Read Surah 53. An-Najm Online from Holy Quran | Islamic References & Recitation

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Bismi All a hi a l rra h m a ni a l rra h eem i

IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE:¹

- Mohammad Asad

According to most of the authorities, this invocation (which occurs at the beginning of every surah with the exception of surah 9) constitutes an integral part of "The Opening" and is, therefore, numbered as verse {1}. In all other instances, the invocation "in the name of God" precedes the surah as such, and is not counted among its verses. - Both the divine epithets rahman and rahim are derived from the noun rahmah, which signifies "mercy", "compassion", "loving tenderness" and, more comprehensively, "grace". From the very earliest times, Islamic scholars have endeavoured to define the exact shades of meaning which differentiate the two terms. The best and simplest of these explanations is undoubtedly the one advanced by Ibn al-Qayyim (as quoted in Manar I,48): the term rahman circumscribes the quality of abounding grace inherent in, and inseparable from, the concept of God's Being, whereas rahim expresses the manifestation of that grace in, and its effect upon, His creation - in other words, an aspect of His activity.

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

In the Name of Allah- the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

- Mustafa Khattab

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

- Marmaduke Pickthall

In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful. ¹⁹

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Arabic words "Rahman" and "Rahim" translated "Most Gracious" and "Most Merciful" are both intensive forms referring to different aspects of God's attribute of Mercy. The Arabic intensive is more suited to express God's attributes than the superlative degree in English. The latter implies a comparison with other beings, or with other times or places, while there is no being like unto God, and He is independent of Time and Place. Mercy may imply pity, long-suffering, patience, and forgiveness, all of which the sinner needs and God Most Merciful bestows in abundant measure. But there is a Mercy that goes before even the need arises, the Grace which is ever watchful, and flows from God Most Gracious to all His creatures, protecting the, preserving them, guiding them, and leading them to clearer light and higher life. For this reason the attribute Rahman (Most Gracious) is not applied to any but God, but the attribute Rahim (Merciful), is a general term, and may also be applied to Men. To make us contemplate these boundless gifts of God, the formula: "In the name of God Most Gracious, Most Merciful": is placed before every Sura of the Qur-an (except the ninth), and repeated at the beginning of every act by the Muslim who dedicates his life to God, and whose hope is in His Mercy.

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53:1

وَٱلنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ Wa al nnajmi i tha haw a

CONSIDER this unfolding [of God's message], as it comes down from on high!¹

- Mohammad Asad

Or: "Consider the star when it sets" - an interpretation which for some reason has the preference of the majority of the commentators. However, almost all of them admit that the term najm - derived from the verb najama, "it appeared", "began", "ensued", or "proceeded" denotes also the "unfolding" of something that comes or appears gradually, as if by instalments. Hence, this term has from the very beginning been applied to each of the gradually-revealed parts (nujum) of the Qur'an and, thus, to the process of its gradual revelation, or its "unfolding", as such. This was, in fact, the interpretation of the above verse given by 'Abd Allah ibn'Abbas (as quoted by Tabari); in view of the sequence, this interpretation is regarded as fully justified by Raghib, Zamakhshari, Razi, Baydawi, Ibn Kathir and other authorities. Raghib and Ibn Kathir, in particular, point to the phrase mawaqi' an-nujum in 56:75 , which undoubtedly refers to the step-by-step revelation of the Qur'an. - As regards my rendering of the adjective particle wa as "Consider", see surah {74}, note [23].

By the star when it set,

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

By the stars when they fade away!

- Mustafa Khattab

By the Star when it setteth,

- Marmaduke Pickthall

By the Star when it goes down ⁵⁰⁸⁵

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

An-Najm is interpreted in various ways. As most commonly accepted, it means either a Star generically, or the close cluster of seven stars known as the Pleiades in the Constellation Taurus, which the sun enters about the 21st of April every year. In mid-April, or a little later, the beautiful cluster would set just after the sun, after having gradually ascended the sky in the winter months. In late May, or a little later, it would rise just before the sun. In its western aspects, it might be considered a spring constellation. To open-air nations (including the Arabs) whose climate usually presents starry skies, this is an object of great interest, and many folklore tales gather round it. When so glorious a cluster is content to bow down in the horizon and merge its light in the greater light created by Allah, it becomes a symbol of humility in beauty and power before the Most High. Whose revelation discloses the summit of beauty, power, and wisdom. Hawa in the text may mean either "goes down (or sets)" or "rises". Whichever meaning we take, it makes no difference to the interpretation given above.

