96al-‘AlaqThe Adhesionسُورَةُ العلق

Read in the name of your Sustainer, who has created —

Created the social being [man] out of an adhesion [physical and emotional]!

Read: for your Sustainer is the Most Benevolent One,

Who has taught [the intelligent social being] the use of the writing instrument —

Taught the [intelligent] social being what he did not know!

But no! Verily, this intelligent social being [man] becomes power abusive —

Whenever he perceives himself to be not in need [of Allah]:

[But realize that], of a certainty, unto your Sustainer is the finale1 [in world affairs].

Have you taken a [closer] look at he who tries to prevent

A subject [of Allah] from devoutly interacting [with Him]?

Have you [perchance] perceived him to be guided [forthwith],

Or as one who demands taqwā [a consciousness of Allah’s power and authority]?

Have you considered whether he is contradicting [Us] and turning away [from Us]?

Does he not know that Allah sees [everything]?

But no! If he does not desist, We shall most certainly drag him down by his forehead —

The lying, deceptive forehead! —

And then challenge him to summon [to his aid] his kind of folks;

[Meanwhile] We shall summon the [angelic] forces of heavenly chastisement!

No and never! Do not give way to him, but show veneration [to Allah by prostration] and draw near [to Allah]!2