Al-Alaq

Iqra bismi rab bikal lazee khalaq

READ in the name of thy Sustainer, who has-

Khalaqal insaana min 'alaq

created man out of a germ-cell

Iqra wa rab bukal akram

Read - for thy Sustainer is the Most Bountiful One

Al lazee 'allama bil qalam

who has taught [man] the use of the pen –

'Al lamal insaana ma lam y'alam

taught man what he did not know!

Kallaa innal insaana layatghaa

Nay, verily, man becomes grossly overweening

Ar-ra aahus taghnaa

whenever he believes himself to be self-sufficient:

Innna ilaa rabbikar ruj'aa

for, behold, unto thy Sustainer all must return.

Ara-aital lazee yanhaa

HAST THOU ever considered him who tries to prevent

'Abdan iza sallaa

a servant [of God] from praying?

Ara-aita in kana 'alal hudaa

Hast thou considered whether he is on the right way,

Au amara bit taqwaa

or is concerned with God-consciousness?

Ara-aita in kaz zaba wa ta walla

Hast thou considered whether he may [not] be giving the lie to the truth and turning his back [upon it]?

Alam y'alam bi-an nal lahaa yaraa

Does he, then, not know that God sees [all]?

Kalla la illam yantahi la nasfa'am bin nasiyah

Nay, if he desist not, We shall most surely drag him down upon his forehead

Nasiyatin kazi batin khaatiyah

the lying, rebellious forehead! –

Fal yad'u naadiyah

and then let him summon [to his aid] the counsels of his own [spurious] wisdom,

Sanad 'uz zabaaniyah

[the while] We shall summon the forces of heavenly chastisement!

Kalla; la tuti'hu wasjud waqtarib

Nay, pay thou no heed to him, but prostrate thyself [before God] and draw close [unto Him]!