Surah Al-'Alaq – The Clot

ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ

Iqra bismi rab bikal lazee khalaq

Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created-

خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ

Khalaqal insaana min 'alaq

Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood:

ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ

Iqra wa rab bukal akram

Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,-

ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ

Al lazee 'allama bil qalam

He Who taught (the use of) the pen,-

عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

'Al lamal insaana ma lam y'alam

Taught man that which he knew not.

كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ

Kallaa innal insaana layatghaa

Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds,

أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ

Ar-ra aahus taghnaa

In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient.

إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ

Innna ilaa rabbikar ruj'aa

Verily, to thy Lord is the return (of all).

أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ

Ara-aital lazee yanhaa

Seest thou one who forbids-

عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ

'Abdan iza sallaa

A votary when he (turns) to pray?

أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ

Ara-aita in kana 'alal hudaa

Seest thou if he is on (the road of) Guidance?-

أَوْ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقْوَىٰٓ

Au amara bit taqwaa

Or enjoins Righteousness?

أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

Ara-aita in kaz zaba wa ta walla

Seest thou if he denies (Truth) and turns away?

أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ

Alam y'alam bi-an nal lahaa yaraa

Knoweth he not that Allah doth see?

كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ

Kalla la illam yantahi la nasfa'am bin nasiyah

Let him beware! If he desist not, We will drag him by the forelock,-

نَاصِيَةٍۢ كَٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍۢ

Nasiyatin kazi batin khaatiyah

A lying, sinful forelock!

فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُۥ

Fal yad'u naadiyah

Then, let him call (for help) to his council (of comrades):

سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ

Sanad 'uz zabaaniyah

We will call on the angels of punishment (to deal with him)!

كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩

Kalla; la tuti'hu wasjud waqtarib

Nay, heed him not: But bow down in adoration, and bring thyself the closer (to Allah)!