The Stars
An-Najm
النَّجْم
LEARNING POINTS
This surah says that the message of the Prophet ﷺ is actually coming from Allah. So people should trust what he says, including the fact that he saw the angel Jibreel (علیہ السلام) twice — one time in Makkah and another time during his night journey to the heavens.
Those who worship idols, hoping that they will defend them on Judgment Day, are told that they are making a terrible mistake. They are also told that even angels cannot defend anyone without the permission of Allah.
Allah is the only One Who creates and takes care of everyone. This is why people should worship Him alone and respect His Word, the Quran.
BACKGROUND STORY
The Prophet suffered in Makkah for many years, especially after the death of his wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib. To comfort the Prophet, Allah ordered the angel Jibreel to take him for a journey from the Holy Mosque in Makkah to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem (17:1). According to the next passage, the Prophet was then taken to the heavens, where he received 3 gifts from Allah:
1. The 5 daily salah.
2. The last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:285-286).
3. And a promise from Allah to forgive the believers, as long as they leave this world not making anyone equal to Him. (Recorded by Imam Muslim)
JUDGMENT IS THE TRUTH
1By the stars when they fade away! 2Your fellow man Muhammad (ﷺ) is not misguided nor astray. 3And what he says is not his own word. 4It is only a revelation sent down to him. 5He has been taught by one angel with incredible power and great perfection, 6who once appeared in his true form 7while on the highest point above the horizon, 8then he came so close to the Prophet 9that he was only two feet away or even less. 10Then Allah revealed to His servant what He revealed through Jibreel. 11The Prophet's heart did not doubt what he saw. 12How can you idol-worshippers then argue with him about what he saw? 13And he definitely saw that angel come down a second time 14beside the Lote Tree at the most far point in the Seventh Heaven— 15near which is the Garden of Perfect Living— 16while that Lote Tree was covered with 'awesome' glory! 17The Prophet's eyes did not turn left or right, and they did not see more than they should. 18He definitely saw some of his Lord's greatest signs.
وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ 1مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ 2وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ 3إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡيٞ يُوحَىٰ 4عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ 5ذُو مِرَّةٖ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ 6وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ 7ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ 8فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ 9فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ 10مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ 11أَفَتُمَٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ 12وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ 13عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ 14عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ 15إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ 16مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ 17١٧ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ18
Verse 13: Lote trees (which grow in some Arab countries) are known for their lovely shade and fruit. The tree referred to here is in the Seventh Heaven. The Prophet said that this tree is very big with huge leaves and fruit (Recorded by Imam Muslim)
SIDE STORY
One day, a farmer found an egg in an abandoned eagle's nest. He took the egg back to his farm and put it in the nest of one of his chickens. The egg hatched, and the baby eagle grew up copying the other chickens. He spent half of his life in the coop and the other half in the yard, never looking up. One day the old eagle finally lifted up his head and saw something amazing: a young eagle soaring in the sky. With tears in his eyes, the old eagle said to himself, 'I wish I had been born an eagle!'
One day, a farmer found an egg in an abandoned eagle's nest. He took the egg back to his farm and put it in the nest of one of his chickens. The egg hatched, and the baby eagle grew up copying the other chickens. He spent half of his life in the coop and the other half in the yard, never looking up. One day the old eagle finally lifted up his head and saw something amazing: a young eagle soaring in the sky. With tears in his eyes, the old eagle said to himself, 'I wish I had been born an eagle!'
WAKE-UP CALL TO IDOL-WORSHIPPERS
19Now, have you ever thought about the idols of Lāt and ʿUzzā, 20and that third one, Manāt, as well? 21Do you prefer to have sons while you claim that Allah has daughters? 22Then this is truly an unfair way to divide! 23These idols are only names that you and your fathers have made up—a practice Allah has never approved. They follow nothing but personal opinions and whatever their souls desire, although true guidance has already come to them from their Lord. 24Or should every person simply get whatever they wish for? 25In fact, both this world and the next belong to Allah alone. 26Imagine how many 'great' angels are in the heavens! Even they cannot speak in defence of anyone until Allah gives permission to whoever He wants and 'only for the people He' approves.
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّى 19وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ 20أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ 21تِلۡكَ إِذٗا قِسۡمَةٞ ضِيزَىٰٓ 22إِنۡ هِيَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٞ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلۡطَٰنٍۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ 23أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ 24فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ 25وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٖ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغۡنِي شَفَٰعَتُهُمۡ شَيًۡٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ26
Verse 24: Allah does not have sons or daughters. Although those idol-worshippers did not like to have daughters, they claimed that the angels were the daughters of Allah.
Verse 25: Do they think those idols will protect them from Allah on Judgment Day
Verse 26: Do they think those idols will protect them from Allah on Judgment Day
ARE THE ANGELS ALLAH'S DAUGHTERS?
27Surely those who do not believe in the Next Life say angels are female, 28although they have no knowledge to support this. They follow nothing but personal opinions. And surely opinions can in no way replace the truth. 29So turn away, O Prophet, from whoever has rejected Our Reminder, only wanting the short life of this world. 30This is how much knowledge they have. Surely your Lord knows best who has strayed from His Way and who is rightly guided.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ 27وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغۡنِي مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ شَيۡٔٗا 28فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا 29ذَٰلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ30
SIDE STORY
A Canadian First Nation grandfather was teaching his grandson about good and evil in this world. He said, 'I feel there are two wolves fighting inside my heart. One of them is good and the other one is evil.' The young boy asked, 'Which one do you think is going to win?' The grandfather answered, 'The one I keep feeding.'
