IT IS generally assumed that this is a comparatively early Meccan surah, revealed shortly after surah 112. However, some parts of it undoubtedly belong to a later period - especially verses 13-18,which allude to the Prophet's mystic experience of an ascension to heaven (mi'raj), about oneyear before his exodus to Medina (see Appendix IV). The title - explained in note 1 below - is taken from the word an-najm at the beginning of the first verse.