53:1  By the Star when it drops

53:2  Your companion has not erred, nor has he strayed from the way

53:3  Nor does he articulate about the whimsical

53:4  It is naught, save a revelation— to him revealed.

53:5  One firm of strength has taught him.

53:6  Endowed with power— so he made himself manifestly known.

53:7  He was in the highest horizon

53:8  Then he drew near, and came right down

53:9  — he was as close as two bow lengths or closer

53:10  Thus, HE revealed to HIS devotee what HE revealed.

53:11  His [i.e., the Prophet’s] intellect did not lie about what he saw.

53:12  So then, do you contend with him over what he saw?

53:13  And he did also see him in another descent

53:14  By the sidrat at the very limit of conception—

53:15  Near it the Garden of the [eternal] repose.

53:16  When that which covers, covered the sidrat,

53:17  his gaze did not swerve, nor did it cross the bounds

53:18  Indeed, he did see the greatest of the signs of his Rabb.

53:19  So [if Reality is only what you see] have you considered Al-laat and Al-Uzza

53:20  And Manaat, the other third?

53:21  Is the male for you and for HIM the female?

53:22  That, on its face [for having adopted female deities] is an inconsistent division!

53:23  They are nothing but names. You and your forefathers have named them. Allah has not sent down any license for them. They follow nothing but the presumption [passed down to them] and what their souls fancy—whereas Guidance has now come to them from their Rabb.

53:24  Or is man to have whatever he yearns for?

53:25  [Whatever man may suppose or yearn for], to Allah belong the ultimate end, and the very beginning.

53:26  And how many of the angels in the Heavens [there be]— their intercession will not benefit any bit, except that it be after Allah gives leave to whosoever HE wills and approves.

53:27  Verily, those who do not believe in the Hereafter, they studiously name the angels [patterned after] the name of the feminine kind.

53:28  While they have no knowledge thereof. They follow nothing but presumption. Surely, presumption is of no avail against the Truth.

53:29  So, withdraw from whoever turns away from OUR remembrance. They want nothing but the earthly life.

53:30  That is their extent of the Knowledge. Surely, your Rabb— HE best knows about who has strayed away from HIS Path and HE knows best about who is rightly guided.

53:31  And for Allah is whatever there is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, that HE may recompense those who were evil, for what they did, and that HE may recompense those who did good, with the ultimate good.

53:32  Those who avoid the major sins and the shameful deeds— except for slight lapses— surely, your Rabb is broad in forgiveness. HE has known you best ever since HE brought you into being on the earth, and even when you were formless in the bellies of your mothers. So, do not be sanctimonious. HE best knows who is God-conscious.

53:33  Have you considered the one who turned away?

53:34  He gave scant, while he stinted.

53:35  Is the knowledge of the unseeable Realm with him—so he sees?

53:36  Or is he not informed of what is in the scriptures of Moses

53:37  and of Abraham, who fulfilled [his trust]:

53:38  That no soul shall bear a burden of another.

53:39  And that man has nothing except what he strove for

53:40  and that his strivings are to be shown

53:41  then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense

53:42  and that unto your Rabb is the ending of all ends.

53:43  And that it is HE— HE gave laughter, and HE gave tears.

53:44  And that HE— He has given death, and HE has given life.

53:45  And that HE— He has created the pairs— the male and the female,

53:46  from a drop of semen when it is ejected

53:47  and that upon HIM is the bringing forth of the final being.

53:48  And that HE— HE alone has conferred freedom from want and conferred ownership.

53:49  And that HE— HE alone is the Rabb of Sirius.

53:50  And that HE— HE destroyed Aad —the first ones

53:51  And the Thamūd — so nothing remained.

53:52  And the people of Noah ere that. Verily, they were more unjust and more rebellious.

53:53  And the overturned cities, HE toppled them,

53:54  then covered them that which covered.

53:55  So [in the face of it all] in which of your Rabb’s providences can you sustain your doubt?

53:56  This is a warning from amongst the earliest warnings.

53:57  The imminent has gained imminence.

53:58  There are no disclosers for it, other than Allah.

53:59  Do you then find some of this discourse strange?

53:60  And you laugh and do not cry—

53:61  while being smug?

53:62  So, bow you down to Allah and worship. ۩