By the star when it sets
your companion (Muhammad) is neither astray, nor misguided
nor does he speak out of his own desire
This Qur’an is but an inspired revelation
He is being taught by one who is mighty powerful (angel Gabriel)
the one free from defects who became stable in the view
He stood poised at the uppermost horizon
then he drew near, coming close
within the length of two bows or even closer
and revealed to Allah's servant (Muhammad) that what he was supposed to reveal
His (Muhammad’s) own heart did not deny that which he saw
How can you, O unbelievers then, question what he saw
And he (Muhammad) saw him once again
near Sidra-tul-Muntaha (the Lote-tree at the farthest end of the seven heavens, beyond which none can pass)
Near it is Janna-tul-M’awa (the rest-house of paradise)
When that Lote-tree was covered with what covered it
his eyes did not turn aside nor did they exceed the limit
and he did indeed see some of his Lord’s greatest signs
Have you ever seen LAt and Uzzh
and another, the third Manat (names of Arabian idols, claimed by the pagans of Mecca to be the daughters of Allah)
Are you to have sons, and He the daughters
This indeed is an unfair division
These (LAt, Uzza and ManAt) are nothing but names which you and your forefathers have invented, for Allah has vested no authority in them. The unbelievers follow nothing but mere conjecture and the whims of their own souls, even though right guidance has already come to them from their Lord
Or should man have whatever he wishes
Nay! To Allah belongs the hereafter and this present life
How many are the angels in the heavens; yet their intercession can avail none unless Allah gives them permission in favor of whom He wants and is pleased with
Those who do not believe in the hereafter give the angels the female names of goddesses
But they have no knowledge of it. They follow mere conjecture; and surely conjecture does not avail against the truth at all
Therefore, neglect those who ignore Our warnings and seek only the life of this world
This is the sum of their knowledge. Surely your Lord knows who have strayed from His path, and who are rightly guided
To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth, so that He may requite the evildoers according to their deeds, and richly reward those who do good deeds
To those who avoid the major sins and shameful deeds and are guilty of only small offense, surely for them your Lord will have abundant forgiveness. He knew you well when He created you from earth and when you were just embryos in your mother’s wombs, therefore, do not claim piety for yourselves. He knows best who is really Godfearing pious
Have you seen the one who (Walid bin Mughirah, who was willing to embrace Islam, but upon someone’s promise to take the responsibility of getting the punishment on his behalf in lieu of certain amount of money, he) turned away
He gave a little from the promised amount then stopped
Does he possess the knowledge of the unseen that he could see reality
Or has he not been notified about what was in the scrolls of Mose
and of Abraham who always kept his word
That no soul shall bear the burden of another
that there shall be nothing for a man except what he strives for
that his striving shall be scrutinized
that he shall be fully rewarded for it
that to your Lord is the final goal
that it is He Who grants laughter and tears
that it is He Who ordains death and life
that it is He Who has created in pairs, the male and the female
from a drop of ejaculated semen
that it rests upon Him to grant the second life (the life of hereafter)
that it is He Who gives wealth and property
that He is even the Lord of the Sirius (dog star whom the pagans used to worship)
and that it is He Who destroyed the people of ‘Ad
then the people of Thamud, sparing no one
and before them the people of Noah, who were the most unjust and rebellious
And also destroyed the Mu’tafikah (Overthrown Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah)
who were smitten by the scourge that smote them
Then which of your Lord’s blessings would you doubt
This Warner (Muhammad) is just like the earlier warners
The ever approaching (the Day of Judgment) is drawing near
none but Allah can disclose it
Do you then wonder at this revelation
and laugh instead of weeping
Rather you are wasting your time
prostrate yourselves before Allah and worship Him while you can