Surah Qāf (The Letter "Qaf") in English

1. ولقد خلقنا الإنسان ونعلم ما توسوس به نفسه ونحن أقرب إليه من حبل الوريد

   16

   Certainly We have created man and We know to what his soul tempts him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.

   wa-la-qad khalaqnā l-ʾinsāna wa-naʿlamu mā tuwaswisu bihī nafsuhū wa-naḥnu ʾaqrabu ʾilayhi min ḥabli l-warīdi

2. إذ يتلقى المتلقيان عن اليمين وعن الشمال قعيد

   17

   When the twin recorders record [his deeds], seated on the right hand and on the left:

   ʾidh yatalaqqā l-mutalaqqiyāni ʿani l-yamīni wa-ʿani sh-shimāli qaʿīdun

3. ما يلفظ من قول إلا لديه رقيب عتيد

   18

   he says no word but that there is a ready observer beside him.

   mā yalfiẓu min qawlin ʾillā ladayhi raqībun ʿatīdun

4. وجاءت سكرة الموت بالحق ذلك ما كنت منه تحيد

   19

   The throes of death bring the truth: ‘This is what you used to shun!’

   wa-jāʾat sakratu l-mawti bi-l-ḥaqqi dhālika mā kunta minhu taḥīdu

5. ونفخ في الصور ذلك يوم الوعيد

   20

   And the Trumpet will be blown: ‘This is the promised day.’

   wa-nufikha fī ṣ-ṣūri dhālika yawmu l-waʿīdi

6. وجاءت كل نفس معها سائق وشهيد

   21

   Every soul will come accompanied by [two angels], a driver, and a witness:

   wa-jāʾat kullu nafsin maʿahā sāʾiqun wa-shahīdun

7. لقد كنت في غفلة من هذا فكشفنا عنك غطاءك فبصرك اليوم حديد

   22

   [he will be told] ‘You were certainly oblivious of this. We have removed your veil from you, and so today your eyesight is acute.’

   la-qad kunta fī ghaflatin min hādhā fa-kashafnā ʿanka ghiṭāʾaka fa-baṣaruka l-yawma ḥadīdun

8. وقال قرينه هذا ما لدي عتيد

   23

   Then his companion [angel] will say, ‘This is what is ready with me [of his record of deeds].’

   wa-qāla qarīnuhū hādhā mā ladayya ʿatīdun

9. ألقيا في جهنم كل كفار عنيد

   24

   [The two angels accompany him will be told,] ‘Cast every obdurate ingrate into hell,

   ʾalqiyā fī jahannama kulla kaffārin ʿanīdin

10. مناع للخير معتد مريب

    25

    [every] hinderer of good, transgressor, and skeptic,

    mannāʿin li-l-khayri muʿtadin murībin-i

11. الذي جعل مع الله إلها آخر فألقياه في العذاب الشديد

    26

    who had set up another god along with Allah and cast him into the severe punishment.’

    alladhī jaʿala maʿa llāhi ʾilāhan ʾākhara fa-ʾalqiyāhu fī l-ʿadhābi sh-shadīdi

12. قال قرينه ربنا ما أطغيته ولكن كان في ضلال بعيد

    27

    His companion [devil] will say, ‘Our Lord! I did not incite him to rebel [against You], but he was [himself] in extreme error.’

    qāla qarīnuhū rabbanā mā ʾaṭghaytuhū wa-lākin kāna fī ḍalālin baʿīdin

13. قال لا تختصموا لدي وقد قدمت إليكم بالوعيد

    28

    He will say, ‘Do not wrangle in My presence, for I had already warned you in advance.

    qāla lā takhtaṣimū ladayya wa-qad qaddamtu ʾilaykum bi-l-waʿīdi

14. ما يبدل القول لدي وما أنا بظلام للعبيد

    29

    The word [of judgement] is unalterable with Me, and I am not tyrannical to My servants.’

    mā yubaddalu l-qawlu ladayya wa-mā ʾana bi-ẓallāmin li-l-ʿabīdi

15. يوم نقول لجهنم هل امتلأت وتقول هل من مزيد

    30

    The day when We shall say to hell, ‘Are you full?’ It will say, ‘Is there any more?’

    yawma naqūlu li-jahannama hali mtalaʾti wa-taqūlu hal min mazīdin

16. وأزلفت الجنة للمتقين غير بعيد

    31

    And paradise will be brought near for the Godwary, it will not be distant [any more]:

    wa-ʾuzlifati l-jannatu li-l-muttaqīna ghayra baʿīdin

17. هذا ما توعدون لكل أواب حفيظ

    32

    ‘This is what you were promised. [It is] for every penitent and dutiful [servant]

    hādhā mā tūʿadūna li-kulli ʾawwābin ḥafīẓin

18. من خشي الرحمن بالغيب وجاء بقلب منيب

    33

    who fears the All-beneficent in secret and comes with a penitent heart.

    man khashiya r-raḥmāna bi-l-ghaybi wa-jāʾa bi-qalbin munībin-i

19. ادخلوها بسلام ذلك يوم الخلود

    34

    Enter it in peace! This is the day of immortality.’

    udkhulūhā bi-salāmin dhālika yawmu l-khulūdi

20. لهم ما يشاءون فيها ولدينا مزيد

    35

    There they will have whatever they wish, and with Us there is yet more.

    lahum mā yashāʾūna fīhā wa-ladaynā mazīdun