Chapter 53

Surah An Najm (The Star)

53.21

surah 53 - verse 21

translator's name verse
Arberry What, have you males, and He females?
Maududi Shall you have the male issues, and He the female issues?
Pickthall Are yours the males and His the females?
Sahih Is the male for you and for Him the female?
Yusuf Ali What! for you the male sex, and for Him, the female?

53.22

surah 53 - verse 22

translator's name verse
Arberry That were indeed an unjust division.
Maududi That is indeed an unfair division!
Pickthall That indeed were an unfair division!
Sahih That, then, is an unjust division.
Yusuf Ali Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair!

53.23

surah 53 - verse 23

translator's name verse
Arberry They are naught but names yourselves have named, and your fathers; God has sent down no authority touching them. They follow only surmise, and what the souls desire; and yet guidance has come to them from their Lord.
Maududi These are nothing but names that you and your forefathers have invented, for which Allah has sent down no authority. They are merely following their conjectures and their carnal desires although guidance has come to them from their Lord.
Pickthall They are but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which Allah hath revealed no warrant. They follow but a guess and that which (they) themselves desire. And now the guidance from their Lord hath come unto them.
Sahih 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.
Yusuf Ali These are nothing but names which ye have devised,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah has sent down no authority (whatever). They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire!- Even though there has already come to them Guidance from their Lord!

53.24

surah 53 - verse 24

translator's name verse
Arberry Or shall man have whatever he fancies?
Maududi Does man imagine that whatever he wishes for is right for him?
Pickthall Or shall man have what he coveteth?
Sahih Or is there for man whatever he wishes?
Yusuf Ali Nay, shall man have (just) anything he hankers after?

53.25

surah 53 - verse 25

translator's name verse
Arberry And to God belongs the First and the Last.
Maududi To Allah belong both the Next World and the present.
Pickthall But unto Allah belongeth the after (life), and the former.
Sahih Rather, to Allah belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].
Yusuf Ali But it is to Allah that the End and the Beginning (of all things) belong.

53.26

surah 53 - verse 26

translator's name verse
Arberry How many an angel there is in the heavens whose intercession avails not anything, save after that God gives leave to whomsoever He wills and is well-pleased.
Maududi Numerous are the angels in the heavens; yet their intercession shall be of no avail, except in regard to those whom He grants the leave of intercession and whose plea He is pleased to accept.
Pickthall And how many angels are in the heavens whose intercession availeth naught save after Allah giveth leave to whom He chooseth and accepteth.
Sahih 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.
Yusuf Ali How many-so-ever be the angels in the heavens, their intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He pleases and that he is acceptable to Him.

53.27

surah 53 - verse 27

translator's name verse
Arberry Those who do not believe in the world to come name the angels with the names of females.
Maududi Those who do not believe in the Hereafter give angels the names of females,
Pickthall Lo! it is those who disbelieve in the Hereafter who name the angels with the names of females.
Sahih Indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter name the angels female names,
Yusuf Ali Those who believe not in the Hereafter, name the angels with female names.

53.28

surah 53 - verse 28

translator's name verse
Arberry They have not any knowledge thereof; they follow only surmise, and surmise avails naught against truth.
Maududi although they have no knowledge regarding that. They only follow their conjecture and conjecture can never take the place of the Truth.
Pickthall And they have no knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and lo! a guess can never take the place of the truth.
Sahih And they have thereof no knowledge. They follow not except assumption, and indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all.
Yusuf Ali But they have no knowledge therein. They follow nothing but conjecture; and conjecture avails nothing against Truth.

53.29

surah 53 - verse 29

translator's name verse
Arberry So turn thou from him who turns away from Our Remembrance, and desires only the present life.
Maududi So leave alone those who turn away from the remembrance of Us and who seek nothing but the life of the world –
Pickthall Then withdraw (O Muhammad) from him who fleeth from Our remembrance and desireth but the life of the world.
Sahih So turn away from whoever turns his back on Our message and desires not except the worldly life.
Yusuf Ali Therefore shun those who turn away from Our Message and desire nothing but the life of this world.

53.30

surah 53 - verse 30

translator's name verse
Arberry That is their attainment of knowledge. Surely thy Lord knows very well those who have gone astray from His way, and He knows very well those who are guided.
Maududi that being the utmost of their knowledge. Surely your Lord fully knows those who have strayed away from His Path and He also fully knows those who are rightly guided.
Pickthall Such is their sum of knowledge. Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth, and He is Best Aware of him whom goeth right.
Sahih 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.
Yusuf Ali That is as far as knowledge will reach them. Verily thy Lord knoweth best those who stray from His Path, and He knoweth best those who receive guidance.

