Names
This surah is known by several names:
Surat An-Najm. [344] See: Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/443; Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 27/87. The evidence for that includes the following:
It was narrated from Ibn ?Abbas (R#) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prostrated in An-Najm, and the Muslims, the polytheists, the jinn and humankind prostrated with him. [345] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 1071.
It was narrated that Ibn Mas?ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) recited An-Najm and prostrated. [346] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 3853; Muslim, 576.
It is also called Wa?n-najm (By the star). [347] See: Sahih Al-Bukhari, 6/175; Sunan At-Tirmidhi, 5/392; Tafsir As-Sam?ani, 5/283.
It was narrated that Ibn Mas?ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The first surah to be revealed in which there is a sajdah was Wa?n-najm (By the star). [348] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 4863.
It is also known as Wa?n-najmi idha hawa (By the star when it sets). [349] See: Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 27/87.
It was narrated from Zayd ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) recited Wa?n-najmi idha hawa (By the star when it sets)? [350] Narrated by Muslim, 577; it is also narrated in Al-Bukhari, 1072, without the words idha hawa (when it sets).
Virtues and characteristics
There is a sajdah (prostration) in this surah.
The evidence for that includes the report narrated from ?Abdullah ibn Mas?ud (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) recited Surat An-Najm and prostrated in it, and there was no one among the people but he prostrated too. [351] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 1070; Muslim, 576. As-Sam?ani said: This surah is the first surah that the Prophet recited out loud in the presence of the polytheists. Tafsir As-Sam?ani, 5/283. The place of this sajdah is in the verse: So prostrate to Allah and worship Him An-Najm 53:62.
Surat An-Najm was the first surah to be revealed in which there is a sajdah.
It was narrated that Ibn Mas?ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The first surah to be revealed in which there is a sajdah was Wa?n-najm (By the star). [352] Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 4863.
Makki or Madani?
Surat An-Najm is Makki; more than one of the commentators narrated that there was consensus regarding that. [353] Those who narrated that there was consensus regarding that include: Ibn ?Atiyyah, Ibn Al-Jawzi and Al-Fayruzabadi. See: Tafsir Ibn ?Atiyyah, 5/176; Tafsir Ibn Al-Jawzi, 4/183; Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/443.
Objectives
The most important objectives of this surah include:
Establishing proof for the oneness of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted,. [354] At-Tantawi: At-Tafsir Al-Wasit, 14/56.
Affirming that the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is telling the truth in what he conveys from Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted,. [355] See: Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 27/88; At-Tantawi: At-Tafsir Al-Wasit, 14/56.
Topics
The most significant topics addressed in Surat An-Najm include:
This surah begins with an oath sworn by the stars attesting to the truthfulness of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in what he was conveying from his Lord Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted,.
The description of Jibril (peace be upon him), who is the angel who was entrusted with the revelation, in a manner which is indicative of his strength and power, and also indicates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) saw him in his original form in which Allah created him.
Discussion of the so-called gods of the polytheists, and affirming that they are no more than names that named, and that they are illusions with no reality, and that worship should be for Allah alone.
Rebuking the polytheists for regarding the angels as female, and calling them the daughters of Allah.
The command to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to ignore those who turn away from the remembrance of Allah and who focus only on this world; consoling him for what he faced of trouble and annoyance from the polytheists.
Highlighting the manifestations of Allah?s mercy and justice towards His creation, the vastness of His knowledge and His power to do all things; a reminder of those messengers who came before Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and what befell the nations who disbelieved in them.
Astonishment at the polytheists? mockery of the Qur?an when they heard it, and their heedlessness regarding its exhortations.
The surah ends with the command to submit to Allah and worship Him, and to be sincere to Him in doing righteous deeds.