ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ
Iqra bismi rab bikal lazee khalaq
Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created-
Surah 96 · 19 ayahs · Meccan Surah Al-Alaq — The Clot
سُورَةُ العَلَقِ
MeaningThe Clot
RevelationMeccan
Ayahs19
LocationJuz 30
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Surah Al-Alaq (سُورَةُ العَلَقِ), “The Clot”, is the 96th chapter of the Holy Qur'an. It is a Meccan surah with 19 ayahs, found in juz 30. Below is the full Arabic text with transliteration and the English translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali. Sura El-Alek — arapski tekst, transliteracija i audio.
About Surah Al-Alaq
Al-'Alaq, "The Clot", is a Meccan surah of 19 verses. Its first five verses — "Read in the name of your Lord who created…" — were the very first revelation, received by the Prophet ﷺ in the cave of Hira (Sahih al-Bukhari 3, Sahih Muslim 160). The rest of the surah speaks of the man who, feeling self-sufficient, tried to stop the Prophet ﷺ from praying, and ends with a verse of prostration: "Prostrate and draw near."
Main themes
- The first revelation: "Read!"
- Allah ﷻ taught man by the pen what he did not know
- Feeling self-sufficient leads to transgression
- "Prostrate and draw near"
Virtues and when it is recited
Its first verses mark the beginning of the Qur'an's revelation. The Prophet ﷺ prostrated at its last verse (Sahih Muslim 578), and he said that a servant is closest to his Lord when he is in prostration (Sahih Muslim 482).
Hadiths on “Excellence of the Qur'an”
Questions about Surah Al-Alaq
How many ayahs are in Surah Al-Alaq?
Surah Al-Alaq has 19 ayahs (verses).
Is Surah Al-Alaq Meccan or Medinan?
Surah Al-Alaq is a Meccan surah, revealed in Mecca before the Hijrah.
Which juz is Surah Al-Alaq in?
Surah Al-Alaq is in juz 30 of the Qur'an.
What does Al-Alaq mean?
The name Al-Alaq is usually translated as "The Clot". In Bosnian the surah is known as El-Alek.
Is there a sajdah in Surah Al-Alaq?
Yes — the verse of prostration (sajdah) is ayah 19.
What is Surah Al-Alaq about?
Al-'Alaq, "The Clot", is a Meccan surah of 19 verses. Its first five verses — "Read in the name of your Lord who created…" — were the very first revelation, received by the Prophet ﷺ in the cave of Hira (Sahih al-Bukhari 3, Sahih Muslim 160). The rest of the surah speaks of the man who, feeling self-sufficient, tried to stop the Prophet ﷺ from praying, and ends with a verse of prostration: "Prostrate and draw near."
What are the virtues of Surah Al-Alaq?
Its first verses mark the beginning of the Qur'an's revelation. The Prophet ﷺ prostrated at its last verse (Sahih Muslim 578), and he said that a servant is closest to his Lord when he is in prostration (Sahih Muslim 482).
Surah Al-Alaq: Arabic text, transliteration and translation
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بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
Khalaqal insaana min 'alaq
Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood:
ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ
Iqra wa rab bukal akram
Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,-
ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ
Al lazee 'allama bil qalam
He Who taught (the use of) 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
Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds,
أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ
Ar-ra aahus taghnaa
In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient.
إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ
Innna ilaa rabbikar ruj'aa
Verily, to thy Lord is the return (of all).
أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ
Ara-aital lazee yanhaa
Seest thou one who forbids-
عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ
'Abdan iza sallaa
A votary when he (turns) to pray?
أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ
Ara-aita in kana 'alal hudaa
Seest thou if he is on (the road of) Guidance?-
أَوْ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقْوَىٰٓ
Au amara bit taqwaa
Or enjoins Righteousness?
أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
Ara-aita in kaz zaba wa ta walla
Seest thou if he denies (Truth) and turns away?
أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ
Alam y'alam bi-an nal lahaa yaraa
Knoweth he not that Allah doth see?
كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ
Kalla la illam yantahi la nasfa'am bin nasiyah
Let him beware! If he desist not, We will drag him by the forelock,-
نَاصِيَةٍۢ كَٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍۢ
Nasiyatin kazi batin khaatiyah
A lying, sinful forelock!
فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُۥ
Fal yad'u naadiyah
Then, let him call (for help) to his council (of comrades):
سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ
Sanad 'uz zabaaniyah
We will call on the angels of punishment (to deal with him)!
كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩ ۩
Kalla; la tuti'hu wasjud waqtarib
Nay, heed him not: But bow down in adoration, and bring thyself the closer (to Allah)!
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Arabic text: Uthmani script. Transliteration and English translation (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) via the AlQuran Cloud API. Audio: QuranicAudio.