Al-'Alaq

ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ١

Iqra/ bi-ismi rabbika allathee khalaq

Recite in the name of your Lord who created

Read with the name of your Lord who created (every thing),

خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ٢

Khalaqa al-insana min AAalaq

Created man from a clinging substance.

He created man from a clot of blood.

ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ٣

Iqra/ warabbuka al-akram

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -

Read, and your Lord is the most gracious,

ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ٤

Allathee AAallama bilqalam

Who taught by the pen

who imparted knowledge by means of the pen.

عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ٥

AAallama al-insana ma lamyaAAlam

Taught man that which he knew not.

He taught man what he did not know.

كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ٦

Kalla inna al-insana layatgha

No! [But] indeed, man transgresses

In fact, man crosses the limits,

أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ٧

An raahu istaghna

Because he sees himself self-sufficient.

because he deems himself to be free of need.

إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ٨

Inna ila rabbika arrujAAa

Indeed, to your Lord is the return.

Surely to your Lord is the return.

أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ٩

Araayta allathee yanha

Have you seen the one who forbids

Have you seen him who forbids

عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ١٠

AAabdan itha salla

A servant when he prays?

a servant of Allah when he prays?

أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ١١

Araayta in kana AAala alhuda

Have you seen if he is upon guidance

Tell me, if he is on the right path,

أَوْ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقْوَىٰٓ١٢

Aw amara bittaqwa

Or enjoins righteousness?

or bids piety, (would the former still forbid him?)

أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ١٣

Araayta in kaththaba watawalla

Have you seen if he denies and turns away -

Tell me, if he rejects (the true faith) and turns away,

أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ١٤

Alam yaAAlam bi-anna Allaha yara

Does he not know that Allāh sees?

does he not know that Allah is watching (him)?

كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ١٥

Kalla la-in lam yantahi lanasfaAAanbinnasiya

No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock

No! If he does not desist, We will certainly drag (him) by forelock,

نَاصِيَةٍ كَـٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ١٦

Nasiyatin kathibatin khati-a

A lying, sinning forelock.

a lying, sinful forelock.

فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُۥ١٧

FalyadAAu nadiyah

Then let him call his associates;

So let him call the men of his council,

سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ١٨

SanadAAu azzabaniya

We will call the angels of Hell.

We will call the soldiers of the Hell.

كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩١٩

Kalla la tutiAAhu wasjudwaqtarib

No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to Allāh].

No! Never obey him, and bow down in sajdah, and come close to Me.