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Surah An-Najm

النجم

Surah An-Najm is a Meccan surah of 62 verses that affirms the Prophet ﷺ's revelation and his vision at the Lote Tree, rejects the goddesses of Mecca, and ends with a call to prostrate.

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Meaning
The Star
Surah
53 of 114
Verses
62
Revealed in
Mecca
Found in
Juz 27

What Surah An-Najm is about

Surah An-Najm is the 53rd surah of the Quran, a Meccan surah of 62 verses. Its name, "The Star", comes from the oath in its first verse, by the star when it sets. According to a report in Sahih al-Bukhari, it was the first surah revealed that contained a prostration, and when the Prophet ﷺ recited it in Mecca, almost everyone present prostrated with him.

The surah begins by defending the Prophet ﷺ: your companion has not strayed or erred, and he does not speak from his own desire; it is only revelation (53:2-4). Verses 5-18 describe how he was taught by one mighty in power, generally understood as the angel Gabriel (Jibril), who appeared on the highest horizon and came within two bow-lengths or nearer. The Prophet ﷺ saw him again at the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary, near the Garden of Refuge, and his sight did not waver as he saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord. Many scholars link this second sighting to the Night Journey and Ascension.

Verses 19-28 turn to al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat, the goddesses worshipped in Arabia, and call them only names invented without authority, followed out of guesswork and desire. Even angels in the heavens cannot intercede without Allah's permission (53:26). Verse 32 reassures those who avoid major sins and indecencies, apart from small lapses, that Allah's forgiveness is vast, and warns against claiming purity for oneself.

Verses 36-54 summarize what was in the scrolls of Moses and Abraham: no one carries another's burden, a person has only what he strives for, his effort will be seen and fully rewarded, and everything ends with Allah, who causes laughter and weeping, death and life. The surah ends by asking whether people marvel at this message, laugh instead of weeping, and remain heedless, and tells them to prostrate to Allah and worship Him (53:59-62).

Main themes

  1. Not from his own desire

    The opening oath leads to a defense of the Prophet ﷺ: he has not strayed, and what he conveys is revelation, not personal opinion. This sets the authority of everything that follows.

    Verses 1–4

  2. The vision at the Lote Tree

    The surah describes the Prophet ﷺ's two sightings of the mighty teacher, once on the highest horizon and once at the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary. It stresses that his heart and sight were true to what he saw.

    Verses 5–18

  3. Only names

    The goddesses al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat are called names invented by people and their forefathers, with no authority from Allah. Following guesswork, the surah says, can never replace the truth.

    Verses 19–30

  4. Vast forgiveness, no self-praise

    Those who avoid major sins are promised Allah's vast forgiveness despite small slips. Since He knew people from the time they were embryos, they are told not to praise their own purity.

    Verses 31–32

  5. What the scrolls taught

    The surah lists principles found in the scrolls of Moses and Abraham: personal responsibility, reward for effort, and Allah's control over laughter, tears, life, death, wealth and the fate of earlier nations.

    Verses 36–55

  6. A call to prostrate

    The surah closes by saying the Hour is near and only Allah can reveal it, and asks why people laugh rather than weep. Its last verse commands prostration and worship.

    Verses 56–62

Verses to know

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ ﴿٣﴾ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡيࣱ يُوحَىٰ ﴿٤﴾

3Nor does he speak out of desire. 4It is but a revelation revealed.
An-Najm 53:3–4

These verses state that the Prophet ﷺ does not speak from desire and that what he brings is revelation, a key basis for the authority of his message.

عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ ﴿١٤﴾ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ ﴿١٥﴾ إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ ﴿١٦﴾ مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ ﴿١٧﴾ لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ ﴿١٨﴾

14At the Lotus Tree of the Extremity. 15Near which is the Garden of Repose. 16As there covered the Lotus Tree what covered it. 17The sight did not waver, nor did it exceed. 18He saw some of the Great Signs of his Lord.
An-Najm 53:14–18

The second sighting at the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary, where the Prophet ﷺ saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord. Many scholars connect it with the Ascension (Mi'raj).

وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ ﴿٣٩﴾ وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ ﴿٤٠﴾ ثُمَّ يُجۡزَىٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ ﴿٤١﴾

39And that the human being attains only what he strives for. 40And that his efforts will be witnessed. 41Then he will be rewarded for it the fullest reward.
An-Najm 53:39–41

A person has only what he strives for, his effort will be seen, and he will be fully rewarded. These verses are widely quoted on effort and accountability.

فَٱسۡجُدُواْۤ لِلَّهِۤ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ۩ ﴿٦٢﴾

So bow down to Allah, and worship!
An-Najm 53:62

The surah's final verse is a command to prostrate to Allah and worship Him, and it is a place of prostration during recitation.

When Surah An-Najm is recited

Surah An-Najm is known for its prostration at the final verse (53:62). Sahih al-Bukhari reports from Ibn Mas'ud that it was the first surah revealed with a prostration, and that when the Prophet ﷺ recited it in Mecca everyone with him prostrated except one man, who lifted some dust to his forehead. Ibn Abbas also reported in Sahih al-Bukhari that the Muslims, the idolaters, the jinn and people prostrated with him. Muslims who recite or hear the end of this surah commonly prostrate.

Surah An-Najm in Arabic and English

All 62 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  1. 1

    وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ

    Waalnnajmi itha hawa

    By the star as it goes down.

  2. 2

    مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ

    Ma dalla sahibukum wama ghawa

    Your friend has not gone astray, nor has he erred.

  3. 3

    وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ

    Wama yantiqu AAani alhawa

    Nor does he speak out of desire.

  4. 4

    إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡيࣱ يُوحَىٰ

    In huwa illa wahyun yooha

    It is but a revelation revealed.

  5. 5

    عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ

    AAallamahu shadeedu alquwa

    Taught to him by the Extremely Powerful.

  6. 6

    ذُو مِرَّةٖ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ

    Thoo mirratin faistawa

    The one of vigor. He settled.

  7. 7

    وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ

    Wahuwa bialofuqi alaAAla

    While he was at the highest horizon.

  8. 8

    ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ

    Thumma dana fatadalla

    Then he came near, and hovered around.

  9. 9

    فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ

    Fakana qaba qawsayni aw adna

    He was within two bows’ length, or closer.

  10. 10

    فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ

    Faawha ila AAabdihi ma awha

    Then He revealed to His servant what He revealed.

  11. 11

    مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ

    Ma kathaba alfuadu ma raa

    The heart did not lie about what it saw.

  12. 12

    أَفَتُمَٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ

    Afatumaroonahu AAala ma yara

    Will you dispute with him concerning what he saw?

  13. 13

    وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ

    Walaqad raahu nazlatan okhra

    He saw him on another descent.

  14. 14

    عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ

    AAinda sidrati almuntaha

    At the Lotus Tree of the Extremity.

  15. 15

    عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ

    AAindaha jannatu almawa

    Near which is the Garden of Repose.

  16. 16

    إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

    Ith yaghsha alssidrata ma yaghsha

    As there covered the Lotus Tree what covered it.

  17. 17

    مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

    Ma zagha albasaru wama tagha

    The sight did not waver, nor did it exceed.

  18. 18

    لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

    Laqad raa min ayati rabbihi alkubra

    He saw some of the Great Signs of his Lord.

  19. 19

    أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ

    Afaraaytumu allata waalAAuzza

    Have you considered al-Lat and al-Uzza?

  20. 20

    وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ

    Wamanata alththalithata alokhra

    And Manat, the third one, the other?

  21. 21

    أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ

    Alakumu alththakaru walahu alontha

    Are you to have the males, and He the females?