53.31

surah 53 - verse 31

translator's name verse
Arberry To God belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, that He may recompense those who do evil for what they have done, and recompense those who have done good with the reward most fair.
Maududi To Allah alone belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. He will requite the evil-doers for their deeds and bestow a goodly reward on those who have done good,
Pickthall And unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, that He may reward those who do evil with that which they have done, and reward those who do good with goodness.
Sahih 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] -
Yusuf Ali Yea, to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: so that He rewards those who do evil, according to their deeds, and He rewards those who do good, with what is best.

53.32

surah 53 - verse 32

translator's name verse
Arberry Those who avoid the heinous sins and indecencies, save lesser offences surely thy Lord is wide in His forgiveness. Very well He knows you, when He produced you from the earth, and when you were yet unborn in your mothers' wombs; therefore hold not yourselves purified; God knows very well him who is godfearing.
Maududi on those who avoid grave sins and shameful deeds, even if they may sometimes stumble into lesser offences. Surely your Lord is abounding in His Forgiveness. Very well is He aware of you since He produced you from the earth, and while you were still in your mothers' wombs and not yet born. So do not boastfully claim yourselves to be purified. He fully knows those that are truly Godfearing.
Pickthall Those who avoid enormities of sin and abominations, save the unwilled offences - (for them) lo! thy Lord is of vast mercy. He is Best Aware of you (from the time) when He created you from the earth, and when ye were hidden in the bellies of your mothers. Therefor ascribe not purity unto yourselves. He is Best Aware of him who wardeth off (evil).
Sahih 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.
Yusuf Ali Those who avoid great sins and shameful deeds, only (falling into) small faults,- verily thy Lord is ample in forgiveness. He knows you well when He brings you out of the earth, And when ye are hidden in your mothers' wombs. Therefore justify not yourselves: He knows best who it is that guards against evil.

53.33

surah 53 - verse 33

translator's name verse
Arberry Hast thou considered him who turns his back
Maududi (O Prophet), did you see him who turned away (from the Path of Allah),
Pickthall Didst thou (O Muhammad) observe him who turned away,
Sahih Have you seen the one who turned away
Yusuf Ali Seest thou one who turns back,

53.34

surah 53 - verse 34

translator's name verse
Arberry and gives a little, and then grudgingly?
Maududi who gave a little, and then stopped?
Pickthall And gave a little, then was grudging?
Sahih And gave a little and [then] refrained?
Yusuf Ali Gives a little, then hardens (his heart)?

53.35

surah 53 - verse 35

translator's name verse
Arberry Does he possess the knowledge of the Unseen, and therefore he sees?
Maududi Does he have any knowledge of the world beyond the ken of sense-perception, and therefore, clearly sees (the Truth)?
Pickthall Hath he knowledge of the Unseen so that he seeth?
Sahih Does he have knowledge of the unseen, so he sees?
Yusuf Ali What! Has he knowledge of the Unseen so that he can see?

53.36

surah 53 - verse 36

translator's name verse
Arberry Or has he not been told of what is in the scrolls of Moses,
Maududi Has he not been informed of what is in the Scrolls of Moses,
Pickthall Or hath he not had news of what is in the books of Moses
Sahih Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Moses
Yusuf Ali Nay, is he not acquainted with what is in the Books of Moses-

53.37

surah 53 - verse 37

translator's name verse
Arberry and Abraham, he who paid his debt in full?
Maududi and of Abraham, who lived up to the trust?
Pickthall And Abraham who paid his debt:
Sahih And [of] Abraham, who fulfilled [his obligations] -
Yusuf Ali And of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements?-

53.38

surah 53 - verse 38

translator's name verse
Arberry That no soul laden bears the load of another,
Maududi “That no bearer of a burden shall bear the burden of another,
Pickthall That no laden one shall bear another's load,
Sahih That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another
Yusuf Ali Namely, that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another;

53.39

surah 53 - verse 39

translator's name verse
Arberry and that a man shall have to his account only as he has laboured,
Maududi and that man shall have nothing but what he has striven for,
Pickthall And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort,
Sahih And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives
Yusuf Ali That man can have nothing but what he strives for;

53.40

surah 53 - verse 40

translator's name verse
Arberry and that his labouring shall surely be seen,
Maududi and that (the result of) his striving shall soon be seen,
Pickthall And that his effort will be seen.
Sahih And that his effort is going to be seen -
Yusuf Ali That (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight: