قٓ
- Meccan
- 45 verses
- Surah 50 of 114
Introduction to Surah Qaf
Forty-five verses, Meccan, fiftieth in the written order. It is named for the single letter it opens with, and Umm Hisham bint Haritha said she learned it only from the mouth of the Prophet, who recited it in the Friday sermon week after week (Sahih Muslim 872b). He recited it at the two festival prayers as well (Sahih Muslim 891a). She had it by hearing rather than by setting out to memorise it.
What it argues
The objection is quoted in the third verse: when we are dead and have become dust, is that a return far off? The surah’s answer is to make everything near.
It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein. (50:16)
What follows keeps the same range. Two recorders are seated, one on the right and one on the left, and not a word is uttered but a watcher is ready. The stupor of death comes with the truth. The trumpet sounds. And then, to the person who has arrived:
“Thou wast heedless of this; now have We removed thy veil, and sharp is thy sight this Day!” (50:22)
Nothing new is shown. Something is taken away.
How it is built
It is short, the verses are short, and the transitions are abrupt. Between the argument and the scene of judgement sit the peoples who denied before — Noah, the dwellers of the wood, Thamud, Pharaoh, the brethren of Lot — listed in a few lines with no narrative at all. The surah is not telling their stories; it is counting them.
It also contains, near the middle, one of the Qur’an’s most compressed arguments from the natural world: rain sent down as a blessing, gardens and harvest grain, and tall date palms with shoots of fruit heaped one above another, as sustenance — and then the line, and thus will be the resurrection.
How it ends
On an instruction that carries no threat at all: be patient with what they say, celebrate the praise of your Lord before sunrise and before sunset and in part of the night — and remind by the Qur’an those who fear the warning, since you are not there to compel them.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
قٓ ۚ وَٱلْقُرْءَانِ ٱلْمَجِيدِ
Qaaaf; wal Qur aanil Majeed
Qaf: By the Glorious Qur’an (Thou art Allah’s Messenger).
Qaf. By the Glorious Qur’an,
بَلْ عَجِبُوٓا۟ أَن جَآءَهُم مُّنذِرٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ فَقَالَ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا شَىْءٌ عَجِيبٌ
Bal ‘ajibooo an jaa’ahum munzirum minhum faqaalal kaafiroona haazaa shai’un ‘ajeeb
But they wonder that there has come to them a Warner from among themselves. So the Unbelievers say: “This is a wonderful thing!
Nay, but they marvel that a warner of their own hath come unto them; and the disbelievers say: This is a strange thing:
أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًۭا ۖ ذَٰلِكَ رَجْعٌۢ بَعِيدٌۭ
‘A-izaa mitnaa wa kunnaa turaaban zaalika raj’um ba’eed
“What! When we die and become dust, (shall we live again?) That is a (sort of) return far (from our understanding).”
When we are dead and have become dust (shall we be brought back again)? That would be a far return!
قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا تَنقُصُ ٱلْأَرْضُ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَعِندَنَا كِتَٰبٌ حَفِيظٌۢ
Qad ‘alimnaa maa tanqu-sul-ardu minhum wa ‘indanaa Kitaabun Hafeez
We already know how much of them the earth takes away: With Us is a record guarding (the full account).
We know that which the earth taketh of them, and with Us is a recording Book.
بَلْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ فَهُمْ فِىٓ أَمْرٍۢ مَّرِيجٍ
Bal kazzaboo bilhaqqi lammaa jaaa’ahum fahum feee amrim mareej
But they deny the Truth when it comes to them: so they are in a confused state.
Nay, but they have denied the truth when it came unto them, therefor they are now in troubled case.
أَفَلَمْ يَنظُرُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَوْقَهُمْ كَيْفَ بَنَيْنَٰهَا وَزَيَّنَّٰهَا وَمَا لَهَا مِن فُرُوجٍۢ
Afalam yanzurooo ilas samaaa’i fawqahum kaifa banainaahaa wa zaiyannaahaa wa maa lahaa min furooj
Do they not look at the sky above them?- How We have made it and adorned it, and there are no flaws in it?
Have they not then observed the sky above them, how We have constructed it and beautified it, and how there are no rifts therein?
وَٱلْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَٰهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍۭ بَهِيجٍۢ
Wal arda madadnaahaa wa alqainaa feehaa rawaasiya wa ambatnaa feehaa min kulli zawjim baheej
And the earth- We have spread it out, and set thereon mountains standing firm, and produced therein every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs)-
And the earth have We spread out, and have flung firm hills therein, and have caused of every lovely kind to grow thereon,
تَبْصِرَةًۭ وَذِكْرَىٰ لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍۢ مُّنِيبٍۢ
Tabsiratanw wa zikraa likulli ‘abdim muneeb
To be observed and commemorated by every devotee turning (to Allah).
