Surah 96
Surah Al-'Alaq · The Clot
العلق
- Meaning
- The Clot
- Ayahs
- 19
- Juz
- 30
- Revealed in
- Makkah
About this surah
Al-'Alaq means The Clinging Form. Its first five ayahs were the very first words of the Quran revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in the cave of Hira. They begin with the word Read, and tell us that Allah taught the human being by the pen what he did not know. The surah then warns against pride, and ends by inviting us to bow down close to Allah.
Arabic and meaning
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ(1)
Read: In the Name of your Lord who created.
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ(2)
Created man from a clot.
ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ(3)
Read: And your Lord is the Most Generous.
ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ(4)
He who taught by the pen.
عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ(5)
Taught man what he never knew.
كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ(6)
In fact, man oversteps all bounds.
أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ(7)
When he considers himself exempt.
إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ(8)
But to your Lord is the return.
أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ(9)
Have you seen him who prevents?
عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ(10)
A servant when he prays?
أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ(11)
Do you think he is upon guidance?
أَوْ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقْوَىٰٓ(12)
Or advocates righteousness?
أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ(13)
Do you see how he disbelieved and turned away?
أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ(14)
Does he not know that God sees?
كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ(15)
No. If he does not desist, We will drag him by the forelock.
نَاصِيَةٍۢ كَٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍۢ(16)
A deceitful, sinful forelock.
فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُۥ(17)
Let him call on his gang.
سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ(18)
We will call the Guards.
كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩(19)
No, do not obey him; but kneel down, and come near.
Learn it with games and audio
Track memorisation, listen to recitation and earn stars in the Deeniyat Kids app.