Surah Al-'Alaq — The Clot

اِقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَۚ

Iqra' bismi rabbikal-lażī khalaq(a).

Recite in the name of your Lord who created

خَلَقَ الْاِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍۚ

Khalaqal-insāna min ‘alaq(in).

Created man from a clinging substance.

اِقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْاَكْرَمُۙ

Iqra' wa rabbukal-akram(u).

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -

الَّذِيْ عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِۙ

Allażī ‘allama bil-qalam(i).

Who taught by the pen

عَلَّمَ الْاِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْۗ

‘Allamal-insāna mā lam ya‘lam.

Taught man that which he knew not.

كَلَّآ اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ لَيَطْغٰىٓ ۙ

Kallā innal-insāna layaṭgā.

No! [But] indeed, man transgresses

اَنْ رَّاٰهُ اسْتَغْنٰىۗ

Ar ra'āhustagnā.

Because he sees himself self-sufficient.

اِنَّ اِلٰى رَبِّكَ الرُّجْعٰىۗ

Inna ilā rabbikar-ruj‘ā.

Indeed, to your Lord is the return.

اَرَاَيْتَ الَّذِيْ يَنْهٰىۙ

Ara'aital-lażī yanhā.

Have you seen the one who forbids

عَبْدًا اِذَا صَلّٰىۗ

‘Abdan iżā ṣallā.

A servant when he prays?

اَرَاَيْتَ اِنْ كَانَ عَلَى الْهُدٰىٓۙ

Ara'aita in kāna ‘alal-hudā.

Have you seen if he is upon guidance

اَوْ اَمَرَ بِالتَّقْوٰىۗ

Au amara bit-taqwā.

Or enjoins righteousness?

اَرَاَيْتَ اِنْ كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلّٰىۗ

Ara'aita in każżaba wa tawallā.

Have you seen if he denies and turns away -

اَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِاَنَّ اللّٰهَ يَرٰىۗ

Alam ya‘lam bi'annallāha yarā.

Does he not know that Allāh sees?

كَلَّا لَىِٕنْ لَّمْ يَنْتَهِ ەۙ لَنَسْفَعًاۢ بِالنَّاصِيَةِۙ

Kallā la'il lam yantah(i), lanasfa‘am bin-nāṣiyah(ti).

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

نَاصِيَةٍ كَاذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍۚ

Nāṣiyatin kāżibatin khāṭi'ah(tin).

A lying, sinning forelock.

فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهٗۙ

Falyad‘u nādiyah(ū).

Then let him call his associates;

سَنَدْعُ الزَّبَانِيَةَۙ

Sanad‘uz-zabāniyah(ta).

We will call the angels of Hell.

كَلَّاۗ لَا تُطِعْهُ وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِبْ ۩ ࣖ

Kallā, lā tuṭi‘hu wasjud waqtarib.

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