The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary
Seyyed Hossein Nasr (Ed.)
A landmark scholarly edition with verse-by-verse commentary drawn from classical sources — the most comprehensive single-volume study Quran in English.
العَلَقِ
The Clot
The first revelation — “Read in the name of your Lord.”
Al-‘Alaq, “The Clot,” contains the very first verses revealed to the Prophet ﷺ, commanding him to read in the name of his Lord who taught by the pen.
Listen to Surah Al-Alaq
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بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ
Iqra bismi rab bikal lazee khalaq
Recite in the name of your Lord who created -
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
Khalaqal insaana min 'alaq
Created man from a clinging substance.
ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ
Iqra wa rab bukal akram
Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -
ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ
Al lazee 'allama bil qalam
Who taught by the pen -
عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
'Al lamal insaana ma lam y'alam
Taught man that which he knew not.
كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ
Kallaa innal insaana layatghaa
No! [But] indeed, man transgresses
أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ
Ar-ra aahus taghnaa
Because he sees himself self-sufficient.
إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ
Innna ilaa rabbikar ruj'aa
Indeed, to your Lord is the return.
أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ
Ara-aital lazee yanhaa
Have you seen the one who forbids
عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ
'Abdan iza sallaa
A servant when he prays?
أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ
Ara-aita in kana 'alal hudaa
Have you seen if he is upon guidance
أَوْ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقْوَىٰٓ
Au amara bit taqwaa
Or enjoins righteousness?
أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
Ara-aita in kaz zaba wa ta walla
Have you seen if he denies and turns away -
أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ
Alam y'alam bi-an nal lahaa yaraa
Does he not know that Allah sees?
كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ
Kalla la illam yantahi la nasfa'am bin nasiyah
No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock -
نَاصِيَةٍۢ كَٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍۢ
Nasiyatin kazi batin khaatiyah
A lying, sinning forelock.
فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُۥ
Fal yad'u naadiyah
Then let him call his associates;
سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ
Sanad 'uz zabaaniyah
We will call the angels of Hell.
كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩
Kalla; la tuti'hu wasjud waqtarib
No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to Allah].
“Al-Alaq” translates to “The Clot.” It is the 96th surah (chapter) of the Holy Quran.
Surah Al-Alaq has 19 verses (ayahs).
It is a Makkah (Meccan) surah — revealed before the Prophet’s ﷺ migration (Hijrah) to Madinah.
Yes. You can read Surah Al-Alaq free on this page in Arabic with a clear English translation and transliteration, so you can both understand the meaning and learn to recite it.
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