Revealed in the early Makkan period, Surah Qaf focuses intensely on the certainty of death, the reality of resurrection, and the ultimate accountability of the soul, addressing the disbelievers' skepticism about rising from the dust. It urges humanity to look at the sky above them—flawless, decorated with stars—and the green earth as proof of the Creator's power to bring life from death. The chapter paints a vivid, terrifying picture of death's stupor and the blowing of the trumpet. It warns that every individual has a recording angel and will be driven to judgment with a driver and a witness, commanding the Prophet to remain patient and remind people using the Quran.
Transliteration
Qaf waalqurani almajeedi
Translation
Qaf. By the Glorious Quran
The single disjointed letter 'Qaf' is a Huruf Muqatta'ah, whose ultimate secret is known only to Allah. This chapter inaugurates the 'Mufassal' (frequently divided) section of the Quran. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ held this chapter in exceptional esteem, frequently reciting it in its entirety during Friday congregational sermons and Eid prayers.
Transliteration
Bal AAajiboo an jaahum munthirun minhum faqala alkafiroona hatha shayon AAajeebun
Translation
They marveled that a warner has come to them from among them. The disbelievers say, “This is something strange
Meccan idolaters expressed astonishment that God chose a mortal human from among themselves as a messenger, and adamantly refused to believe that decomposed human dust could ever be reconstituted into living bodies.
Transliteration
Aitha mitna wakunna turaban thalika rajAAun baAAeedun
Translation
When we have died and become dust? This is a farfetched return.”
Transliteration
Qad AAalimna ma tanqusu alardu minhum waAAindana kitabun hafeethun
Translation
We know what the earth consumes of them, and with Us is a comprehensive book
Transliteration
Bal kaththaboo bialhaqqi lamma jaahum fahum fee amrin mareejin
Translation
But they denied the truth when it has come to them, so they are in a confused state
Transliteration
Afalam yanthuroo ila alssamai fawqahum kayfa banaynaha wazayyannaha wama laha min furoojin
Translation
Have they not observed the sky above them, how We constructed it, and decorated it, and it has no cracks
Transliteration
Waalarda madadnaha waalqayna feeha rawasiya waanbatna feeha min kulli zawjin baheejin
Translation
And the earth, how We spread it out, and set on it mountains, and grew in it all kinds of delightful pairs
Transliteration
Tabsiratan wathikra likulli AAabdin muneebin
Translation
A lesson and a reminder for every penitent worshiper
Transliteration
Wanazzalna mina alssamai maan mubarakan faanbatna bihi jannatin wahabba alhaseedi
Translation
And We brought down from the sky blessed water, and produced with it gardens and grain to harvest
Transliteration
Waalnnakhla basiqatin laha talAAun nadeedun
Translation
And the soaring palm trees, with clustered dates
Transliteration
Rizqan lilAAibadi waahyayna bihi baldatan maytan kathalika alkhurooju
Translation
As sustenance for the servants. And We revive thereby a dead town. Likewise is the resurrection
Transliteration
Kaththabat qablahum qawmu noohin waashabu alrrassi wathamoodu
Translation
Before them the people of Noah denied the truth, and so did the dwellers of Russ, and Thamood
Transliteration
WaAAadun wafirAAawnu waikhwanu lootin
Translation
And Aad, and Pharaoh, and the brethren of Lot
Transliteration
Waashabu alaykati waqawmu tubbaAAin kullun kaththaba alrrusula fahaqqa waAAeedi
Translation
And the Dwellers of the Woods, and the people of Tubba. They all rejected the messengers, so My threat came true
Transliteration
AfaAAayeena bialkhalqi alawwali bal hum fee labsin min khalqin jadeedin
Translation
Were We fatigued by the first creation? But they are in doubt of a new creation
Transliteration
Walaqad khalaqna alinsana wanaAAlamu ma tuwaswisu bihi nafsuhu wanahnu aqrabu ilayhi min habli alwareedi
Translation
We created the human being, and We know what his soul whispers to him. We are nearer to him than his jugular vein
A profound description of divine intimacy: God knows not only human physical actions, but even the subtlest subconscious whispers of the soul ('Waswasah'), stating that He is closer to each person than their own jugular vein ('Habl al-Warid').
Transliteration
Ith yatalaqqa almutalaqqiyani AAani alyameeni waAAani alshshimali qaAAeedun
Translation
As the two receivers receive, seated to the right and to the left
Transliteration
Ma yalfithu min qawlin illa ladayhi raqeebun AAateedun
Translation
Not a word does he utter, but there is a watcher by him, ready
Details the spiritual surveillance of every human life: two designated recording angels—traditionally termed Raqib (the vigilant watcher) and 'Atid (the ever-present record keeper)—meticulously log every single uttered word and deed.
Transliteration
Wajaat sakratu almawti bialhaqqi thalika ma kunta minhu taheedu
Translation
The daze of death has come in truth: “This is what you tried to evade.”
Depicts the physical and psychological threshold of mortality: the intense stupor and disorientation of death ('Sakrat al-Mawt') descends unavoidably, confronting the soul with the eternal reality it spent a lifetime evading.
Transliteration
Wanufikha fee alssoori thalika yawmu alwaAAeedi
Translation
And the Trumpet is blown: “This is the Promised Day.”
