53. An-Najm (The Unfolding)

Mecca Period [23]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَأَنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ الْمُنتَهَى ﴿٤٢﴾

53: 42.  That to thy Lord is the final Goal;

C5115. The fourth, fifth, and sixth aphorisms are that

• all things return to Allah;

• that all our hope should be in Him;

• and we should fear none but Him: and that He alone can give Life and Death.

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَى ﴿٤٣﴾

53:43.  That it is He who Granteth Laughter and Tears;

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا ﴿٤٤﴾

53:44.  That it is He who Granteth Death and Life;

وَأَنَّهُ خَلَقَ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنثَى ﴿٤٥﴾

53:45.  That He did create in pairs -- male and female.

C5116. The seventh aphorism relates to sex:

• all things are created in pairs: each sex performs its proper function, and yet its wonderful working is part of the creative process of Allah: the living seed fructifies, but contains within itself all the factors disclosed in its later development and life.

مِن نُّطْفَةٍ إِذَا تُمْنَى ﴿٤٦﴾

53:46.  From a seed when lodged (in its place);

Asad’s Version:

(53:42) and that with thy Sustainer is the beginning and the end [of all that exists]; 34 (53:43) and that it is He alone who causes [you] to laugh and to weep;

(53:44) and that it is He alone who deals death and grants life;

(53:45) and that it is He who creates the two kinds - the male and the female –

(53:46) out of a [mere] drop of sperm as it is poured forth, (53:47) and that [therefore] it is within His power to bring about a second life; 35

Yuksel’s Version:

53:45 He is the One who created the pair, male and female.*

53:46 From a seed that is put forth.

[[ Yuksel’s note - 053:045-46 The sex of the baby is determined by the sperm in the male fluid. See 4:82.]]