العلق
Al-'Alaq
The Clot
1 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 001
ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ
Read in the name of your Lord Who created,
2 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 002
خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ
created man from a clinging clot.
3 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 003
ٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ
Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous,
4 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 004
ٱلَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِٱلۡقَلَمِ
Who taught by the pen,
5 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 005
عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ
taught man what he did not know[1].
[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 …”.
6 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 006
كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَيَطۡغَىٰٓ
Indeed, man transgresses
7 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 007
أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰٓ
when he deems himself to be self-sufficient.
8 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 008
إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجۡعَىٰٓ
Indeed, to your Lord is the return.
9 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 009
أَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي يَنۡهَىٰ
Have you seen the one who prevents[2]
[2] i.e., Abu Jahl was a pagan leader of the Makkah who was an arch-enemy of Islam.
10 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 010
عَبۡدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ
a slave [of Allah] from praying[3]?
[3] Abu Jahl abused the Prophet (ﷺ) when he prayed in the Holy Mosque.
11 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 011
أَرَءَيۡتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ
What if this [slave] is rightly guided,
12 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 012
أَوۡ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقۡوَىٰٓ
and enjoins righteousness?
13 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 013
أَرَءَيۡتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
How about the one who denies and turns away[4]?
[4] From what the Prophet (ﷺ) has brought and does he not fear Allah?
14 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 014
أَلَمۡ يَعۡلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ
Does he not know that Allah is watching all?
15 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 015
كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمۡ يَنتَهِ لَنَسۡفَعَۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ
No indeed; if he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock[5]
[5] To the Hellfire.
16 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 016
نَاصِيَةٖ كَٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٖ
a lying, sinful forelock[6].
[6] It alludes to the frontal lobe of the brain, where reasoning is processed.
17 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 017
فَلۡيَدۡعُ نَادِيَهُۥ
So let him call his associates;
18 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 018
سَنَدۡعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ
We will call the wardens of Hellfire[7].
[7] i.e., the coarse, rigorous, and harsh angels assigned for the Hellfire.
19 - Al-'Alaq (The Clot) - 019
