Meccan·Surah 53

النجم

Surah An-Najm — Ayah 23

The Star

62 Ayahs·Verse 53:23
53:23

إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى ٱلْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ

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.

Context in Surah An-Najm

Nearby ayahs help place verse 53:23 in sequence and meaning.

أَلَكُمُ ٱلذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ ٱلْأُنثَىٰ

Is the male for you and for Him the female?

تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَىٰٓ

That, then, is an unjust division.

أَمْ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ

Or is there for man whatever he wishes?

فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ وَٱلْأُولَىٰ

Rather, to Allah belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].