A vision and a reminder for every penitent slave.
وَنَزَّلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ مُّبَٰرَكًۭا فَأَنۢبَتْنَا بِهِۦ جَنَّٰتٍۢ وَحَبَّ ٱلْحَصِيدِ
Wa nazzalnaa minas samaaa’i maaa’am mubaarakan fa ambatnaa bihee jannaatinw wa habbal haseed
And We send down from the sky rain charted with blessing, and We produce therewith gardens and Grain for harvests;
And We send down from the sky blessed water whereby We give growth unto gardens and the grain of crops,
وَٱلنَّخْلَ بَاسِقَٰتٍۢ لَّهَا طَلْعٌۭ نَّضِيدٌۭ
Wannakhla baasiqaatil laha tal’un nadeed
And tall (and stately) palm-trees, with shoots of fruit-stalks, piled one over another;-
And lofty date-palms with ranged clusters,
رِّزْقًۭا لِّلْعِبَادِ ۖ وَأَحْيَيْنَا بِهِۦ بَلْدَةًۭ مَّيْتًۭا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْخُرُوجُ
Rizqal lil’ibaad, wa ahyainaa bihee baldatam maitaa; kazaalikal khurooj
As sustenance for (Allah’s) Servants;- and We give (new) life therewith to land that is dead: Thus will be the Resurrection.
Provision (made) for men; and therewith We quicken a dead land. Even so will be the resurrection of the dead.
كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍۢ وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلرَّسِّ وَثَمُودُ
Kazzabat qablahum qawmu Noohinw wa Ashaabur Rassi wa Samood
Before them was denied (the Hereafter) by the People of Noah, the Companions of the Rass, the Thamud,
The folk of Noah denied (the truth) before them, and (so did) the dwellers at Ar-Rass and (the tribe of) Thamud,
وَعَادٌۭ وَفِرْعَوْنُ وَإِخْوَٰنُ لُوطٍۢ
Wa ‘Aadunw wa Fir’awnu wikhwaanu loot
The ‘Ad, Pharaoh, the brethren of Lut,
And (the tribe of) A’ad, and Pharaoh, and the brethren of Lot,
وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْأَيْكَةِ وَقَوْمُ تُبَّعٍۢ ۚ كُلٌّۭ كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِيدِ
Wa Ashaabul Aykati wa qawmu Tubba’; kullun kazzabar Rusula fahaqqa wa’eed
The Companions of the Wood, and the People of Tubba’; each one (of them) rejected the messengers, and My warning was duly fulfilled (in them).
And the dwellers in the wood, and the folk of Tubb’a: every one denied their messengers, therefor My threat took effect.
أَفَعَيِينَا بِٱلْخَلْقِ ٱلْأَوَّلِ ۚ بَلْ هُمْ فِى لَبْسٍۢ مِّنْ خَلْقٍۢ جَدِيدٍۢ
Afa’a yeenaa bilkhalqil awwal; bal hum fee labsim min khalqin jadeed
Were We then weary with the first Creation, that they should be in confused doubt about a new Creation?
Were We then worn out by the first creation? Yet they are in doubt about a new creation.
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِۦ نَفْسُهُۥ ۖ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ ٱلْوَرِيدِ
Wa laqad khalaqnal insaana wa na’lamu maa tuwaswisu bihee nafsuhoo wa Nahnu aqrabu ilaihi min hablil wareed
It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein.
We verily created man and We know what his soul whispereth to him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.
إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌۭ
‘Iz yatalaqqal mutalaqqi yaani ‘anil yameeni wa ‘anish shimaali qa’eed
Behold, two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his doings) learn (and noted them), one sitting on the right and one on the left.
When the two Receivers receive (him), seated on the right hand and on the left,
مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌۭ
Maa yalfizu min qawlin illaa ladaihi raqeebun ‘ateed
Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him, ready (to note it).
He uttereth no word but there is with him an observer ready.
وَجَآءَتْ سَكْرَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ
Wa jaaa’at kullu nafsim ma’ahaa saaa’iqunw wa shaheed
And the stupor of death will bring Truth (before his eyes): “This was the thing which thou wast trying to escape!”
And the agony of death cometh in truth. (And it is said unto him): This is that which thou wast wont to shun.
وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ ٱلْوَعِيدِ
Wa nufikha fis Soor; zaalika yawmul wa’eed
And the Trumpet shall be blown: that will be the Day whereof Warning (had been given).
And the trumpet is blown. This is the threatened Day.
وَجَآءَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّعَهَا سَآئِقٌۭ وَشَهِيدٌۭ
Wa jaaa’at kullu nafsim ma’ahaa saaa’iqunw wa shaheed
And there will come forth every soul: with each will be an (angel) to drive, and an (angel) to bear witness.
And every soul cometh, along with it a driver and a witness.
لَّقَدْ كُنتَ فِى غَفْلَةٍۢ مِّنْ هَٰذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنكَ غِطَآءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ حَدِيدٌۭ
Laqad kunta fee ghaf latim min haazaa fakashafnaa ‘anka ghitaaa’aka fabasarukal yawma hadeed
(It will be said:) “Thou wast heedless of this; now have We removed thy veil, and sharp is thy sight this Day!”
(And unto the evil-doer it is said): Thou wast in heedlessness of this. Now We have removed from thee thy covering, and piercing is thy sight this day.
وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُۥ هَٰذَا مَا لَدَىَّ عَتِيدٌ
Wa qaala qareenuhoo haazaa maa ladaiya ‘ateed
And his Companion will say: “Here is (his Record) ready with me!”
And (unto the evil-doer) his comrade saith: This is that which I have ready (as testimony).
أَلْقِيَا فِى جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيدٍۢ
Alqiyaa fee Jahannama kulla kaffaarin ‘aneed
(The sentence will be:) “Throw, throw into Hell every contumacious Rejecter (of Allah)!-
(And it is said): Do ye twain hurl to hell each rebel ingrate,
مَّنَّاعٍۢ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍۢ مُّرِيبٍ
Mannaa’il lilkhayri mu’tadim mureeb
“Who forbade what was good, transgressed all bounds, cast doubts and suspicions;
Hinderer of good, transgressor, doubter,
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَأَلْقِيَاهُ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلشَّدِيدِ
Allazee ja’ala ma’al laahi ilaahan aakhara fa alqiyaahu fil’azaabish shadeed
“Who set up another god beside Allah: Throw him into a severe penalty.”
Who setteth up another god along with Allah. Do ye twain hurl him to the dreadful doom.
۞ قَالَ قَرِينُهُۥ رَبَّنَا مَآ أَطْغَيْتُهُۥ وَلَٰكِن كَانَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۭ بَعِيدٍۢ
Qaala qareenuhoo Rabbanaa maaa atghaituhoo wa laakin kaana fee dalaahim ba’eed
His Companion will say: “Our Lord! I did not make him transgress, but he was (himself) far astray.”
His comrade saith: Our Lord! I did not cause him to rebel, but he was (himself) far gone in error.
قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوا۟ لَدَىَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُم بِٱلْوَعِيدِ
Qaala laa takhtasimoo ladaayya wa qad qaddamtu ilaikum bilwa’eed
He will say: “Dispute not with each other in My Presence: I had already in advance sent you Warning.
He saith: Contend not in My presence, when I had already proffered unto you the warning.
مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلْقَوْلُ لَدَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِظَلَّٰمٍۢ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
Maa yubaddalul qawlu ladaiya wa maaa ana bizal laamil lil’abeed
“The Word changes not before Me, and I do not the least injustice to My Servants.”
The sentence that cometh from Me cannot be changed, and I am in no wise a tyrant unto the slaves.
يَوْمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ ٱمْتَلَأْتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلْ مِن مَّزِيدٍۢ
Yawma naqoolu li’jahannama halim talaati wa taqoolu hal mim mazeed
One Day We will ask Hell, “Art thou filled to the full?” It will say, “Are there any more (to come)?”
On the day when We say unto hell: Art thou filled? and it saith: Can there be more to come?
وَأُزْلِفَتِ ٱلْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ
Wa uzlifatil jannatu lil muttaqeena ghaira ba’eed
And the Garden will be brought nigh to the Righteous,- no more a thing distant.
And the Garden is brought nigh for those who kept from evil, no longer distant.
هَٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٍۢ
Haaza maa too’adoona likulli awwaabin hafeez
(A voice will say:) “This is what was promised for you,- for every one who turned (to Allah) in sincere repentance, who kept (His Law),
(And it is said): This is that which ye were promised. (It is) for every penitent and heedful one,
مَّنْ خَشِىَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَجَآءَ بِقَلْبٍۢ مُّنِيبٍ
Man khashiyar Rahmaana bilghaibi wa jaaa’a biqalbim muneeb
“Who feared (Allah) Most Gracious Unseen, and brought a heart turned in devotion (to Him):
Who feareth the Beneficent in secret and cometh with a contrite heart.
ٱدْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَٰمٍۢ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ ٱلْخُلُودِ
Udkhuloohaa bisalaamin zaalika yawmul khulood
“Enter ye therein in Peace and Security; this is a Day of Eternal Life!”
Enter it in peace. This is the day of immortality.
لَهُم مَّا يَشَآءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيْنَا مَزِيدٌۭ
Lahum maa yashaaa’oona feehaa wa ladainaa mazeed
There will be for them therein all that they wish,- and more besides in Our Presence.
There they have all that they desire, and there is more with Us.
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًۭا فَنَقَّبُوا۟ فِى ٱلْبِلَٰدِ هَلْ مِن مَّحِيصٍ
Wa kam ahlaknaa qablahum min qarnin hum ashaddu minhum batshan fanaqqaboo fil bilaad, hal mim mahees
But how many generations before them did We destroy (for their sins),- stronger in power than they? Then did they wander through the land: was there any place of escape (for them)?
And how many a generation We destroyed before them, who were mightier than these in prowess so that they overran the lands! Had they any place of refuge (when the judgment came)?
إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِمَن كَانَ لَهُۥ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى ٱلسَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌۭ
Inna fee zaalika lazikraa liman kaana lahoo qalbun aw alqas sam’a wa huwa shaheed
Verily in this is a Message for any that has a heart and understanding or who gives ear and earnestly witnesses (the truth).
Lo! therein verily is a reminder for him who hath a heart, or giveth ear with full intelligence.
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍۢ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبٍۢ
Wa laqad khalaqnas samaawaati wal arda wa maa bainahumaa fee sittati ayyaamin wa maa massanaa mil lughoob
We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in Six Days, nor did any sense of weariness touch Us.
And verily We created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, in six Days, and naught of weariness touched Us.
فَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ ٱلْغُرُوبِ
Fasbir ‘alaa maa yaqooloona wa sabbih bihamdi Rabbika qabla tuloo’ish shamsi wa qablal ghuroob
Bear, then, with patience, all that they say, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting.
Therefor (O Muhammad) bear with what they say, and hymn the praise of thy Lord before the rising and before the setting of the sun;
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَٰرَ ٱلسُّجُودِ
Wa minal laili fasabbih hu wa adbaaras sujood
And during part of the night, (also,) celebrate His praises, and (so likewise) after the postures of adoration.
And in the night-time hymn His praise, and after the (prescribed) prostrations.
وَٱسْتَمِعْ يَوْمَ يُنَادِ ٱلْمُنَادِ مِن مَّكَانٍۢ قَرِيبٍۢ
Wastami’ yawma yunaa dil munaadi mim makaanin qareeb
And listen for the Day when the Caller will call out from a place quiet near,-
And listen on the day when the crier crieth from a near place,
يَوْمَ يَسْمَعُونَ ٱلصَّيْحَةَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ ٱلْخُرُوجِ
Yawma yasmaoonas sai hata bilhaqq zaalika yawmul khurooj
The Day when they will hear a (mighty) Blast in (very) truth: that will be the Day of Resurrection.
The day when they will hear the (Awful) Cry in truth. That is the day of coming forth (from the graves).
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْىِۦ وَنُمِيتُ وَإِلَيْنَا ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Innaa Nahnu nuhyee wa numeetu wa ilainal maseer
Verily it is We Who give Life and Death; and to Us is the Final Goal-
Lo! We it is Who quicken and give death, and unto Us is the journeying.
يَوْمَ تَشَقَّقُ ٱلْأَرْضُ عَنْهُمْ سِرَاعًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ حَشْرٌ عَلَيْنَا يَسِيرٌۭ
Yawma tashaqqaqul ardu ‘anhum siraa’aa; zaalika hashrun ‘alainaa yaseer
The Day when the Earth will be rent asunder, from (men) hurrying out: that will be a gathering together,- quite easy for Us.
On the day when the earth splitteth asunder from them, hastening forth (they come). That is a gathering easy for Us (to make).
نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِجَبَّارٍۢ ۖ فَذَكِّرْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ
Nahnu a’lamu bimaa yaqooloona wa maaa anta ‘alihim bijabbaarin fazakkir bil quraani many yakhaafu wa’eed
We know best what they say; and thou art not one to overawe them by force. So admonish with the Qur’an such as fear My Warning!
We are Best Aware of what they say, and thou (O Muhammad) art in no wise a compeller over them. But warn by the Qur’an him who feareth My threat.
Sources. Arabic text: Tanzil Uthmani edition. Translations: Abdullah Yusuf Ali (original edition, 1934–1938) and Marmaduke Pickthall (1930), both in the public domain. Any introduction above is original writing and is not part of any translation.