53. Nexhm · verses 13–23

وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ نَزۡلَةً أُخۡرَىٰ

Walaqad raahu nazlatan okhra

For indeed he saw him at a second descent,

عِندَ سِدۡرَةِ ٱلۡمُنتَهَىٰ

AAinda sidrati almuntaha

Near the Lote-tree beyond which none may pass:

عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰٓ

AAindaha jannatu almawa

Near it is the Garden of Abode.

إِذۡ يَغۡشَى ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ مَا يَغۡشَىٰ

Ith yaghsha alssidrata ma yaghsha

Behold, the Lote-tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!)

مَا زَاغَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ

Ma zagha albasaru wama tagha

(His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong!

لَقَدۡ رَأَىٰ مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰٓ

Laqad raa min ayati rabbihi alkubra

For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest!

أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱللَّٰتَ وَٱلۡعُزَّىٰ

Afaraaytumu allata waalAAuzza

Have ye seen Lat. and ´Uzza,

وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰٓ

Wamanata alththalithata alokhra

And another, the third (goddess), Manat?

أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ

Alakumu alththakaru walahu alontha

What! for you the male sex, and for Him, the female?

تِلۡكَ إِذٗا قِسۡمَةٞ ضِيزَىٰٓ

Tilka ithan qismatun deeza

Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair!

إِنۡ هِيَ إِلَّآ أَسۡمَآءٞ سَمَّيۡتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلۡطَٰنٍۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهۡوَى ٱلۡأَنفُسُۖ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ

In hiya illa asmaon sammaytumooha antum waabaokum ma anzala Allahu biha min sultanin in yattabiAAoona illa alththanna wama tahwa alanfusu walaqad jaahum min rabbihimu alhuda

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!