By the star when it goes down
Your companion is neither astray nor being misled
Nor does he say anything of his own volition
It is no less than inspiration sent down to him
He was taught by one mighty in power
Endued with wisdom, for he appeared
While he was in the highest part of the horizon
Then he approached and came closer
And was at a distance of only two bow-lengths or nearer
So God conveyed the inspiration to His servant which He meant to convey
His heart in no way falsified that which he saw
Will you then dispute with him concerning what he saw
For indeed he saw him at a second descent
Near the lotus-tree beyond which none may pass
Near is the garden of abode
Behold, the lotus-tree was shrouded
His sight never deviated, nor did it go wrong
For truly he saw the signs of his Lord, the Greatest
Have you seen Lat and ‘Uzza
And another, the third, Manat
What, for you the male, and for Him, the female
Behold, that would indeed be a division unfair
These are nothing but names which you have made up, you and your fathers, for which God has sent down no authority. They follow nothing but speculation, and what their own soul’s desire. Even though there has already come to them guidance from their Lord
No, will human beings have everything they pursue
But it is to God that the end and the beginning belong
However many angels there are in the heavens, their intercession will avail them nothing, except after God has given permission to whom He pleases, and that they are acceptable to Him
Those who do not believe in the hereafter, name the angels with female names
But they cannot know. They follow nothing but speculation, and speculation avails nothing against truth
Therefore turn away from those who turn away from Our message, and desire nothing but the life of the present
That is as far as their knowledge will take them, indeed your Lord knows best those who stray from His path, and He knows best those who receive guidance
Yes, to God belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth. He rewards those who do wrong, according to their deeds, and He rewards those who do right, with what is best
Those who avoid great sins and shameful deeds, only falling into small faults, indeed your Lord is ample in forgiveness. He knows you well when He brings you out of the earth, and when you are hidden in your mothers’ wombs. Therefore do not justify yourselves. He knows best who it is that guards against harm
See the one, who turns back
Gives a little, then hardens
What, have they knowledge of the unknown and can they see it
No, is he not acquainted with what is in the Books of Moses
And of Abraham, who fulfilled his engagements
Namely, that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another
That human beings can have nothing but what they strive for
That their striving will soon come into sight
Then they will be rewarded with a reward complete
That to your Lord is the final goal
That it is He Who grants laughter and tears
That it is He Who grants death and life
That He created in pairs, male and female
From a zygote when lodged in its place
That He has promised a second creation
That it is He Who gives wealth and satisfaction
That He is the Lord of Sirius
And that it is He Who caused to perish, the ancient ‘Ad people
And the Thamud, nor gave them a lease of perpetual life
And before them, the people of Noah, because they were all most unjust and most insolent transgressors
And He caused to perish the overthrown cities
And they have been covered up
Then about which of the gifts of your Lord will you dispute
This is a warner, of the series of warners ahead of him
The Ever Approaching draws near
None but God can remove it
Do you then wonder at this recital
And will you laugh and not weep
Wasting your time in vanities
But fall down in prostration to God, in worship to Him