According to the next passage, we are not angels or devils. We can choose to do good or evil. Those who do good and avoid evil will be rewarded generously by Allah.
ALLAH KNOWS WHO IS GOOD?
31Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth belongs to Allah alone, so that He may punish those doing evil for what they did, and reward those doing good with the greatest reward— 32those who avoid big sins and shameful deeds, even if they do small sins. Surely your Lord’s forgiveness is huge. He knows you well from the time He created you from the earth and while you were still tiny babies in the bellies of your mothers. So do not praise yourselves—He knows best who is truly good in faith.
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَٰٓـُٔواْ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَى 31ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَٰٓئِرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٰسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِۚ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٞ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمۡۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ32
BACKGROUND STORY
Al-Walid ibn Al-Mughirah, one of the biggest enemies of the Prophet, was once moved by the Quran and decided to accept Islam. But one of his evil friends got very angry and told him, 'Just leave Islam and I am ready to go to Hell to be punished for your sins for just a small fee.' To please his friend, Al-Walid accepted the offer, then left Islam and started to abuse the Prophet again. Al-Walid paid his friend some money, then refused to pay the rest. The following verses tell Al-Walid that no one will be punished in the place of another. The lesson here is: we should try to please Allah by doing what is right, because it is impossible to please everybody. (Recorded by Imam At-Tabari)
SIDE STORY
One day a man by the name of Joha was on the back of his donkey while his son was walking along to the market. They passed by a group of people, who got very angry and said, 'Look at this man with no mercy in his heart. He is riding while his little kid is walking.' Joha got off and put his son on the donkey and started to walk. When they came across another group, people shouted, 'Look at this boy who has no respect for his old father!' Joha got on the back of the donkey with his son and moved on. When they came across a third group, people yelled, 'What happened to animal rights? How can two heavy people be on the back of a poor donkey? Have mercy!' Joha told his son to get off so together they could carry the donkey. They passed by another group, and people started making fun of them. Joha then told his son, 'Let's walk with the donkey.' When they passed by another group, people started laughing at them, saying, 'Look at these two fools. Why did Allah create donkeys then?' Joha told his son, 'You see, son! You cannot please everyone. Just try to please Allah, the One.'
A BAD DEAL
33Have you seen the one who turned away from Islam, 34and paid a little to someone to be punished in his place, 35and then stopped? 36Does he have the knowledge of the unseen so that he sees the Next Life? 37Or has he not been told about what is in the Book of Musa, 38and that of Ibrahim, who perfectly completed every task? 39They say that no sinner will carry the sin of another, 40and that each person will be paid back only for what they have done, 41the result of their work will be seen in their book of deeds, 42then they will fully get what they deserve, and that to your Lord alone is the final return of all things.
أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ 33وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلٗا وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ 34أَعِندَهُۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ 35أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ 36وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِي وَفَّىٰٓ 37أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٞ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ 38وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ 39وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ 40ثُمَّ يُجۡزَىٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ 41وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ42
IT IS ALL IN ALLAH'S HANDS
43Also, He is the One Who brings about happiness and sadness. 44And He is the One Who gives life and causes death. 45And He created the pairs—males and females— 46from a human seed when it comes forth. 47And He will bring everyone back to life a second time. 48And He is the One Who makes people rich or poor. 49And He alone is the Lord of the star of Sirius. 50And He destroyed the first people of ʿĀd, 51and then Thamud, leaving no one. 52And before that He destroyed the people of Nuh, who were truly worse in doing wrong and far more in sin. 53And He is the One Who turned the cities of Lūṭ upside down. 54How terrible was what came upon them! 55Now, which of your Lord’s favours will you question?
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ 43وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا 44وَأَنَّهُۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ 45مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ 46وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ 47وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ 48وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ 49وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ 50وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ 51وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٖ مِّن قَبۡلُۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ 52وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ 53فَغَشَّىٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ 54فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ55
Verse 55: Sirius is a bright star that some Arabs worshipped
WORDS OF WISDOM
This symbol (which we see at the end of verse 62 in Arabic) marks one of 15 places in the Quran where the reader should bow down (or go into sajdah) and say: 'I bow down my face to the One Who created and formed it, and gave it the ability to hear and see with His power and strength. So blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.' {Recorded by Imam Al-Hakim} or 'Sub-hana Rabbia Al-A'la' (Glory be to my Lord—the Most High).
IT IS ALL IN ALLAH'S HANDS
56This 'Prophet' is a warner like others who came before 'him'. 57The coming Hour 'of Judgment' is very close. 58No one knows its exact time except Allah. 59Now, do you find this message 'of the Quran' hard to believe, 60laughing 'at it' and not moved to tears, 61and not paying any attention? 62Instead, bow down to Allah and worship 'Him alone'!
هَٰذَا نَذِيرٞ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَى 56أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأٓزِفَةُ 57لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ 58أَفَمِنۡ هَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ 59وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ 60وَأَنتُمۡ سَٰمِدُونَ 61فَٱسۡجُدُواْۤ لِلَّهِۤ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ62