SURAH 53 — An-Najm — النجم — “The Star”

• Revelation Order: 23
• Event Anchor: Early Meccan public recitation at the Ka‘bah (c. 612–615 CE)

Explanation:
An-Najm is associated with one of the earliest mass public recitations of the Qur’an. When the Prophet recited it at the Ka‘bah, its forceful affirmation of revelation and vivid description of the Prophet’s vision of Jibrīl moved the audience—including non-Muslims—to prostrate at the end. The surah rebukes Meccan idols and asserts the authority of divine revelation, aligning with the early phase when public preaching first challenged the religious foundations of Meccan society. Its dramatic conclusion mirrors the emotional intensity of that pivotal public moment.

Verse	Verse #	Meccan v Medinan	General Index
By the star when it descends,	1	Meccan	4785
Your companion [Muhammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred,	2	Meccan	4786
Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination.	3	Meccan	4787
It is not but a revelation revealed,	4	Meccan	4788
Taught to him by one intense in strength –	5	Meccan	4789
One of soundness. And he rose to [his] true form	6	Meccan	4790
While he was in the higher [part of the] horizon.	7	Meccan	4791
Then he approached and descended	8	Meccan	4792
And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer.	9	Meccan	4793
And he revealed to His Servant what he revealed.	10	Meccan	4794
The heart did not lie [about] what it saw.	11	Meccan	4795
So will you dispute with him over what he saw?	12	Meccan	4796
And he certainly saw him in another descent	13	Meccan	4797
At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary –	14	Meccan	4798
Near it is the Garden of Refuge –	15	Meccan	4799
When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it].	16	Meccan	4800
The sight [of the Prophet] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit].	17	Meccan	4801
He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.	18	Meccan	4802
So have you considered al-Lat and al-‘Uzza?	19	Meccan	4803
And Manat, the third – the other one?	20	Meccan	4804
Is the male for you and for Him the female?	21	Meccan	4805
That, then, is an unjust division.	22	Meccan	4806
They are not but [mere] names you have named them – you and your forefathers – for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow not except assumption and what [their] souls desire, and there has already come to them from their Lord guidance.	23	Meccan	4807
Or is there for man whatever he wishes?	24	Meccan	4808
Rather, to Allah belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].	25	Meccan	4809
And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail at all except [only] after Allah has permitted [it] to whom He wills and approves.	26	Meccan	4810
Indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter name the angels female names,	27	Meccan	4811
And they have thereof no knowledge. They follow not except assumption, and indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all.	28	Meccan	4812
So turn away from whoever turns his back on Our message and desires not except the worldly life.	29	Meccan	4813
That is their sum of knowledge. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who strays from His way, and He is most knowing of who is guided.	30	Meccan	4814
And to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth – that He may recompense those who do evil with [the penalty of] what they have done and recompense those who do good with the best [reward] –	31	Meccan	4815
Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only [committing] slight ones. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He was most knowing of you when He produced you from the earth and when you were fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.	32	Meccan	4816
Have you seen the one who turned away	33	Meccan	4817
And gave a little and [then] refrained?	34	Meccan	4818
Does he have knowledge of the unseen, so he sees?	35	Meccan	4819
Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Moses	36	Meccan	4820
And [of] Abraham, who fulfilled [his obligations] –	37	Meccan	4821
That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another	38	Meccan	4822
And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives	39	Meccan	4823
And that his effort is going to be seen –	40	Meccan	4824
Then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense	41	Meccan	4825
And that to your Lord is the finality	42	Meccan	4826
And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep	43	Meccan	4827
And that it is He who causes death and gives life	44	Meccan	4828
And that He creates the two mates – the male and female –	45	Meccan	4829
From a sperm-drop when it is emitted	46	Meccan	4830
And that [incumbent] upon Him is the next creation	47	Meccan	4831
And that it is He who enriches and suffices	48	Meccan	4832
And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius	49	Meccan	4833
And that He destroyed the first [people of] ‘Aad	50	Meccan	4834
And Thamud – and He did not spare [them] –	51	Meccan	4835
And the people of Noah before. Indeed, it was they who were [even] more unjust and oppressing.	52	Meccan	4836
And the overturned towns He hurled down	53	Meccan	4837
And covered them by that which He covered.	54	Meccan	4838
Then which of the favors of your Lord do you doubt?	55	Meccan	4839
This [Prophet] is a warner like the former warners.	56	Meccan	4840
The Approaching Day has approached.	57	Meccan	4841
Of it, [from those] besides Allah, there is no remover.	58	Meccan	4842
Then at this statement do you wonder?	59	Meccan	4843
And you laugh and do not weep	60	Meccan	4844
While you are proudly sporting?	61	Meccan	4845
So prostrate to Allah and worship [Him].	62	Meccan	4846