  22. 22

    تِلۡكَ إِذٗا قِسۡمَةࣱ ضِيزَىٰٓ

    Tilka ithan qismatun deeza

    What a bizarre distribution.

  23. 23

    إِنۡ هِيَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءࣱ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلۡطَٰنٍۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ

    In hiya illa asmaon sammaytumooha antum waabaokum ma anzala Allahu biha min sultanin in yattabiAAoona illa alththanna wama tahwa alanfusu walaqad jaahum min rabbihimu alhuda

    These are nothing but names, which you have devised, you and your ancestors, for which Allah sent down no authority. They follow nothing but assumptions, and what the ego desires, even though guidance has come to them from their Lord.

  24. 24

    أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ

    Am lilinsani ma tamanna

    Or is the human being to have whatever he desires?

  25. 25

    فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ

    Falillahi alakhiratu waaloola

    To Allah belong the Last and the First.

  26. 26

    ۞وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٖ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغۡنِي شَفَٰعَتُهُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ

    Wakam min malakin fee alssamawati la tughnee shafaAAatuhum shayan illa min baAAdi an yathana Allahu liman yashao wayarda

    How many an angel is there in the heavens whose intercession avails nothing, except after Allah gives permission to whomever He wills, and approves?

  27. 27

    إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ

    Inna allatheena la yuminoona bialakhirati layusammoona almalaikata tasmiyata alontha

    Those who do not believe in the Hereafter give the angels the names of females.

  28. 28

    وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغۡنِي مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ شَيۡـٔٗا

    Wama lahum bihi min AAilmin in yattabiAAoona illa alththanna wainna alththanna la yughnee mina alhaqqi shayan

    They have no knowledge of that. They only follow assumptions, and assumptions are no substitute for the truth.

  29. 29

    فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا

    FaaAArid AAan man tawalla AAan thikrina walam yurid illa alhayata alddunya

    So avoid him who has turned away from Our remembrance, and desires nothing but the present life.

  30. 30

    ذَٰلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ

    Thalika mablaghuhum mina alAAilmi inna rabbaka huwa aAAlamu biman dalla AAan sabeelihi wahuwa aAAlamu bimani ihtada

    That is the extent of their knowledge. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best who has accepted guidance.

  31. 31

    وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔواْ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَى

    Walillahi ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi liyajziya allatheena asaoo bima AAamiloo wayajziya allatheena ahsanoo bialhusna

    To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. He will repay those who do evil according to their deeds, and recompense those who do good with the best.

  32. 32

    ٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓئِرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٰسِعُ ٱلۡمَغۡفِرَةِۚ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةࣱ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمۡۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ

    Allatheena yajtaniboona kabaira alithmi waalfawahisha illa allamama inna rabbaka wasiAAu almaghfirati huwa aAAlamu bikum ith anshaakum mina alardi waith antum ajinnatun fee butooni ommahatikum fala tuzakkoo anfusakum huwa aAAlamu bimani ittaqa

    Those who avoid gross sins and indecencies—except for minor lapses—your Lord is of Vast Forgiveness. He knows you well, ever since He created you from the earth, and ever since you were embryos in your mothers’ wombs. So do not acclaim your own virtue; He is fully aware of the righteous.

  33. 33

    أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ

    Afaraayta allathee tawalla

    Have you considered him who turned away?

  34. 34

    وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلٗا وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ

    WaaAAta qaleelan waakda

    And gave a little, and held back?

  35. 35

    أَعِندَهُۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ

    aAAindahu AAilmu alghaybi fahuwa yara

    Does he possess knowledge of the unseen, and can therefore foresee?

  36. 36

    أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ

    Am lam yunabba bima fee suhufi moosa

    Or was he not informed of what is in the Scrolls of Moses?

  37. 37

    وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِي وَفَّىٰٓ

    Waibraheema allathee waffa

    And of Abraham, who fulfilled?

