yours the males and His the females.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, you take male names for yourselves and give female names to what you worship, and you attribute femaleness to the angels.22تِلۡكَ إِذࣰا قِسۡمَةࣱ ضِيزَىٰٓ ٢٢That indeed were an unfair division.InsightElmalılı explains “diza” as a deficient, unfair and oppressive division.23إِنۡ هِيَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءࣱ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلۡطَٰنٍۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ ٢٣They 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.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the idols have none of the meanings attributed to them, such as divinity, might, relation to Allah or intercession; they are only empty names.24أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ ٢٤Or shall man have what he coveteth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, does every wish of man, every hope and ideal he builds to his liking, come true? The idea that idols will intercede is such a fancy.25فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ ٢٥But unto Allah belongeth the after (life), and the former.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, just as man’s coming into being was not in his hands but depended on Allah’s will, his end and Hereafter also belong to Allah.26۞وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكࣲ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغۡنِي شَفَٰعَتُهُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ ٢٦And how many angels are in the heavens whose intercession availeth naught save after Allah giveth leave to whom He chooseth and accepteth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the idolaters took idols as images of angels and hoped for intercession by drawing near them; yet even angels’ intercession depends on permission.27إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ٢٧Lo! it is those who disbelieve in the Hereafter who name the angels with the names of females.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, since they have no real faith in the Hereafter, they do not fear the consequences of sin and of slandering Allah.28وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغۡنِي مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ شَيۡـࣰٔا ٢٨And they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and lo! a guess can never take the place of the truth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, conjecture here means fancy; they follow mere fancy without knowing what the angels are.29فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا ٢٩Then withdraw (O Muhammad) from him who fleeth from Our remembrance and desireth but the life of the world.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this message is the glorious Qur’an that counsels by recalling the truth; one need not engage those who will not listen to it.30ذَٰلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ ٣٠Such is their sum of knowledge. Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth, and He is Best Aware of him whom goeth right.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the final aim of all their knowledge is the enjoyment of worldly life; your Lord knows best who strays from His path and who is guided.31وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔواْ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَى ٣١And unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, that He may reward those who do evil with that which they have done, and reward those who do good with goodness.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, everything in the heavens and earth is His, both by creation and by ownership.32ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓئِرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٰسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِۚ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةࣱ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمۡۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ ٣٢Those who avoid enormities of sin and abominations, save the unwilled offences - (for them) lo! thy Lord is of vast mercy. He is Best Aware of you (from the time) when He created you from the earth, and when ye were hidden in the bellies of your mothers. Therefor ascribe not purity unto yourselves. He is Best Aware of him who wardeth off (evil).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, major sins are those with great punishment or a specific threat; minor faults are left to Allah’s vast forgiveness.33أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ ٣٣Didst thou (O Muhammad) observe him who turned away.InsightElmalılı relates from Mujahid and Ibn Zayd: al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah came to the Prophet’s gathering and was moved, then turned back at another’s urging.34وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلࣰا وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ ٣٤And gave a little, then was grudging.InsightElmalılı explains “kudyah” as hard ground that cannot be dug, solid rock: like one digging who hits rock and stops, he gave a little then ceased.35أَعِندَهُۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ ٣٥Hath he knowledge of the Unseen so that he seeth.36أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ ٣٦Or hath he not had news of what is in the books of Moses.37وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِي وَفَّىٰٓ ٣٧And Abraham who paid his debt.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Abraham fully carried out the words he was commanded and tested with; he was utterly faithful.38أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةࣱ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ ٣٨That no laden one shall bear another’s load.InsightElmalılı explains “wizr” as sin and heavy load; here it is bearing the punishment of sin.39وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ ٣٩And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, just as one is not held accountable for another’s crime, one cannot claim anything but one’s own effort; man has only his striving.40وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ ٤٠And that his effort will be seen.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, it will be seen in his record on the Day of Resurrection and placed on the scale; effort is never wasted.41ثُمَّ يُجۡزَىٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ ٤١And afterward he will be repaid for it with fullest payment.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, man’s future will be the fruit of his effort; many fine efforts that seem wasted in this world will find their reward there.42وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ ٤٢And that thy Lord, He is the goal.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, all creation finally returns and arrives at Him, and is gathered before Him.43وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ ٤٣And that He it is who maketh laugh, and maketh weep.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these are two opposite states of life: one joy, one grief; one recalls reward, the other punishment.44وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا ٤٤And that He it is Who giveth death and giveth life.45وَأَنَّهُۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ٤٥And that He createth the two spouses, the male and the female.46مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ ٤٦From a drop (of seed) when it is poured forth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah gives nature whatever variety He wills and creates whatever opposites He wills; none but He can do this.47وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ ٤٧And that He hath ordained the second bringing forth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah has undertaken the creation of the Hereafter after death; He will repay good and evil deeds.48وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ ٤٨And that He it is Who enricheth and contenteth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, He is the one who makes the poor rich and gives them capital, frees His servant from need, or contents him.49وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ ٤٩And that He it is Who is the Lord of Sirius.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Sirius is among the brightest stars in the sky; some Arabs worshipped it.50وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ ٥٠And that He destroyed the former (tribe of) A’ad.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is the ancient ‘Ad, the people of Hud, destroyed after Noah’s people; called “first” relative to later peoples.51وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ ٥١And (the tribe of) Thamud He spared not.52وَقَوۡمَ نُوحࣲ مِّن قَبۡلُۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ ٥٢And the folk of Noah aforetime, Lo! they were more unjust and more rebellious.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Noah’s people were more unjust than the others; they harmed Noah greatly.53وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ ٥٣And Al-Mu’tafikah He destroyed.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “al-mu’tafikah” are the overturned cities of Lot’s people, Sodom and others.54فَغَشَّىٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ ٥٤So that there covered them that which did cover.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this expression conveys the terror of the punishment that came upon them.55فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ ٥٥Concerning which then, of the bounties of thy Lord, canst thou dispute.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, though this may address the Prophet in particular, it is directed at man in general.56هَٰذَا نَذِيرࣱ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ ٥٦This is a warner of the warners of old.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is a warning of the same kind as the warnings of earlier prophets.57أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأٓزِفَةُ ٥٧The threatened Hour is nigh.InsightElmalılı explains “al-azifah” as that which approaches, which is drawing near; it is one of the names of the Hour.58لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ ٥٨None beside Allah can disclose it.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there is no power besides Allah that can relieve, repel or remove its agonies and terrors.59أَفَمِنۡ هَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ ٥٩Marvel ye then at this statement.60وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ ٦٠And laugh and not weep.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is their laughing, treating the warnings as amusement, and not weeping at the terror of the warnings and the gravity of their state.61وَأَنتُمۡ سَٰمِدُونَ ٦١While ye amuse yourselves.62فَٱسۡجُدُواْۤ لِلَّهِۤ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ۩ ٦٢Rather prostrate yourselves before Allah and serve Him.