وَهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ ٱلۡأَمِينِ 3

3 And by this city of peace and security [Makkah, where Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was born].

لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِيٓ أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٖ 4

4 Indeed, We created man in the best stature (i.e. all parts of human body are the most proportionate among all the creatures. Also Allah bestowed wisdom, various skills and powers to see and hear etc).

ثُمَّ رَدَدۡنَٰهُ أَسۡفَلَ سَٰفِلِينَ 5

5 Then (in old age) We turn a person to the lowest of the low (in strength, understanding etc). (Or, then We will make the man the lowest low, due to his negligence of Allah’s guidance, and will put him in the lowest part of Hell).

إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَلَهُمۡ أَجۡرٌ غَيۡرُ مَمۡنُونٖ 6

6 Except those who believe and do good deeds. They shall have a non-ending reward (i.e. Paradise).

فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعۡدُ بِٱلدِّينِ 7

7 (O disbelievers!) Then what makes you deny the Day of Resurrection? (i.e. if Allah can make a powerful person to the lowest of the low, why cannot He resurrect? Yes, He can).

أَلَيۡسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَحۡكَمِ ٱلۡحَٰكِمِينَ 8

8 Is Allah not the Judge over all judges? (Yes, indeed. And there should be the Day of Resurrection to reward or punish with perfect justice).

ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ 1

1  Read (the Quran)! In the Name of your Creator who has created (everything).

خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ 2

2  He has created man from a clot (of blood) or something that clings, a leech-like substance.

ٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ 3

3 Read (the Quran)! And your Creator is the Most Bountiful. (He grants what He likes.)

ٱلَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِٱلۡقَلَمِ 4

4 (For example) He taught (writing) by the pen.

عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ 5

5        He taught man (by means) that which he did not know. [Above five Verses were the first revelations to Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in the cave Hira].

كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَيَطۡغَىٰٓ 6

6        Not at all (i.e. the thinking of the disbelievers is not correct). Indeed, (the disbelieving) man does transgress (by his evil deeds).

أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰٓ 7

7 Since he considers himself self-sufficient.

إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجۡعَىٰٓ 8

8 Indeed, you have to return to your Creator. [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!]

أَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي يَنۡهَىٰ 9

9 Have you seen him (i.e. Abu Jahl) who prevents?

عَبۡدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ 10

10        A slave [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] when he prays? (It is a very bad and strange thing).

أَرَءَيۡتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ 11

11 Have you seen if he [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] is on the gui-dance (of Allah)?

أَوۡ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقۡوَىٰٓ 12

12 Or commands (others) to observe piety (which is beneficial for others)?

أَرَأَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى 13

13 Have you seen if he (Abu Jahl) denies [Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] and turns away (from the Truth)?

أَلَمۡ يَعۡلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ 14

14 Does he (Abu Jahl) not know that Allah sees (his transgression)?