  38. 38

    أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةࣱ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ

    Alla taziru waziratun wizra okhra

    That no soul bears the burdens of another soul.

  39. 39

    وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ

    Waan laysa lilinsani illa ma saAAa

    And that the human being attains only what he strives for.

  40. 40

    وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ

    Waanna saAAyahu sawfa yura

    And that his efforts will be witnessed.

  41. 41

    ثُمَّ يُجۡزَىٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ

    Thumma yujzahu aljazaa alawfa

    Then he will be rewarded for it the fullest reward.

  42. 42

    وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ

    Waanna ila rabbika almuntaha

    And that to your Lord is the finality.

  43. 43

    وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ

    Waannahu huwa adhaka waabka

    And that it is He who causes laughter and weeping.

  44. 44

    وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا

    Waannahu huwa amata waahya

    And that it is He who gives death and life.

  45. 45

    وَأَنَّهُۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ

    Waannahu khalaqa alzzawjayni alththakara waalontha

    And that it is He who created the two kinds—the male and the female.

  46. 46

    مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ

    Min nutfatin itha tumna

    From a sperm drop, when emitted.

  47. 47

    وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ

    Waanna AAalayhi alnnashata alokhra

    And that upon Him is the next existence.

  48. 48

    وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ

    Waannahu huwa aghna waaqna

    And that it is He who enriches and impoverishes.

  49. 49

    وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ

    Waannahu huwa rabbu alshshiAAra

    And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius.

  50. 50

    وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ

    Waannahu ahlaka AAadan aloola

    And that it is He who destroyed the first Aad.

  51. 51

    وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ

    Wathamooda fama abqa

    And Thamood, sparing no one.

  52. 52

    وَقَوۡمَ نُوحٖ مِّن قَبۡلُۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ

    Waqawma noohin min qablu innahum kanoo hum athlama waatgha

    And the people of Noah before that; for they were most unjust and most oppressive.

  53. 53

    وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ

    Waalmutafikata ahwa

    And He toppled the ruined cities.

  54. 54

    فَغَشَّىٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ

    Faghashshaha ma ghashsha

    And covered them with whatever covered them.

  55. 55

    فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ

    Fabiayyi alai rabbika tatamara

    So which of your Lord’s marvels can you deny?

  56. 56

    هَٰذَا نَذِيرࣱ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ

    Hatha natheerun mina alnnuthuri aloola

    This is a warning, just like the first warnings.

  57. 57

    أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأٓزِفَةُ

    Azifati alazifatu

    The inevitable is imminent.

  58. 58

    لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ

    Laysa laha min dooni Allahi kashifatun

    None besides Allah can unveil it.

  59. 59

    أَفَمِنۡ هَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ

    Afamin hatha alhadeethi taAAjaboona

    Do you marvel at this discourse?

  60. 60

    وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ

    Watadhakoona wala tabkoona

    And laugh, and do not weep?

  61. 61

    وَأَنتُمۡ سَٰمِدُونَ

    Waantum samidoona

    Lost in your frivolity?

  62. 62

    فَٱسۡجُدُواْۤ لِلَّهِۤ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ۩

    Faosjudoo lillahi waoAAbudoo

    So bow down to Allah, and worship!

Surah An-Najm PDF

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Questions about Surah An-Najm

How many verses are in Surah An-Najm?

Surah An-Najm has 62 verses. It is the 53rd surah of the Quran and was revealed in Mecca.

Is there a sajdah in Surah Najm?

Yes. The last verse, 53:62, is a place of prostration. Sahih al-Bukhari reports that the Prophet ﷺ prostrated at it and those with him prostrated too.

Which verse says a person gets only what he strives for?

Verse 39 of Surah An-Najm (53:39). It is part of a passage summarizing what was in the scrolls of Moses and Abraham.

What is the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary?

Sidrat al-Muntaha is mentioned in 53:14. It is described as near the Garden of Refuge, and it is where the Prophet ﷺ saw the angel a second time and saw great signs of his Lord.