Al-Alaq — The Clot

ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ

Iqra bismi rab bikal lazee khalaq

Recite in the name of your Lord who created -

خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ

Khalaqal insaana min 'alaq

Created man from a clinging substance.

ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ

Iqra wa rab bukal akram

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -

ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ

Al lazee 'allama bil qalam

Who taught by 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

No! [But] indeed, man transgresses

أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ

Ar-ra aahus taghnaa

Because he sees himself self-sufficient.

إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ

Innna ilaa rabbikar ruj'aa

Indeed, to your Lord is the return.

أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ

Ara-aital lazee yanhaa

Have you seen the one who forbids

عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ

'Abdan iza sallaa

A servant when he prays?

أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ

Ara-aita in kana 'alal hudaa

Have you seen if he is upon guidance

أَوْ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقْوَىٰٓ

Au amara bit taqwaa

Or enjoins righteousness?

أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

Ara-aita in kaz zaba wa ta walla

Have you seen if he denies and turns away -

أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ

Alam y'alam bi-an nal lahaa yaraa

Does he not know that Allah sees?

كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ

Kalla la illam yantahi la nasfa'am bin nasiyah

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

نَاصِيَةٍۢ كَٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍۢ

Nasiyatin kazi batin khaatiyah

A lying, sinning forelock.

فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُۥ

Fal yad'u naadiyah

Then let him call his associates;

سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ

Sanad 'uz zabaaniyah

We will call the angels of Hell.

كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩

Kalla; la tuti'hu wasjud waqtarib

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