The Quran: Sūra XCVI.: Iqraa, or Read! or Proclaim!: Section 1 (1-19)
The Holy Quran, tr. by Yusuf Ali, [1934]
1. Iqra/ bi-ismi rabbika allathee khalaqa
1. Proclaim! (or Read!)
In the name
Of thy Lord and Cherisher,
Who created—
2. Khalaqa al-insana min AAalaqin
2. Created man, out of
A (mere) clot
Of congealed blood:
3. Proclaim! And thy Lord
Is Most Bountiful,—
4. Allathee AAallama bialqalami
4. He Who taught
(The use of) the Pen,—
5. AAallama al-insana ma lam yaAAlam
5. Taught man that
Which he knew not.
6. Kalla inna al-insana layatgha
6. Nay, but man doth
Transgress all bounds,
7. In that he looketh
Upon himself as self-sufficient.
8. Verily, to thy Lord
Is the return (of all).
9. Seest thou one
Who forbids—
10. A votary when he
(Turns) to pray?
11. Araayta in kana AAala alhuda
11. Seest thou if
He is on (the road
Of) Guidance?—
12. Or enjoins Righteousness?
13. Araayta in kaththaba watawalla
13. Seest thou if he
Denies (Truth) and turns away?
14. Alam yaAAlam bi-anna Allaha yara
14. Knoweth he not
That God doth see?
15. Kalla la-in lam yantahi lanasfaAAan bialnnasiyati
15. Let him beware! If he
Desist not, We will
Drag him by the forelock,—
16. Nasiyatin kathibatin khati-atin
16. A lying, sinful forelock!
17. Then, let him call
(For help) to his council
(Of comrades):
18. We will call
On the angels of punishment
(To deal with him)!
19. Kalla la tutiAAhu waosjud waiqtarib
19. Nay, heed him not:
But bow down in adoration,
And bring thyself
The closer (to God)!