Al-'Alaq

ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ

ʹIq̣raʹ bismi Rab-bikal laẓee khalaq̣,

Recite in the name of your Lord who created –

خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ

Khalaq̣al ʹiñsaana min ʻalaq̣.

Created man from a clinging substance.

ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ

ʹIq̣raʹ wa-Rabbukal ʹAkram,―

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -

ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ

ʹAllaẓee ʻallama bil-Q̣alam,―

Who taught by the pen –

عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

ʻAl-lamal ʹiñsaana maa- lam yaʻlam.

Taught man that which he knew not.

كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ

Kallaaa ʹinnal ʹiñsaana layaṭg̣aa,

No! [But] indeed, man transgresses

أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ

ʹArra ʹaahus tag̣naa.

Because he sees himself self-sufficient.

إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ

ʹInna ʹilaa Rabbikar rujʻaa.

Indeed, to your Lord is the return.

أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ

ʹA-raʹaytal laẓee yanhaa

Have you seen the one who forbids

عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ

ʻAbdan ʹiẓaa ṣallaa?

A servant when he prays?

أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ

ʹA-raʹayta ʹiñ kaana ʻalal Hudaa?

Have you seen if he is upon guidance

أَوْ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقْوَىٰٓ

ʹAw ʹamara bit-Taq̣waa?

Or enjoins righteousness?

أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

ʹA-raʹayta ʹiñ kaẓ-ẓaba wa-tawallaa?

Have you seen if he denies and turns away -

أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ

ʹAlam yaʻlam̃ biʹannal laaha yaraa?

Does he not know that Allāh sees?

كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ

Kallaa laʹil lam yañtahi lanasfaʻam bin-naaṣiyah,―

No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock –

نَاصِيَةٍ كَـٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ

Naaṣiyatiñ kaaẓibatin khaaṭiʹah!

A lying, sinning forelock.

فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُۥ

Fal-yadʻu naadiyah:

Then let him call his associates;

سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ

Sanadʻuz zabaaniyah!

We will call the angels of Hell.

كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩

Kallaa: laa- tuṭiʻhu wasjud waq̣tarib!

No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to Allāh].