Surah 53
Surah An-Najm (The Star)
النجم
Also written: Najm
Surah An-Najm (النجم) is surah 53 of the 114 surahs of the Quran. It has 62 ayahs, was revealed in Mecca (Meccan), and its name means “The Star”.
- Number
- 53
- Ayahs
- 62
- Revelation
- Meccan
- Meaning
- The Star
Names, meaning and Meccan/Medinan classification as listed in the quran-json dataset.
About Surah An-Najm
An-Najm, “The Star”, is a Meccan surah that opens with an oath by a star as it sets and affirms that the Prophet does not speak from his own desire — what he brings is revelation. It describes his encounters with the angel of revelation, including one at the Lote Tree of the Furthest Boundary, challenges the worship of al-Lat, al-’Uzza and Manat, and ends with a command to prostrate.
Main themes
- The truth of revelation (53:1–4): your companion has not strayed or erred; it is revelation revealed.
- Two visions (53:5–18): one mighty in power appears on the high horizon and draws near, then is seen again at the Lote Tree beside the Garden of Refuge. Most commentators understand these as sightings of Gabriel, the second during the Ascension (mi’raj). In Sahih Muslim, ’A’ishah explains the verses as Gabriel; a report from Ibn Abbas says the Prophet saw his Lord with his heart.
- Names without authority (53:19–23): the goddesses of Arabia are only names invented by people and their forefathers.
- Small slips and great sins (53:32): those who avoid grave sins are met with vast forgiveness; do not claim purity for yourselves.
- The scriptures of Abraham and Moses (53:36–41): no soul bears another’s burden, and a person has only what he strives for, and his striving will be seen.
The prostration
The surah builds to a final verse commanding prostration and worship (53:62). Sahih al-Bukhari reports that when the Prophet recited An-Najm in Mecca he prostrated, and those present — believers and polytheists alike — prostrated with him. Ibn Mas’ud also described it, in Sahih al-Bukhari, as the first surah revealed containing a prostration.
Frequently asked questions
- How many verses are in Surah An-Najm?
- 62.
- Where is the sajdah in Surah An-Najm?
- In the last verse, 62. Sahih al-Bukhari reports that the Prophet prostrated there and everyone present prostrated with him.
- What is the Lote Tree mentioned in An-Najm?
- Sidrat al-Muntaha, the Lote Tree of the Furthest Boundary, which the Prophet saw during the Ascension (verses 14-16).
- How many ayahs are in Surah An-Najm?
- Surah An-Najm has 62 ayahs. It is surah number 53 in the Quran and is Meccan.
- Can I read Surah An-Najm in English or save it as a PDF?
- Yes. This page shows the Arabic text of every ayah with the Saheeh International English meaning under it. Use “Print / Save as PDF” for a clean printable copy that you can save as a PDF file from your browser.
- Is Surah An-Najm the same as Surah Najm?
- Yes. Najm and An-Najm are different English spellings of the same surah name, النجم.
Summaries describe the surah’s content and commonly cited reports for general readers; they are not a tafsir or a religious ruling.
Making a video of Surah An-Najm
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Surah An-Najm in Arabic with English meaning
Arabic: Uthmani script from The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia (quranenc.com), Uthmani script, via quran-json (CC-BY-SA 4.0), shown as in the verified dataset; open-tanween marks use the equivalent codepoints this font draws, as in the editor. English meaning: Saheeh International (tanzil.net). A translation conveys the meaning; it is not the Quran itself.
وَٱلنَّجۡمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ ١
53:1By the star when it descends
مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ ٢
53:2Your companion [Muhammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ ٣
53:3Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡيࣱ يُوحَىٰ ٤
53:4It is not but a revelation revealed
عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡقُوَىٰ ٥
53:5Taught to him by one intense in strength
ذُو مِرَّةࣲ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ ٦
53:6One of soundness. And he rose to [his] true form
وَهُوَ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ٧
53:7While he was in the higher [part of the] horizon
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ ٨
53:8Then he approached and descended
فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوۡسَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَدۡنَىٰ ٩
53:9And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer
فَأَوۡحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦ مَآ أَوۡحَىٰ ١٠
53:10And he revealed to His Servant what he revealed
مَا كَذَبَ ٱلۡفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ ١١
53:11The heart did not lie [about] what it saw
أَفَتُمَٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ ١٢
53:12So will you dispute with him over what he saw
وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ ١٣
53:13And he certainly saw him in another descent
عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ ١٤
53:14At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary
عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ ١٥
53:15Near it is the Garden of Refuge
إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ ١٦
53:16When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it]
مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ ١٧
53:17The sight [of the Prophet] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit]
لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ ١٨
53:18He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ ١٩
53:19So have you considered al-Lat and al-'Uzza
وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ ٢٠
53:20And Manat, the third - the other one
أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ٢١
53:21Is the male for you and for Him the female
تِلۡكَ إِذࣰا قِسۡمَةࣱ ضِيزَىٰٓ ٢٢
53:22That, then, is an unjust division
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 ٢٣
53:23They 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
أَمۡ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ ٢٤
53:24Or is there for man whatever he wishes
فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ ٢٥
53:25Rather, to Allah belongs the Hereafter and the first [life]
۞وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكࣲ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغۡنِي شَفَٰعَتُهُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ ٢٦
53:26And 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
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ٢٧
53:27Indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter name the angels female names
وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغۡنِي مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ شَيۡـࣰٔا ٢٨
53:28And they have thereof no knowledge. They follow not except assumption, and indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all
فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا ٢٩
53:29So turn away from whoever turns his back on Our message and desires not except the worldly life
ذَٰلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ ٣٠
53:30That 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
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔواْ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَيَجۡزِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحۡسَنُواْ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَى ٣١
53:31And 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]
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 ٣٢
53:32Those 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
أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ ٣٣
53:33Have you seen the one who turned away
وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلࣰا وَأَكۡدَىٰٓ ٣٤
53:34And gave a little and [then] refrained
أَعِندَهُۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ ٣٥
53:35Does he have knowledge of the unseen, so he sees
أَمۡ لَمۡ يُنَبَّأۡ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ ٣٦
53:36Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Moses
وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلَّذِي وَفَّىٰٓ ٣٧
53:37And [of] Abraham, who fulfilled [his obligations]
أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةࣱ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ ٣٨
53:38That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another
وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ ٣٩
53:39And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives
وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ ٤٠
53:40And that his effort is going to be seen
ثُمَّ يُجۡزَىٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ ٤١
53:41Then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense
وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ ٤٢
53:42And that to your Lord is the finality
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضۡحَكَ وَأَبۡكَىٰ ٤٣
53:43And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحۡيَا ٤٤
53:44And that it is He who causes death and gives life
وَأَنَّهُۥ خَلَقَ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ٤٥
53:45And that He creates the two mates - the male and female
مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ إِذَا تُمۡنَىٰ ٤٦
53:46From a sperm-drop when it is emitted
وَأَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ ٤٧
53:47And that [incumbent] upon Him is the next creation
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغۡنَىٰ وَأَقۡنَىٰ ٤٨
53:48And that it is He who enriches and suffices
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعۡرَىٰ ٤٩
53:49And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius
وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهۡلَكَ عَادًا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ ٥٠
53:50And that He destroyed the first [people of] 'Aad
وَثَمُودَاْ فَمَآ أَبۡقَىٰ ٥١
53:51And Thamud - and He did not spare [them]
وَقَوۡمَ نُوحࣲ مِّن قَبۡلُۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ هُمۡ أَظۡلَمَ وَأَطۡغَىٰ ٥٢
53:52And the people of Noah before. Indeed, it was they who were [even] more unjust and oppressing
وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَةَ أَهۡوَىٰ ٥٣
53:53And the overturned towns He hurled down
فَغَشَّىٰهَا مَا غَشَّىٰ ٥٤
53:54And covered them by that which He covered
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ ٥٥
53:55Then which of the favors of your Lord do you doubt
هَٰذَا نَذِيرࣱ مِّنَ ٱلنُّذُرِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ ٥٦
53:56This [Prophet] is a warner like the former warners
أَزِفَتِ ٱلۡأٓزِفَةُ ٥٧
53:57The Approaching Day has approached
لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَاشِفَةٌ ٥٨
53:58Of it, [from those] besides Allah, there is no remover
أَفَمِنۡ هَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ تَعۡجَبُونَ ٥٩
53:59Then at this statement do you wonder
وَتَضۡحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبۡكُونَ ٦٠
53:60And you laugh and do not weep
وَأَنتُمۡ سَٰمِدُونَ ٦١
53:61While you are proudly sporting
فَٱسۡجُدُواْۤ لِلَّهِۤ وَٱعۡبُدُواْ۩ ٦٢
53:62So prostrate to Allah and worship [Him]