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
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1
١
iq'ra bi-is'mi rabbika alladhī khalaqa
Recite in the name of your Lord who created
2
٢
khalaqa l-insāna min ʿalaqin
Created man from a clinging substance.
3
٣
iq'ra warabbuka l-akramu
Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -
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٤
alladhī ʿallama bil-qalami
Who taught by the pen
5
٥
ʿallama l-insāna mā lam yaʿlam
Taught man that which he knew not.
6
٦
kallā inna l-insāna layaṭghā
No! [But] indeed, man transgresses
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٧
an raāhu is'taghnā
Because he sees himself self-sufficient.
8
٨
inna ilā rabbika l-ruj'ʿā
Indeed, to your Lord is the return.
9
٩
ara-ayta alladhī yanhā
Have you seen the one who forbids
10
١٠
ʿabdan idhā ṣallā
A servant when he prays?
11
١١
ara-ayta in kāna ʿalā l-hudā
Have you seen if he is upon guidance
12
١٢
aw amara bil-taqwā
Or enjoins righteousness?
13
١٣
ara-ayta in kadhaba watawallā
Have you seen if he denies and turns away -
14
١٤
alam yaʿlam bi-anna l-laha yarā
Does he not know that Allāh sees?
15
١٥
kallā la-in lam yantahi lanasfaʿan bil-nāṣiyati
No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock
16
١٦
nāṣiyatin kādhibatin khāṭi-atin
A lying, sinning forelock.
17
١٧
falyadʿu nādiyahu
Then let him call his associates;
18
١٨
sanadʿu l-zabāniyata
We will call the angels of Hell.
19
١٩
kallā lā tuṭiʿ'hu wa-us'jud wa-iq'tarib
No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to Allāh].
Surah Al-'Alaq (The Clot) — Full Text
Ayah 1
ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ
Recite in the name of your Lord who created
This is literally where it all began — these are the very first words of the Quran ever revealed. The Angel Jibril appeared to Prophet Muhammad in the Cave of Hira, squeezed him tight three times, and said 'Read in the name of your Lord who created.' The Prophet couldn't read or write, so this wasn't about reading a page — it was about learning, understanding, and seeking knowledge through your connection with the Creator who made everything from nothing.
Ayah 2
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
Created man from a clinging substance.
Allah highlights where humans came from — a tiny clinging clot of blood, a microscopic cluster of cells attached to a womb. The same God who commands you to read and learn is the one who built you from the most humble of beginnings. It's a reminder to never get arrogant, because your origin story is literally that basic.
Ayah 3
ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ
Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -
The command to 'Read!' comes a second time, now with the emphasis that your Lord is the Most Generous. The repetition isn't accidental — the first command was about reading for yourself, and this one is about reading to share, teach, and spread knowledge. Allah's generosity is the reason any of this exists; He didn't create the universe or give you the ability to learn because He needed anything. It was all pure generosity.
Ayah 4
ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ
Who taught by the pen
Allah taught through the pen — meaning writing is one of the greatest gifts God ever gave humanity. Think about it: the pen is what lets knowledge survive across generations. Without writing, every discovery, every lesson, every piece of wisdom would die with the person who learned it. The fact that the very first revelation mentions the pen shows how seriously Islam takes knowledge, education, and preserving what you learn.
Ayah 5
عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
Taught man that which he knew not.
Allah taught humans what they had absolutely no idea about. A baby is born not even knowing how to ask for food, yet instinctively cries and reaches for its mother — that's Allah teaching you from day one. Every piece of knowledge you've ever gained, whether through a book, a teacher, intuition, or life experience, traces back to the One who programmed you with the ability to learn in the first place.
Ayah 6
كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ
No! [But] indeed, man transgresses
Now the surah shifts to a much later revelation. It's no longer about that beautiful first moment in the cave — it's addressing a real problem. Humans have a tendency to cross all boundaries and act up the moment they feel like they don't need anyone. When money, power, or status makes you feel self-sufficient, that's exactly when arrogance kicks in and you start thinking the rules don't apply to you.
Ayah 7
أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ
Because he sees himself self-sufficient.
This is the core diagnosis: people rebel because they see themselves as self-sufficient. The moment you feel like you've 'made it' — whether that's wealth, influence, or social standing — you start acting like you're untouchable. This was exactly Abu Jahl's problem. He was one of the richest and most respected men in Makkah, and that status went straight to his head, making him think he could bully even a Prophet of God.
Ayah 8
إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ
Indeed, to your Lord is the return.
