— 19 verses
Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created
Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood
Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,
He Who taught (the use of) the pen,
Taught man that which he knew not
Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds
In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient
Verily, to thy Lord is the return (of all)
Seest thou one who forbids
A votary when he (turns) to pray
Seest thou if he is on (the road of) Guidance?
Or enjoins Righteousness
Seest thou if he denies (Truth) and turns away
Knoweth he not that Allah doth see
Let him beware! If he desist not, We will drag him by the forelock,
A lying, sinful forelock
Then, let him call (for help) to his council (of comrades)
We will call on the angels of punishment (to deal with him)
Day, heed him not: But bow down in adoration, and bring thyself the closer (to Allah)