The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/96. The Clot

96. The Clot (Al-Alaq)

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

¹ Read in the name of thy Lord who creates --

² Creates man from a clot,

³ Read and thy Lord is most Generous,

⁴ Who taught by the pen,

⁵ Taught man what he knew not.

⁶ Nay, man is surely inordinate,

⁷ Because he looks upon himself as self-sufficient.

⁸ Surely to thy Lord is the return.

⁹ Hast thou seen him who forbids

¹⁰ A servant when he prays?

¹¹ Seest thou if he is on the right way,

¹² Or enjoins observance of duty?

¹³ Seest thou if he denies and turns away?

¹⁴ Knows he not that Allah sees?

¹⁵ Nay, if he desist not, We will seize him by the forelock --

¹⁶ A lying, sinful forelock!

¹⁷ Then let him summon his council,

¹⁸ We will summon the braves of the army.

¹⁹ Nay! Obey him not, but prostrate thyself, and draw nigh (to Allah).