Surah Al-'Alaq — Word by Word
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].