سُورَةُ العَلَق
Surah Al-'Alaq
Meaning of the name: The Clot
Arabic with an established translation
Reading the ayat before and after can make the meaning clearer.
Recitation by Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husary.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
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ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ
Read in the name of your Lord Who created,
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
created man from a clinging clot.
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ
Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous,
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ
Who taught by the pen,
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
taught man what he did not know[1].
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [1]
[1] These five verses (1-5) are the first ever verses revealed of the Qur’an. The Prophet (ﷺ) was retreating at a cave in the outskirts of Makkah when the angel Gabriel appeared before him, and ordered him to read. Since the Prophet (ﷺ) was unlettered, he would respond, “I cannot read.” Gabriel would then squeeze him tightly and order him again to read. Ultimately, Gabriel said to him: “Read in the name of your Lord …”.
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كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ
Indeed, man transgresses
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ
when he deems himself to be self-sufficient.
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ
Indeed, to your Lord is the return.
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ
Have you seen the one who prevents[2]
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [2]
[2] i.e., Abu Jahl was a pagan leader of the Makkah who was an arch-enemy of Islam.
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عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ
a slave [of Allah] from praying[3]?
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [3]
[3] Abu Jahl abused the Prophet (ﷺ) when he prayed in the Holy Mosque.
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أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ
What if this [slave] is rightly guided,
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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أَوْ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقْوَىٰٓ
and enjoins righteousness?
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
How about the one who denies and turns away[4]?
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [4]
[4] From what the Prophet (ﷺ) has brought and does he not fear Allah?
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أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ
Does he not know that Allah is watching all?
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ
No indeed; if he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock[5]
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [5]
[5] To the Hellfire.
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نَاصِيَةٍ كَـٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ
a lying, sinful forelock[6].
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [6]
[6] It alludes to the frontal lobe of the brain, where reasoning is processed.
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فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُۥ
So let him call his associates;
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ
We will call the wardens of Hellfire[7].
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [7]
[7] i.e., the coarse, rigorous, and harsh angels assigned for the Hellfire.
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كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩
No indeed; do not obey him, but prostrate and draw near [to Allah].
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center