قٓ ۚ وَٱلْقُرْءَانِ ٱلْمَجِيدِ 1
Qāf. By the honored Qur’ān...
Qaf
The Letter "Qaf"
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Surah Qaf, the fiftieth chapter of the Quran, opens with the mysterious disjointed letter "Qaf" followed by an oath upon the Glorious Quran, immediately establishing a tone of solemn authority. Revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced persistent denial and mockery from the Quraysh, the surah addresses the disbelievers' astonishment that a warner had risen from among them and their categorical rejection of the concept of bodily resurrection after death. The surah powerfully counters this skepticism by directing human attention to the natural world — the heavens above, the earth below, the rain that brings life to barren land, the towering palm trees laden with fruit — presenting these as unmistakable signs of God's creative power and as evidence that the One who originated creation can surely restore it. This theme of resurrection and accountability before God forms the central axis around which the entire surah revolves, making it one of the most eloquent Quranic treatments of eschatological realities. The surah references several destroyed nations of the past, including the peoples of Nuh (Noah), the companions of the well (Ar-Rass), Thamud, 'Ad, Pharaoh, the brethren of Lut (Lot), the dwellers of the forest (Aykah), and the people of Tubba', all of whom rejected their messengers and consequently faced divine punishment. These brief but potent historical allusions serve not as elaborate narratives but as compressed warnings, reminding the Quraysh that they are not the first to deny God's message and that the fate of earlier deniers stands as an enduring testimony to the consequences of arrogance and disbelief. The surah then transitions into a vivid and deeply moving depiction of the Day of Judgment, describing the moment when the trumpet is blown, when every soul arrives accompanied by a driver and a witness, and when the record of deeds is laid open. The dialogue between the sinner and his companion devil, each blaming the other, and God's declaration that His word of punishment shall not be changed, create a scene of terrifying finality. Equally striking is the surah's intimate declaration that God is closer to the human being than his own jugular vein and that two recording angels sit on the right and left, documenting every word uttered — a reminder that nothing escapes divine knowledge. The spiritual lessons of Surah Qaf are profound and multifaceted. It calls upon human beings to reflect deeply on creation, on their own mortality, and on the inescapable reality of standing before their Creator. The surah offers a striking contrast between the fate of the
قٓ ۚ وَٱلْقُرْءَانِ ٱلْمَجِيدِ 1
Qāf. By the honored Qur’ān...
بَلْ عَجِبُوٓا۟ أَن جَآءَهُم مُّنذِرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَقَالَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ هَـٰذَا شَىْءٌ عَجِيبٌ 2
But they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, and the disbelievers say, "This is an amazing thing.
أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا ۖ ذَٰلِكَ رَجْعٌۢ بَعِيدٌ 3
When we have died and have become dust, [we will return to life]? That is a distant [i.e., unlikely] return."
قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا تَنقُصُ ٱلْأَرْضُ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَعِندَنَا كِتَـٰبٌ حَفِيظٌۢ 4
We know what the earth diminishes [i.e., consumes] of them, and with Us is a retaining record.
بَلْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ فَهُمْ فِىٓ أَمْرٍ مَّرِيجٍ 5
But they denied the truth when it came to them, so they are in a confused condition.
أَفَلَمْ يَنظُرُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَوْقَهُمْ كَيْفَ بَنَيْنَـٰهَا وَزَيَّنَّـٰهَا وَمَا لَهَا مِن فُرُوجٍ 6
Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and [how] it has no rifts?
وَٱلْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَـٰهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍۭ بَهِيجٍ 7
And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind,
تَبْصِرَةً وَذِكْرَىٰ لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُّنِيبٍ 8
Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allāh].
وَنَزَّلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً مُّبَـٰرَكًا فَأَنۢبَتْنَا بِهِۦ جَنَّـٰتٍ وَحَبَّ ٱلْحَصِيدِ 9
And We have sent down blessed rain from the sky and made grow thereby gardens and grain from the harvest
وَٱلنَّخْلَ بَاسِقَـٰتٍ لَّهَا طَلْعٌ نَّضِيدٌ 10
And lofty palm trees having fruit arranged in layers -
رِّزْقًا لِّلْعِبَادِ ۖ وَأَحْيَيْنَا بِهِۦ بَلْدَةً مَّيْتًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْخُرُوجُ 11
As provision for the servants, and We have given life thereby to a dead land. Thus is the emergence [i.e., resurrection].
كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلرَّسِّ وَثَمُودُ 12
The people of Noah denied before them, and the companions of the well and Thamūd
وَعَادٌ وَفِرْعَوْنُ وَإِخْوَٰنُ لُوطٍ 13
And ʿAad and Pharaoh and the brothers [i.e., people] of Lot
وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْأَيْكَةِ وَقَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ ۚ كُلٌّ كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِيدِ 14
And the companions of the thicket and the people of Tubbaʿ. All denied the messengers, so My threat was justly fulfilled.
