The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
In an earlier revelation (see 
6: 146).
The Qur
an
16: 118
174

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17. THE NIGHT JOURNEY
A Meccan sura framed by references to the Children of Israel at the beginning,
and to Pharaoh at the end. The bulk of the sura deals with the Qur
an as
guidance and warning, Muhammad, and the nature of prophecy, especially the
fact that he is a human being and incapable himself of producing miracles. It
also warns of Iblis’s promise to tempt mankind and of the fate of the dis-
believers, and it gives a series of commandments (verses 
22–39). The Night
Journey, which gives the sura its title, is mentioned in verse 
1 and again in verse
60. Towards the end of the Meccan period, God caused Muhammad, in the
space of a single night, to journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and from there to
heaven and back again.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Glory to Him who made His servant travel by night from the
sacred place of worship
a
to the furthest place of worship,
b
whose
surroundings We have blessed, to show him some of Our signs: He
alone is the All Hearing, the All Seeing. 
2We also gave Moses the
Scripture, and made it a guide for the Children of Israel. ‘Entrust
yourselves to no one but Me, 
3you descendants of those We carried
with Noah: he was truly a thankful servant.’
4We declared to the Children of Israel in the Scripture, ‘Twice
you will spread corruption in the land and become highly arrogant.’
5When the first of these warnings was fulfilled, We sent against you
servants of Ours with great force, and they ravaged your homes.
That warning was ful
filled, 6but then We allowed you to prevail
against your enemy. We increased your wealth and o
ffspring and
made you more numerous ––
7whether you do good or evil it is to
your own souls –– and when the second warning was ful
filled [We
sent them] to shame your faces and enter the place of worship as they
did the 
first time, and utterly destroy whatever fell into their power.
8Your Lord may yet have mercy on you, but if you do the same
again, so shall We: We have made Hell a prison for those who defy
[Our warning].
a
In Mecca.
b
In Jerusalem.

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9This Quran does indeed show the straightest way. It gives the
faithful who do right the good news that they will have a great
reward and 
10warns that We have prepared an agonizing punish-
ment for those who do not believe in the world to come. 
11Yet man
prays for harm, just as he prays for good: man is ever hasty. 
12We
made the night and the day as two signs, then darkened the night
and made the daylight for seeing, for you to seek your Lord’s bounty
and to know how to count the years and calculate. We have
explained everything in detail. 
13We have bound each human
being’s destiny to his neck. On the Day of Resurrection, We shall
bring out a record for each of them, which they will 
find spread
wide open, 
14‘Read your record. Today your own soul is enough to
calculate your account.’
15Whoever accepts guidance does so for his own good; whoever
strays does so at his own peril. No soul will bear another’s burden,
nor do We punish until We have sent a messenger. 
16When We
decide to destroy a town, We command those corrupted by wealth
[to reform], but they [persist in their] disobedience; Our sentence is
passed, and We destroy them utterly. 
17How many generations We
have destroyed since Noah! Your Lord knows and observes the sins
of His servants well enough. 
18If anyone desires [only] the fleeting
life, We speed up whatever We will in it, for whoever We wish; in the
end We have prepared Hell for him in which to burn, disgraced and
rejected.
19But if anyone desires the life to come and strives after it as
he should, as a true believer, his striving will be thanked. 
20To both
the latter and the former, We give some of your Lord’s bounty.
[Prophet], your Lord’s bounty is not restricted –
–
21see how We have
given some more than others –
– but the Hereafter holds greater ranks
and greater favours.
22Set up
a
no other god beside God, or you will end up disgraced
and forsaken. 
23Your Lord has commanded that you should worship
none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. If either or both
of them reach old age with you, say no word that shows impatience
with them, and do not be harsh with them, but speak to them
respectfully
24and lower your wing in humility towards them in
kindness and say, ‘Lord, have mercy on them, just as they cared for
me when I was little.’
25Your Lord knows best what is in your heart.