About the Surah

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

       By the star when it goes down (and disappears).

       (The answer of the above swearing is that) your companion [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] has neither gone astray nor is he on the wrong Path.

       And he does not speak from his own desires.

       (It is) only a revelation revealed (to him).

       (This revelation is) taught to him by a very powerful [angel Jibrael ( ) sent by Allah].

       He is (by birth) very strong (in body and mind and Satan cannot interfere during the revelations to the Prophet). So he [Jibrael( )] stood up straight.

       While he [Jibrael ( )] was in the highest part of the horizon (Ibn Kathir).

       Then he [Jibrael ( )] came (down to earth) and went close to him [Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)].

       So he was at a distance of two bows’ length or (even) nearer.

       Then he [Jibrael ( )] deli-ver-ed to Allah’s slave [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] what (he was supposed) to deliver.

       [The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) saw Jibrael ( ) in his real form and his heart was inspired by the Great Power of Allah]. What the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) saw, his heart did not deny it.

       Do you then dispute with him [Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] regard-ing what he saw?

       And, indeed, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) saw him [Jibrael ( )] even another time (in his real form).

       Near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (a lote-tree in the seventh heaven).

       The Paradise of Abode [i.e. Adam’s ( ) ex-residence] is near it. (Fath al-Qadeer)

       When the lote-tree was cov-ered by what was covering (or fly-ing above) it.

       His [Prophet Muhammad’s (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] sight did not turn aside (right or left) nor did it transgress beyond the limits (prescribed by Allah).

       Indeed, he [Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] saw some signs from the Greatest Signs of his Creator.

       Did you ponder over the condition of idols like Lat and Uzza.

       And the third, Manat. (i.e. are they worth worshipping or not?)

       Are there sons for you and daughters for Him?

       Are there sons for you and daughters for Him?

       These are merely names which you and your forefathers have given while Allah has sent no authority for it. They simply follow the guests and their vain desires, although there has surely come to them the guidance from their Creator.

       Or shall man have everything that he wishes for?

       So the Hereafter and the worldly life, all belong to Allah (i.e. Allah has full authority in both).

       And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will not benefit except after Allah has given permission for whom He wills and with whom He is pleased.

       Indeed, those who don’t be-lieve in the Hereafter name the angels with female names.

       They don’t have any know-ledge about it. They simply follow their guess, and, indeed, their guesses does not benefit a bit against the truth.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] So you turn away from him who turns away from Our reminder (the Quran) and desires only the worldly life.

       This is the extent of their know-ledge. Indeed, your Creator knows best who has gone astray from His Path and He knows best who is following the guidance.

       And all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth belongs to Allah so that He may punish those who commit evil deeds and give excellent reward to those who perform good deeds with what is best (i.e. Paradise).

       (The good believers are those) who avoid the major sins and the obscene activities except the small faults (or minor sins). Indeed, your Creator is of Vast Forgiveness. He knew you when He created you from the earth [Adam ( )], and when you were hidden (as babies) in your mothers’ wombs. Hence, don’t profess yourself to be pious people. Allah knows best who has true piety.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Did you see him who turned away (from Islam),

       And gave a little (money), then stopped (giving)?

       Has he knowledge of the Unseen, so he understands every-thing?

       Or is he not informed (about these topics) by the Scripture of Musa ( ).

       And by Ibrahim’s ( ) (Books), who ful-fil-led his promise (to Allah by conveying His message that he was supposed to convey).

       (And that message was) no one will carry the weight (of sins) of another person.

       And that every person will have nothing except that which he did (good or bad).

       And that every person’s effort will be examined.

       Then he will be rewarded fully.

       And that everyone is to return to his Creator. (Hence, why should he not fear Allah?)

       And that He makes (whom He wills) laugh, and (whom He wills) weep.

       And that He causes death and gives life.

       And, indeed, He creates pairs, male and female,

       From minute quantity of semen (male and female dis-charge) when it is emitted.

       And that He will give life again (Resurrection).

       And that He makes you rich and gives in abundance (wealth and contentment).

       And that He is the Creator of Sirius (the star which pagan Arabs used to worship).

       And that He destroyed the former A’d (people).

       And Thamud (people). So none was saved.

       And the people of Nuh ( ) of earlier times. Indeed, they were very unjust and extreme transgressors.

       And He destroyed the over-turned cities (of Sodom).

       So it was covered with what it was supposed to be covered (i.e. rain of stones covered it).

       (O mankind! When you are provided guidance through these topics and the guidance in each topic is a Favour of Allah) Then which of the Favours of Allah will you doubt (and deny)?

       This [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] is a warner from among the (series of) earlier warners.

       [Believe in Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), since] the Day of Resurrection has drawn near.

       None can show its (the Day of Resurrection’s) time besides Allah (the time is fixed; none can advance it nor delay it).

       Do you then wonder about this (Quranic) speech?

       And you laugh (to mock it) and don’t weep (out of the fear of torment).

       And you are absorbed in the enjoyment (of this worldly life).

       [Hence, quit arro-gance and heed-less---ness and follow the teach-ings of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] So fall down in prostration (in obedience) to Allah and worship Him (Alone).