أَفَعَيِينَا بِٱلْخَلْقِ ٱلْأَوَّلِ ۚ بَلْ هُمْ فِى لَبْسٍ مِّنْ خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ 15
Did We fail in the first creation? But they are in confusion over a new creation.
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِۦ نَفْسُهُۥ ۖ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ ٱلْوَرِيدِ 16
And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein.
إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ 17
When the two receivers [i.e., recording angels] receive, seated on the right and on the left.
مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ 18
He [i.e., man] utters no word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].
وَجَآءَتْ سَكْرَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ 19
And the intoxication of death will bring the truth; that is what you were trying to avoid.
وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ ٱلْوَعِيدِ 20
And the Horn will be blown. That is the Day of [carrying out] the threat.
وَجَآءَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّعَهَا سَآئِقٌ وَشَهِيدٌ 21
And every soul will come, with it a driver and a witness.
لَّقَدْ كُنتَ فِى غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَـٰذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنكَ غِطَآءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ حَدِيدٌ 22
[It will be said], "You were certainly in unmindfulness of this, and We have removed from you your cover, so your sight, this Day, is sharp."
وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُۥ هَـٰذَا مَا لَدَىَّ عَتِيدٌ 23
And his companion, [the angel], will say, "This [record] is what is with me, prepared."
أَلْقِيَا فِى جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ 24
[Allāh will say], "Throw into Hell every obstinate disbeliever,
مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ مُّرِيبٍ 25
Preventer of good, aggressor, and doubter,
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَأَلْقِيَاهُ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلشَّدِيدِ 26
Who made [as equal] with Allāh another deity; then throw him into the severe punishment."
۞ قَالَ قَرِينُهُۥ رَبَّنَا مَآ أَطْغَيْتُهُۥ وَلَـٰكِن كَانَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍۭ بَعِيدٍ 27
His [devil] companion will say, "Our Lord, I did not make him transgress, but he [himself] was in extreme error."
قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوا۟ لَدَىَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُم بِٱلْوَعِيدِ 28
[Allāh] will say, "Do not dispute before Me, while I had already presented to you the threat [i.e., warning].
مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلْقَوْلُ لَدَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِظَلَّـٰمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ 29
The word [i.e., decree] will not be changed with Me, and never will I be unjust to the servants."
يَوْمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ ٱمْتَلَأْتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلْ مِن مَّزِيدٍ 30
On the Day We will say to Hell, "Have you been filled?" and it will say, "Are there some more,"
وَأُزْلِفَتِ ٱلْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ 31
And Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far,
هَـٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٍ 32
[It will be said], "This is what you were promised - for every returner [to Allāh] and keeper [of His covenant].
مَّنْ خَشِىَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَجَآءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُّنِيبٍ 33
Who feared the Most Merciful in the unseen and came with a heart returning [in repentance].
ٱدْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَـٰمٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ ٱلْخُلُودِ 34
Enter it in peace. This is the Day of Eternity."
لَهُم مَّا يَشَآءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيْنَا مَزِيدٌ 35
They will have whatever they wish therein, and with Us is more.
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا فَنَقَّبُوا۟ فِى ٱلْبِلَـٰدِ هَلْ مِن مَّحِيصٍ 36
And how many a generation before them did We destroy who were greater than them in [striking] power and had explored throughout the lands. Is there any place of escape?
إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِمَن كَانَ لَهُۥ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى ٱلسَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ 37
Indeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind].
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبٍ 38
And We did certainly create the heavens and earth and what is between them in six days, and there touched Us no weariness.
فَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ ٱلْغُرُوبِ 39
So be patient, [O Muḥammad], over what they say and exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting,
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَـٰرَ ٱلسُّجُودِ 40
And [in part] of the night exalt Him and after prostration [i.e., prayer].
وَٱسْتَمِعْ يَوْمَ يُنَادِ ٱلْمُنَادِ مِن مَّكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ 41
And listen on the Day when the Caller will call out from a place that is near -
يَوْمَ يَسْمَعُونَ ٱلصَّيْحَةَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ ٱلْخُرُوجِ 42
The Day they will hear the blast [of the Horn] in truth. That is the Day of Emergence [from the graves].
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْىِۦ وَنُمِيتُ وَإِلَيْنَا ٱلْمَصِيرُ 43
Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and to Us is the destination
يَوْمَ تَشَقَّقُ ٱلْأَرْضُ عَنْهُمْ سِرَاعًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ حَشْرٌ عَلَيْنَا يَسِيرٌ 44
On the Day the earth breaks away from them [and they emerge] rapidly; that is a gathering easy for Us.
نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِجَبَّارٍ ۖ فَذَكِّرْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ 45
We are most knowing of what they say, and you are not over them a tyrant. But remind by the Qur’ān whoever fears My threat.
Practice memorizing Surah Qaf. Choose how much of the Arabic text to hide, then tap each ayah to reveal it.