الم ١

Alif, Lam, Mim. (Only Allah and the Messenger [blessings and peace be upon him] know the real meaning.)

غُلِبَتِ الرُّومُ ٢

The Romans have been overpowered (by Persia),

فِي أَدْنَى الْأَرْضِ وَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ غَلَبِهِمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ ٣

In the land nearby. And after their defeat they will soon gain victory,

فِي بِضْعِ سِنِينَ ۗ لِلَّهِ الْأَمْرُ مِن قَبْلُ وَمِن بَعْدُ ۚ وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٤

In a few years (i.e., in less than a decade). The command is but Allah’s both before (in the Persian dominance) and afterwards too (in the Roman dominance). And the believers will rejoice on that day,

بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ يَنصُرُ مَن يَشَاءُ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ ٥

With the help of Allah. He helps whom He wills and He is Almighty, Ever-Merciful.

وَعْدَ اللَّهِ ۖ لَا يُخْلِفُ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٦

(This) is the promise of Allah. Allah does not go against His promise but most people do not know.

يَعْلَمُونَ ظَاهِرًا مِّنَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ الْآخِرَةِ هُمْ غَافِلُونَ ٧

They know only the visible worldly life, and they are neglectful and unaware of (the real life of) the Hereafter.

أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِم ۗ مَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ لَكَافِرُونَ ٨

Have they not meditated within themselves that Allah has not created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between the two except with (a system of) truth and for a fixed term? And surely, most of the people do not believe in the meeting with their Lord.

أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَثَارُوا الْأَرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَا أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا وَجَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَٰكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ ٩

Have they not travelled in the earth and seen what was the end of those before them? They were more powerful than them. And they cultivated the earth, and inhabited it far more than these people have done. Then their Messengers came to them with clear signs. So Allah would not wrong them but they wronged their souls themselves.

ثُمَّ كَانَ عَاقِبَةَ الَّذِينَ أَسَاءُوا السُّوأَىٰ أَن كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَكَانُوا بِهَا يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ ١٠

Then much evil came to be the end of those who did evil because they used to belie the Revelations of Allah and used to ridicule them.

اللَّهُ يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ١١

Allah generates creation the first time, then (He is the One Who) will create it the second time, then to Him you will be returned.

وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يُبْلِسُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ ١٢

And the Day when the Last Hour is established, the evildoers will lose hope.

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُم مِّن شُرَكَائِهِمْ شُفَعَاءُ وَكَانُوا بِشُرَكَائِهِمْ كَافِرِينَ ١٣

And none of their (self-made) partners will intercede for them, and (ultimately) they will deny their very same partners.

وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَتَفَرَّقُونَ ١٤

And the Day when the Last Hour will be established, people will separate from one another (in personal agony).

فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَهُمْ فِي رَوْضَةٍ يُحْبَرُونَ ١٥

So those who believe and always do pious deeds will be pleased and delighted in the Gardens of Paradise.

وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَلِقَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ فِي الْعَذَابِ مُحْضَرُونَ ١٦

And those who disbelieve and belie Our Revelations and the meeting of the Last Day, it is they who will be brought forth to the torment.

فَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ حِينَ تُمْسُونَ وَحِينَ تُصْبِحُونَ ١٧

So glorify Allah when you enter the evening (Maghrib and ‘Isha’ times) and when you enter the morning (Fajr time).

وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَعَشِيًّا وَحِينَ تُظْهِرُونَ ١٨

And all praise in the heavens and the earth be to Him alone, and (glorify Him) in the afternoon (‘Asr time) and at noon (Zuhr time) as well.

يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَيُحْيِي الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ تُخْرَجُونَ ١٩

He is the One Who brings forth the living from the dead, and brings forth the dead from the living, and enlivens and freshens the earth after its death. And you (too) will be brought forth (from the graves) the same way.

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ إِذَا أَنتُم بَشَرٌ تَنتَشِرُونَ ٢٠

And of His signs is that He created you from dust, and now you are human beings spread around (all over the globe).