Transliteration
Wajaat kullu nafsin maAAaha saiqun washaheedun
Translation
And every soul will come forward, accompanied by a driver and a witness
Transliteration
Laqad kunta fee ghaflatin min hatha fakashafna AAanka ghitaaka fabasaruka alyawma hadeedun
Translation
“You were in neglect of this, so We lifted your screen from you, and your vision today is keen.”
Describes the awakening of consciousness at resurrection: the earthly veil of physical sensory limitations is pulled away, rendering a person's spiritual vision piercingly sharp ('Hadid') as unseen metaphysical realities become visible.
Transliteration
Waqala qareenuhu hatha ma ladayya AAateedun
Translation
And His escort will say, “This is what I have ready with me.”
Transliteration
Alqiya fee jahannama kulla kaffarin AAaneedin
Translation
“Throw into Hell every stubborn disbeliever
Transliteration
MannaAAin lilkhayri muAAtadin mureebin
Translation
Preventer of good, aggressor, doubter
Transliteration
Allathee jaAAala maAAa Allahi ilahan akhara faalqiyahu fee alAAathabi alshshadeedi
Translation
Who fabricated another god with God; toss him into the intense agony.”
Transliteration
Qala qareenuhu rabbana ma atghaytuhu walakin kana fee dalalin baAAeedin
Translation
His escort will say, “Our Lord, I did not make him rebel, but he was far astray.”
Transliteration
Qala la takhtasimoo ladayya waqad qaddamtu ilaykum bialwaAAeedi
Translation
He will say, “Do not feud in My presence—I had warned you in advance
Transliteration
Ma yubaddalu alqawlu ladayya wama ana bithallamin lilAAabeedi
Translation
The decree from Me will not be changed, and I am not unjust to the servants.”
Transliteration
Yawma naqoolu lijahannama hali imtalati wataqoolu hal min mazeedin
Translation
On the Day when We will say to Hell, “Are you full?” And it will say, “Are there any more?”
A dramatic depiction of Judgment Day: God asks Hellfire whether it has been completely filled, to which it responds: 'Are there any more?' ('Hal min mazid'), illustrating the boundless capacity of divine justice.
Transliteration
Waozlifati aljannatu lilmuttaqeena ghayra baAAeedin
Translation
And Paradise will be brought closer to the pious, not far away
Transliteration
Hatha ma tooAAadoona likulli awwabin hafeethin
Translation
“This is what you were promised—for every careful penitent
Transliteration
Man khashiya alrrahmana bialghaybi wajaa biqalbin muneebin
Translation
Who inwardly feared the Most Gracious, and came with a repentant heart
Transliteration
Odkhulooha bisalamin thalika yawmu alkhuloodi
Translation
Enter it in peace. This is the Day of Eternity.”
Transliteration
Lahum ma yashaoona feeha waladayna mazeedun
Translation
Therein they will have whatever they desire—and We have even more
Transliteration
Wakam ahlakna qablahum min qarnin hum ashaddu minhum batshan fanaqqaboo fee albiladi hal min maheesin
Translation
How many generations before them, who were more powerful than they, did We destroy? They explored the lands—was there any escape
Transliteration
Inna fee thalika lathikra liman kana lahu qalbun aw alqa alssamAAa wahuwa shaheedun
Translation
In that is a reminder for whoever possesses a heart, or cares to listen and witness
Transliteration
Walaqad khalaqna alssamawati waalarda wama baynahuma fee sittati ayyamin wama massana min lughoobin
Translation
We created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six days, and no fatigue touched Us
Refutes the anthropomorphic belief found in ancient scriptures alleging that God rested after creation: affirms that God created the cosmos in six divine periods and was never touched by even the faintest trace of weariness or fatigue ('Lughub').
Transliteration
Faisbir AAala ma yaqooloona wasabbih bihamdi rabbika qabla tulooAAi alshshamsi waqabla alghuroobi
Translation
So endure what they say, and proclaim the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun, and before sunset
Transliteration
Wamina allayli fasabbihhu waadbara alssujoodi
Translation
And glorify Him during the night, and at the end of devotions
Transliteration
WaistamiAA yawma yunadi almunadi min makanin qareebin
Translation
And listen for the Day when the caller calls from a nearby place
Transliteration
Yawma yasmaAAoona alssayhata bialhaqqi thalika yawmu alkhurooji
Translation
The Day when they will hear the Shout in all truth. That is the Day of Emergence
Transliteration
Inna nahnu nuhyee wanumeetu wailayna almaseeru
Translation
It is We who control life and death, and to Us is the destination
Transliteration
Yawma tashaqqaqu alardu AAanhum siraAAan thalika hashrun AAalayna yaseerun
Translation
The Day when the earth will crack for them at once. That is an easy gathering for Us
Transliteration
Nahnu aAAlamu bima yaqooloona wama anta AAalayhim bijabbarin fathakkir bialqurani man yakhafu waAAeedi
Translation
We are fully aware of what they say, and you are not a dictator over them. So remind by the Quran whoever fears My warning
The concluding mandate of the Prophet's mission: he was never commissioned to force faith upon unwilling people as a tyrant, but to use the intellectual and spiritual power of the Quran to remind receptive hearts.