1. Iqra bismi rab bikal lazee khalaq
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ
Recite in the name of your Lord who created -
The Clot
1. Iqra bismi rab bikal lazee khalaq
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ
Recite in the name of your Lord who created -
2. Khalaqal insaana min 'alaq
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
Created man from a clinging substance.
3. Iqra wa rab bukal akram
ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ
Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -
4. Al lazee 'allama bil qalam
ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ
Who taught by the pen -
5. 'Al lamal insaana ma lam y'alam
عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
Taught man that which he knew not.
6. Kallaa innal insaana layatghaa
كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ
No! [But] indeed, man transgresses
7. Ar-ra aahus taghnaa
أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ
Because he sees himself self-sufficient.
8. Innna ilaa rabbikar ruj'aa
إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ
Indeed, to your Lord is the return.
9. Ara-aital lazee yanhaa
أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ
Have you seen the one who forbids
10. 'Abdan iza sallaa
عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ
A servant when he prays?
One of the many practices taught by Islam is that its followers should begin their activities in the name of God.
The character of this surah is that of a prayer. The prayer begins with praise of the One to whom our prayer is addressed.