العلق
The Clot
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
iq'ra bi-is'mi rabbika alladhī khalaqa
Recite in the name of your Lord who created
khalaqa l-insāna min ʿalaqin
Created man from a clinging substance.
iq'ra warabbuka l-akramu
Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -
alladhī ʿallama bil-qalami
Who taught by the pen
ʿallama l-insāna mā lam yaʿlam
Taught man that which he knew not.
kallā inna l-insāna layaṭghā
No! [But] indeed, man transgresses
an raāhu is'taghnā
Because he sees himself self-sufficient.
inna ilā rabbika l-ruj'ʿā
Indeed, to your Lord is the return.
ara-ayta alladhī yanhā
Have you seen the one who forbids
ʿabdan idhā ṣallā
A servant when he prays?
ara-ayta in kāna ʿalā l-hudā
Have you seen if he is upon guidance
aw amara bil-taqwā
Or enjoins righteousness?
ara-ayta in kadhaba watawallā
Have you seen if he denies and turns away -
alam yaʿlam bi-anna l-laha yarā
Does he not know that Allāh sees?
kallā la-in lam yantahi lanasfaʿan bil-nāṣiyati
No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock
nāṣiyatin kādhibatin khāṭi-atin
A lying, sinning forelock.
falyadʿu nādiyahu
Then let him call his associates;
sanadʿu l-zabāniyata
We will call the angels of Hell.
kallā lā tuṭiʿ'hu wa-us'jud wa-iq'tarib
No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to Allāh].