53

النجم

An-Najm

The Star

Medinan62 AyahsJuz 27

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Surah An-Najm (The Star) is the 53rd chapter of the Quran, comprising 62 verses revealed in Mecca during the early period of Prophet Muhammad's mission. It opens with a powerful divine oath by the star when it descends, immediately establishing a celestial tone that underscores the gravity of the message to follow. The primary purpose of this opening is to affirm the truth and trustworthiness of Prophet Muhammad and the revelation he received. God declares that the Prophet "does not speak out of his own desire" but conveys only what is divinely inspired, directly countering the accusations of the Meccan polytheists who dismissed him as misguided, deluded, or speaking from personal whim. The surah then provides a remarkable description of the Prophet's encounter with the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel), whom he saw in his true, magnificent form near Sidrat al-Muntaha (the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary), a location at the farthest reaches of the heavens. This passage is widely understood by scholars to reference either the Night Journey and Ascension (al-Isra wal-Mi'raj) or an earlier encounter, and it serves as powerful testimony that the Prophet's experience of revelation was real, direct, and beyond any human fabrication. A central theme of Surah An-Najm is the forceful rejection of idolatry and the false deities worshipped by the Quraysh. The surah specifically names three prominent pre-Islamic idols — al-Lat, al-Uzza, and Manat — and challenges the polytheists with incisive rhetorical questions about their legitimacy. It exposes the absurdity of attributing daughters to God while preferring sons for themselves, pointing out the deep inconsistency and injustice embedded in their theological and social worldview. The surah declares that these idols are nothing more than names invented by their ancestors, devoid of any divine authority, and that those who worship them follow nothing but conjecture and the whims of their own souls. This passage is historically significant because it directly confronted the economic and spiritual foundations of Meccan polytheism, striking at the heart of the tribal establishment's religious identity. The surah also addresses the false notion that angels are female, dismantling another layer of the polytheists' fabricated theology and emphasizing that such claims are made without any knowledge or divine sanction. The surah further develops profound theological principles concerning individual moral responsibility, divine justice, and the ultimate accountability of every soul. It affirms that "no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another" and that each person shall only receive the fruit of their own striving — a principle that powerfully establ

مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ 2

Sahih International

Your companion [i.e., Muḥammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred,

عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلْقُوَىٰ 5

Sahih International

Taught to him by one intense in strength [i.e., Gabriel] -

وَهُوَ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ 7

Sahih International

While he was in the higher [part of the] horizon.

فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ 9

Sahih International

And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer.

فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦ مَآ أَوْحَىٰ 10

Sahih International

And he revealed to His Servant what he revealed [i.e., conveyed].

أَفَتُمَـٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ 12

Sahih International

So will you dispute with him over what he saw?

إِذْ يَغْشَى ٱلسِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ 16

Sahih International

When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it].

مَا زَاغَ ٱلْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ 17

Sahih International

The sight [of the Prophet (ﷺ)] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit].

لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ 18

Sahih International

He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.

أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلْعُزَّىٰ 19

Sahih International

So have you considered al-Lāt and al-ʿUzzā?

أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلْأُنثَىٰ 21

Sahih International

Is the male for you and for Him the female?

إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى ٱلْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ 23

Sahih International

They are not but [mere] names you have named them - you and your forefathers - for which Allāh has sent down no authority. They follow not except assumption and what [their] souls desire, and there has already come to them from their Lord guidance.

فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ وَٱلْأُولَىٰ 25

Sahih International

Rather, to Allāh belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].

۞ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغْنِى شَفَـٰعَتُهُمْ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَن يَأْذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرْضَىٰٓ 26

Sahih International

And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail at all except [only] after Allāh has permitted [it] to whom He wills and approves.

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ تَسْمِيَةَ ٱلْأُنثَىٰ 27

Sahih International

Indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter name the angels female names,

وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ ۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِى مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ شَيْـًٔا 28

Sahih International

And they have thereof no knowledge. They follow not except assumption, and indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all.

فَأَعْرِضْ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا 29

Sahih International

So turn away from whoever turns his back on Our message and desires not except the worldly life.

ذَٰلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ 30

Sahih International

That is their sum of knowledge. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who strays from His way, and He is most knowing of who is guided.

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ بِٱلْحُسْنَى 31

Sahih International

And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth - that He may recompense those who do evil with [the penalty of] what they have done and recompense those who do good with the best [reward] -

ٱلَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓئِرَ ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٰسِعُ ٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ 32

Sahih International

Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only [committing] slight ones. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He was most knowing of you when He produced you from the earth and when you were fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.

أَعِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ 35

Sahih International

Does he have knowledge of the unseen, so he sees?

أَمْ لَمْ يُنَبَّأْ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ 36

Sahih International

Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Moses

وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِى وَفَّىٰٓ 37

Sahih International

And [of] Abraham, who fulfilled [his obligations] -

أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ 38

Sahih International

That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another

وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ 39

Sahih International

And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives

ثُمَّ يُجْزَىٰهُ ٱلْجَزَآءَ ٱلْأَوْفَىٰ 41

Sahih International

Then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense -

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ 43

Sahih International

And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا 44

Sahih International

And that it is He who causes death and gives life

وَأَنَّهُۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوْجَيْنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلْأُنثَىٰ 45

Sahih International

And that He creates the two mates - the male and female -

وَأَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰ 47

Sahih International

And that [incumbent] upon Him is the other [i.e., next] creation.

وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغْنَىٰ وَأَقْنَىٰ 48

Sahih International

And that it is He who enriches and suffices

وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهْلَكَ عَادًا ٱلْأُولَىٰ 50

Sahih International

And that He destroyed the first [people of] ʿAad.

وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ هُمْ أَظْلَمَ وَأَطْغَىٰ 52

Sahih International

And the people of Noah before. Indeed, it was they who were [even] more unjust and oppressing.

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ 55

Sahih International

Then which of the favors of your Lord do you doubt?

هَـٰذَا نَذِيرٌ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلْأُولَىٰٓ 56

Sahih International

This [Prophet (ﷺ)] is a warner from [i.e., like] the former warners.

لَيْسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ 58

Sahih International

Of it, [from those] besides Allāh, there is no remover.

أَفَمِنْ هَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ 59

Sahih International

Then at this statement do you wonder?

Hifz / Memorization Mode

Practice memorizing Surah An-Najm. Choose how much of the Arabic text to hide, then tap each ayah to reveal it.