53:1By the star as it goes down.

53:2Your friend has not gone astray, nor has he erred.

53:3Nor does he speak out of desire.

53:5Taught to him by the Extremely Powerful.

53:6The one of vigor. He settled.

53:7While he was at the highest horizon.

53:8Then he came near, and hovered around.

53:9He was within two bows’ length, or closer.

53:10Then He revealed to His servant what He revealed.

53:11The heart did not lie about what it saw.

53:12Will you dispute with him concerning what he saw?

53:13He saw him on another descent.

53:14At the Lotus Tree of the Extremity.

53:15Near which is the Garden of Repose.

53:16As there covered the Lotus Tree what covered it.

53:17The sight did not waver, nor did it exceed.

53:18He saw some of the Great Signs of his Lord.

53:20And Manat, the third one, the other?

53:21Are you to have the males, and He the females?

53:23These are nothing but names, which you have devised, you and your ancestors, for which God sent down no authority. They follow nothing but assumptions, and what the ego desires, even though guidance has come to them from their Lord.

53:24Or is the human being to have whatever he desires?

53:25To God belong the Last and the First.

53:26How many an angel is there in the heavens whose intercession avails nothing, except after God gives permission to whomever He wills, and approves?

53:27Those who do not believe in the Hereafter give the angels the names of females.

53:28They have no knowledge of that. They only follow assumptions, and assumptions are no substitute for the truth.

53:29So avoid him who has turned away from Our remembrance, and desires nothing but the present life.

53:30That is the extent of their knowledge. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best who has accepted guidance.

53:31To God 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.

53:32Those 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.

53:34And gave a little, and held back?

53:35Does he possess knowledge of the unseen, and can therefore foresee?

53:36Or was he not informed of what is in the Scrolls of Moses?

53:38That no soul bears the burdens of another soul.

53:39And that the human being attains only what he strives for.

53:41Then he will be rewarded for it the fullest reward.

53:42And that to your Lord is the finality.

53:43And that it is He who causes laughter and weeping.

53:44And that it is He who gives death and life.

53:45And that it is He who created the two kinds—the male and the female.

53:46From a sperm drop, when emitted.

53:47And that upon Him is the next existence.

53:48And that it is He who enriches and impoverishes.

53:49And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius.

53:50And that it is He who destroyed the first Aad.

53:52And the people of Noah before that; for they were most unjust and most oppressive.

53:53And He toppled the ruined cities.

53:54And covered them with whatever covered them.

53:56This is a warning, just like the first warnings.

53:57The inevitable is imminent.