96. Al-'Alaq

Recite in the name of your Lord who created

Read! In the name of your Lord, who created

Read! With the Name of your Lord Who created

Created man from a clinging substance.

created man from a clot [of blood]

Created man from a zygote

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -

Read! Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One

Read! For, your Lord is the Most Generous. (He has placed a tremendous blessing in learning and teaching)

Who taught by the pen

who taught by the pen

Who has taught the use of the pen

Taught man that which he knew not.

taught man what he did not know

Taught man what he knew not

No! [But] indeed, man transgresses

Yet man behaves arrogantly

Nay, verily, man tries to play God! ('Tagha' = Being a false god, 'Taghut' = Grossly overweening = Arrogance beyond limits = Creating rebellion = Trespassing Divine Values)

Because he sees himself self-sufficient.

because he thinks himself self-sufficient

(And) in that he looks upon himself as self-sufficient. (Forgetting how indebted he is to the Creator and the society for all his mental and physical possessions)

Indeed, to your Lord is the return.

truly, all will return to your Lord

Behold, unto your Lord is the return. (Everything that exists goes back to the Creator as its Source and is bound by His Law. All people will be returned to Him for Judgment. Mankind will eventually return to the Divine System of life)

Have you seen the one who forbids

Have you seen one who prevents

Have you seen the kind of man who forbids

A servant when he prays?

a worshipper from praying

Another servant when he follows the Divine Messages

Have you seen if he is upon guidance

Do you think he is rightly guided

Have you seen that if such a person were on the right road

Or enjoins righteousness?

or enjoins true piety

Or his affairs were to lead him to Blissful security

Have you seen if he denies and turns away -

Do you see how he has denied the truth and turned away from it

Mark out that he, then, would have known that, by thus practically denying the Truth, he is turning away from all that is good

Does he not know that Allāh sees?

Does he not know that God observes all things

Does he not know that Allah sees to it that His Laws are enforced without exception

No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock1

Let him beware! If he does not desist, We will drag him by the forelock

Nay, if such a person desists not, We (Our Law of Requital) will seize him by the forelock (to a state of humiliation)

A lying, sinning forelock.

his lying, sinful forelock

A forelock that is given to denial and committing fault upon fault

Then let him call his associates;

Then let him call his associates

Let him, then, call upon his advisory council

We will call the angels of Hell.1

We shall summon the guards of Hell

We shall summon the apprehending forces

No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to Allāh].

No indeed! Do not obey him, but prostrate yourself and come closer to God

Nay, never be intimidated by a man like this! But submit completely in adoration to Divine Commands, and let every step of yours bring you nearer to your noble Goal