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Al-Alaq
سُورَةُ العَلَقِ
Arabic text and an English translation of its meanings. Read the verses in sequence and in context.
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Arabic: Mishary Rashid Alafasy. Turkish translation audio: Diyanet Vakfı. English translation audio: Ibrahim Walk. These audio translations differ from the displayed Rowwad translation, so wording may vary. Audio loads from Islamic Network only when you start listening.
Translation: Rowwad Translation Center · english_rwwad · v1.0.20 · Sources and edition details
A translation conveys the meanings of the Arabic Quran; it is distinct from the original text and from commentary. Footnotes belong to the translation source.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ
Read in the name of your Lord Who created,
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
created man from a clinging clot.
ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ
Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous,
ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ
Who taught by the pen,
عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
taught man what he did not know[1].
Translation notes
[1] These five verses (1-5) are the first ever verses revealed of the Qur’an. The Prophet (ﷺ) was retreating at a cave in the outskirts of Makkah when the angel Gabriel appeared before him, and ordered him to read. Since the Prophet (ﷺ) was unlettered, he would respond, “I cannot read.” Gabriel would then squeeze him tightly and order him again to read. Ultimately, Gabriel said to him: “Read in the name of your Lord …”.
كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ
Indeed, man transgresses
أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ
when he deems himself to be self-sufficient.
إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ
Indeed, to your Lord is the return.
أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ
Have you seen the one who prevents[1]
Translation notes
[1] i.e., Abu Jahl was a pagan leader of the Makkah who was an arch-enemy of Islam.
عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ
a slave [of Allah] from praying[1]?
Translation notes
[1] Abu Jahl abused the Prophet (ﷺ) when he prayed in the Holy Mosque.
أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ
What if this [slave] is rightly guided,
أَوْ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقْوَىٰٓ
and enjoins righteousness?
أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
How about the one who denies and turns away[1]?
Translation notes
[1] From what the Prophet (ﷺ) has brought and does he not fear Allah?
أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ
Does he not know that Allah sees all?
كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ
No indeed; if he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock[1]
Translation notes
[1] To the Hellfire.
نَاصِيَةٍ كَٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ
a lying, sinful forelock[1].
Translation notes
[1] It alludes to the frontal lobe of the brain, where reasoning is processed.
فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُۥ
So let him call his associates;
سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ
We will call the wardens of Hellfire[1].
Translation notes
[1] i.e., the coarse, rigorous, and harsh angels assigned for the Hellfire.
كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب
No indeed; do not obey him, but prostrate and draw near [to Allah].
Audio recordings
Al Quran Cloud / Islamic Network · ar.alafasy · tr.vakfi-audio · en.walk · Source terms. Audio translations are separate editions from the displayed Rowwad text.
Text and translation sources
Arabic text: Tanzil Project · Uthmani v1.1 · © 2007–2026 Tanzil Project · CC BY 3.0. The text is reproduced without changing its letters or diacritics. The opening basmalah is retained where supplied by the source; it is absent at the beginning of At-Tawbah.
Translation publisher: Rowwad Translation Center. Source: QuranEnc.com · English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center · v1.0.20. Translated by the team of the Rowwad Translation Center, in cooperation with the Rabwah Dawah Association, the Islamic Content Service Association in Languages, and the IslamHouse.com website. Translation and footnotes are reproduced unchanged.
QuranEnc reuse conditions · Ilmiyet source library · Source version checked: 2026-11-08
Tanzil copyright notice
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