53:1  By the star as it falls.

53:2  Your friend is neither misguided nor deceived.

53:3  Nor does he speak out of inclination.

53:4  It is but a revelation revealed.

53:5  Taught to him by the one of immense power.

53:6  Possessor of great wisdom; He positioned Himself.

53:7  While he was at the uppermost horizon.

53:8  Then he approached and descended.

53:9  And was at the distance of two bow lengths, or even nearer.

53:10  Then He revealed to His servant what He revealed.

53:11  The heart didn’t lie about what it saw.

53:12  Will you dispute with him over what he saw?

53:13  And he certainly saw him in another descent.

53:14  At the Lote Tree of the Ultimate Boundary.

53:15  Besides it is the Garden of Refuge.

53:16  When the Lote Tree was shrouded by what shrouded it.

53:17  The sight didn’t swerve, nor did it overstep.

53:18  Indeed, he did see, of the Greatest Signs, of his Lord.

53:19  Did you consider al-Lat and al-Uzza?

53:20  And Manat, the third one, the other?

53:21  So for you the male and for Him the female?

53:22  What a bizarre distribution!

53:23  These are nothing but names you named—you and your forefathers—without any authorization from God. They follow nothing except assumption and what the souls desire, even though guidance did come to them from their Lord.

53:24  Or is man to have whatever he desires?

53:25  But to God belong the afterlife and the first.

53:26  How many angels there are in the heavens, whose intercession would not benefit at all, except after God gives permission for whom He wills and approves.

53:27  Those who don’t believe in the Hereafter give the angels female names.

53:28  They don’t know of this. They follow not except assumption, and assumption avails not against the truth at all.

53:29  So turn away from whoever turns his back on Our message and desires nothing but the worldly life.

53:30  That’s the extent of their knowledge. Your Lord knows best who strays from His path and who is guided.

53:31  To God belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth—so He may recompense those who commit evil according to their deeds, and reward those who do good with the best.

53:32  Those who avoid major sins and immoralities—except for minor lapses—your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He knew you well, ever since He produced you from the earth, and when you were embryos in your mothers’ wombs. So don’t claim yourselves pure; He knows best who is righteous.

53:33  Did you see the one who turns away?

53:34  And gives a little, then withholds?

53:35  Does he possess knowledge of the unseen, giving him vision?

53:36  Or wasn’t he informed of what’s in the scriptures of Moses?

53:37  And of Abraham, who fulfilled?

53:38  That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another.

53:39  And that man attains only what he strives for.

53:40  And that his striving will soon be seen.

53:41  Then, he will be rewarded for it with the fullest reward.

53:42  And that to your Lord is the finality.

53:43  And that it is He who causes laughter and weeping.

53:44  And that it is He who causes death and gives life.

53:45  And that it is He who created the two pairs—male and female.

53:46  From a sperm-drop when it is emitted.

53:47  And that upon Him lies the Second Genesis.

53:48  And that it is He who enriches and impoverishes.

53:49  And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius.

53:50  And that it is He who destroyed the first Aad.

53:51  And Thamud, and He didn’t spare anyone.

53:52  And the people of Noah before—they were even more unjust and transgressive.

53:53  And collapsed the ‘Overturned City’.

53:54  So, He covered it with what He covered.

53:55  So, which of your Lord’s marvels will you deny?

53:56  This is a warning, just like the previous ones.

53:57  The impending event is drawing near.

53:58  None other than God can reveal it.

53:59  Are you amazed by this discourse?

53:60  And do you laugh and not weep?

53:61  And you are proudly indifferent?

53:62  So bow down before God, and worship!