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53:2

مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ M a d alla sah ibukum wam a ghaw a

This fellow-man of yours has not gone astray, nor is he deluded,²

- Mohammad Asad

See note [150] on 7:184 .

your companion (Muhammad) is neither astray, nor misguided,

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Your fellow man¹ is neither misguided nor astray.

- Mustafa Khattab

Muḥammad (ﷺ).

Your comrade erreth not, nor is deceived;

- Marmaduke Pickthall

Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled ⁵⁰⁸⁶

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Your Companion" is the holy Prophet Muhammad, who had lived among the Quraish. He is defended from three kinds of charges that the Unbelievers brought against him: (1) that he was going astray, either through defect of intelligence or through carelessness; (2) that he was being misled or deceived by evil spirits; and (3) that he spoke out of a whim or impulse, or from a selfish desire to impress his own personality. None of these charges were true. On the contrary he had direct inspiration from Allah.

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53:3

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ Wam a yan t iqu AAani alhaw a

and neither does he speak out of his own desire:

- Mohammad Asad

nor does he speak out of his own desire.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Nor does he speak of his own whims.

- Mustafa Khattab

Nor doth he speak of (his own) desire.

- Marmaduke Pickthall

Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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53:4

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْىٌ يُوحَىٰ In huwa ill a wa h yun yoo ha

that [which he conveys to you] is but [a divine] inspiration with which he is being inspired -

- Mohammad Asad

This Qur'an is but an inspired revelation.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

It is only a revelation sent down 'to him'.

- Mustafa Khattab

It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired,

- Marmaduke Pickthall

It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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53:5

عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلْقُوَىٰ AAallamahu shadeedu alquw a

something that a very mighty one³ has imparted to him:

- Mohammad Asad

I.e., the Angel of Revelation, Gabriel.

He is being taught by one who is mighty, powerful (angel Gabriel);

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

He has been taught by one 'angel' of mighty power¹

- Mustafa Khattab

The angel Gabriel.

Which one of mighty powers hath taught him,

- Marmaduke Pickthall

He was taught by one mighty in Power ⁵⁰⁸⁷

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is referred by the Commentators to the angel Gabriel, through whom the inspiration came. Cf. lxxxi, 20.

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Surah 53. An-Najm

Qur'an

Translation

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IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE:1

- Mohammad Asad

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

In the Name of Allah- the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

- Mustafa Khattab

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

- Marmaduke Pickthall

In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful. 19

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

CONSIDER this unfolding [of God's message], as it comes down from on high!1

- Mohammad Asad

By the star when it set,

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

By the stars when they fade away!

- Mustafa Khattab

By the Star when it setteth,

- Marmaduke Pickthall

By the Star when it goes down 5085

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This fellow-man of yours has not gone astray, nor is he deluded,2

- Mohammad Asad

your companion (Muhammad) is neither astray, nor misguided,

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Your fellow man1 is neither misguided nor astray.

- Mustafa Khattab

Your comrade erreth not, nor is deceived;

- Marmaduke Pickthall

Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled 5086

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

and neither does he speak out of his own desire:

- Mohammad Asad

nor does he speak out of his own desire.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Nor does he speak of his own whims.

- Mustafa Khattab

Nor doth he speak of (his own) desire.

- Marmaduke Pickthall

Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

that [which he conveys to you] is but [a divine] inspiration with which he is being inspired -

- Mohammad Asad

This Qur'an is but an inspired revelation.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

It is only a revelation sent down 'to him'.

- Mustafa Khattab

It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired,

- Marmaduke Pickthall

It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

something that a very mighty one3 has imparted to him:

- Mohammad Asad

He is being taught by one who is mighty, powerful (angel Gabriel);

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

He has been taught by one 'angel' of mighty power1

- Mustafa Khattab

Which one of mighty powers hath taught him,

- Marmaduke Pickthall

He was taught by one mighty in Power 5087

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE:¹

In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful. ¹⁹

CONSIDER this unfolding [of God's message], as it comes down from on high!¹

By the Star when it goes down ⁵⁰⁸⁵

This fellow-man of yours has not gone astray, nor is he deluded,²

Your fellow man¹ is neither misguided nor astray.

Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled ⁵⁰⁸⁶

something that a very mighty one³ has imparted to him:

He has been taught by one 'angel' of mighty power¹

He was taught by one mighty in Power ⁵⁰⁸⁷