Al-Alaq

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ

Recite in the name of your Lord who created –

خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ

Created man from a clinging substance.

ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -

ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ

Who taught by the pen –

عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

Taught man that which he knew not.

كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ

No! [But] indeed, man transgresses

أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ

Because he sees himself self-sufficient.

إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ

Indeed, to your Lord is the return.

أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ

Have you seen the one who forbids

عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ

A servant when he prays?

أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ

Have you seen if he is upon guidance

أَوْ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقْوَىٰٓ

Or enjoins righteousness?

أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

Have you seen if he denies and turns away -

أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ

Does he not know that Allāh sees?

كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ

No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock[1952] –

Note [1952] It may also mean "slap him" or "blacken his face at the forelock."

نَاصِيَةٍ كَـٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ

A lying, sinning forelock.

فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُۥ

Then let him call his associates;

سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ

We will call the angels of Hell.[1953]

Note [1953] Those who push the wicked into the Fire.

كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩

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