Here's the reality check: no matter how rich, powerful, or independent you think you are, you're going back to your Lord. Period. Everyone returns to Allah, and when you do, you'll have to answer for everything — how you got your wealth, how you used your power, and how you treated people. That feeling of being self-made and untouchable? It's an illusion, because you are always, always dependent on God for every heartbeat.
Ayah 9
أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ
Have you seen the one who forbids
Allah now directly addresses what Abu Jahl was doing: have you seen the one who tries to stop a person from praying? Abu Jahl literally threatened to stomp on the Prophet's neck if he saw him prostrating at the Ka'bah. Imagine being so drunk on your own power that you try to physically prevent someone from connecting with their Creator. This verse is calling out that kind of bullying — trying to block someone from worshipping God.
Ayah 10
عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ
A servant when he prays?
Think about this: the person being stopped from praying is actually on the right path, following divine guidance. So the one doing the blocking isn't just being a bully — he's actively standing against the truth. It's a moment of reflection: what if the person you're opposing is actually the one who's right? Abu Jahl couldn't see past his own ego to recognize that the Prophet was calling people to something genuinely good.
Ayah 11
أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ
Have you seen if he is upon guidance
Or what if that person he's trying to stop is actually commanding people toward being mindful of God and doing good? The Prophet wasn't just praying for himself — his entire mission was calling people to righteousness, justice, and consciousness of their Creator. Trying to shut that down isn't just personal beef; it's fighting against goodness itself.
Ayah 12
أَوْ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقْوَىٰٓ
Or enjoins righteousness?
And what if this bully who's doing the blocking has actually turned away from the truth and denied it? That's the worst combo — not only are you rejecting guidance yourself, but you're also trying to stop others from receiving it. You're doubling down on your own loss while dragging others down with you.
Ayah 13
أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
Have you seen if he denies and turns away -
Doesn't this person realize that Allah sees everything? Every threat Abu Jahl made, every act of intimidation, every arrogant word — God was watching all of it in real time. Nothing is hidden. This is a powerful reminder for anyone who uses their position to oppress others: you might feel powerful in the moment, but the One with actual power is recording every single thing you do.
Ayah 14
أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ
Does he not know that Allāh sees?
Allah repeats the warning with emphasis: absolutely not — does he seriously not know that Allah sees? It's not that God is aware in some vague sense; He is actively watching, hearing every word, seeing every action, and there will be a full accounting. The boldness of someone who acts like God doesn't exist while standing right in front of God's house is genuinely mind-blowing.
No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock1
Now comes the direct threat: if this person doesn't stop what he's doing, Allah will seize him by his forelock — the front of his hair, dragging him in humiliation. Being grabbed by the forelock is a powerful image of total helplessness; no matter how tough you think you are, when God grabs hold of you, it's over. Abu Jahl thought he was untouchable, but this verse promises he absolutely was not.
Ayah 16
نَاصِيَةٍ كَـٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ
A lying, sinning forelock.
That forelock? It belongs to someone who is a liar and a chronic sinner. His forehead — the very thing he walks around with so proudly — is stained with lies and wrongdoing. On the Day of Judgment, that same forehead will be darkened and disgraced. The part of you that faces the world will tell the truth about who you really were, no matter how good a front you put up in this life.
Ayah 17
فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُۥ
Then let him call his associates;
So let him call his crew. Abu Jahl used to brag that he had the most supporters and allies in all of Makkah, and he would threaten the Prophet with his people's power. This verse says: go ahead, call them. Bring everyone you've got. Rally your whole squad. It's almost like a dare — you think your people can protect you from what's coming?
Ayah 18
سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ
We will call the angels of Hell.1
Because Allah will call the Zabaniyah — the fierce, powerful angels who guard Hellfire. Abu Jahl's entourage of Meccan elites versus the angels of divine punishment? There's no contest. In fact, there's a narration that says if Abu Jahl had actually tried to attack the Prophet while he was praying, the angels would have torn him apart on the spot. His entire support system is nothing compared to God's forces.
Ayah 19
كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩
No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to Allāh].
The surah ends with the most empowering instruction: absolutely do not listen to that bully. Keep praying, keep prostrating, and keep drawing closer to God. The closest a person ever gets to their Lord is during prostration (sujood) — so the more you're down on the ground in humility before God, the higher your rank actually rises. This is the ultimate response to anyone who tries to stop you from worshipping: ignore them, hit the ground, and get closer to the One who actually matters.