By the star when it sets!

Your companion has not strayed; he is not deluded;

he does not speak from his own desire.

The Quran is nothing less than a revelation that is sent to him.

It was taught to him by [an angel] with mighty powers

and great strength, who stood

on the highest horizon

and then approached––coming down

until he was two bow-lengths away or even closer––

and revealed to God’s servant what He revealed.

وَٱلنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ

مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيࣱ يُوحَىٰ

عَلَّمَهُۥ شَدِيدُ ٱلْقُوَىٰ

ذُو مِرَّةࣲ فَٱسْتَوَىٰ

وَهُوَ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ

فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ

فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦ مَآ أَوْحَىٰ

[The Prophet’s] own heart did not distort what he saw.

Are you going to dispute with him what he saw with his own eyes?

A second time he saw him:

by the lote tree beyond which none may pass

near the Garden of Restfulness,

when the tree was covered in nameless [splendour].

His sight never wavered, nor was it too bold,

and he saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord.

مَا كَذَبَ ٱلْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰٓ

أَفَتُمَٰرُونَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ

وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ

عِندَ سِدْرَةِ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ

عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰٓ

إِذْ يَغْشَى ٱلسِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ

مَا زَاغَ ٱلْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