Surah Qaf is a very significant surah of the Holy Quran. It is the 50th surah in the Holy Book and comprises 45 verses; it was revealed in Makkah approximately between 613 and 615 AD.

Surah Qaf gets its name from the opening detached letter Qaf. The surah mainly deals with the matter of Resurrection and the Day of Judgement. These are some of the most difficult concepts for believers and non-believers to understand, which is what makes this surah especially significant. The surah describes the scenes of the Day of Judgement in detail, while also reminding readers of the outcomes of disbelievers from the past. 

The Holy Prophet (SAW) considered this surah extremely important and was heard reciting it at every Friday sermon of the congregational prayer. The Prophet (SAW) said, “Whoever recites the Chapter Qaf, Allah shall alleviate the difficulties and throes of death for him.” Reciting Surah Qaf during prayers increases one’s sustenance and eases the accounting on the Day of Judgement. 

Surah Qaf 

Transliteration and Meaning

Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1. Qaaaf; wal Qur aanil Majeed

Qaf: By the Glorious Qur´an (Thou art Allah´s Messenger).

2. 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!

3. ‘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).”

4. 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).

5. 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.

6. 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?

7. 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)-

8. Tabsiratanw wa zikraa likulli ‘abdim muneeb

To be observed and commemorated by every devotee turning (to Allah).

9. 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;

10. Wannakhla baasiqaatil laha tal’un nadeed

And tall (and stately) palm-trees, with shoots of fruit-stalks, piled one over another;-

11. 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.

12. 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,

13. Wa ‘Aadunw wa Fir’awnu wikhwaanu loot

The ´Ad, Pharaoh, the brethren of Lut,

14. 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).

15. 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?

16. 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.

17. ‘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.

18. 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).

19. Wa jaaa’at sakratul mawti bilhaqq; zaalika maa kunta minhu taheed

And the stupor of death will bring Truth (before his eyes): “This was the thing which thou wast trying to escape!”

20. Wa nufikha fis Soor; zaalika yawmul wa’eed

And the Trumpet shall be blown: that will be the Day whereof Warning (had been given).

21. 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.

22. 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!”

23. Wa qaala qareenuhoo haazaa maa ladaiya ‘ateed

And his Companion will say: “Here is (his Record) ready with me!”

24. Alqiyaa fee Jahannama kulla kaffaarin ‘aneed

(The sentence will be:) “Throw, throw into Hell every contumacious Rejecter (of Allah)!-

25. Mannaa’il lilkhayri mu’tadim mureeb

“Who forbade what was good, transgressed all bounds, cast doubts and suspicions;

26. 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.”

27. Qaala qareenuhoo Rabbanaa maaa atghaituhoo wa laakin kaana fee dalaalin ba’eed

His Companion will say: “Our Lord! I did not make him transgress, but he was (himself) far astray.”

28. 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.

29. 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.”

30. 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)?”

31. Wa uzlifatil jannatu lil muttaqeena ghaira ba’eed

And the Garden will be brought nigh to the Righteous,- no more a thing distant.

32. 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),

33. Man khashiyar Rahmaana bilghaibi wa jaaa’a biqalbim muneeb

“Who feared (Allah) Most Gracious Unseen, and brought a heart turned in devotion (to Him):

34. Udkhuloohaa bisalaamin zaalika yawmul khulood

“Enter ye therein in Peace and Security; this is a Day of Eternal Life!”

35. Lahum maa yashaaa’oona feehaa wa ladainaa mazeed

There will be for them therein all that they wish,- and more besides in Our Presence.

36. 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)?

37. 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).

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. 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.

41. Wastami’ yawma yunaa dil munaadi mim makaanin qareeb

And listen for the Day when the Caller will call out from a place quite near,-

42. 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.

43. Innaa Nahnu nuhyee wa numeetu wa ilainal maseer

Verily it is We Who give Life and Death; and to Us is the Final Goal-

44. Yawma tashaqqaqul ardu ‘anhum siraa’aa; zaalika hashrun ‘alainaa yaseer

The Day when the Earth will be rented asunder, from (men) hurrying out: that will be a gathering together,- quite easy for Us.

45. Nahnu a’lamu bimaa yaqooloona wa maaa anta ‘alaihim 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!

Download the WUZU app onto your smartphone to hear a beautiful recitation of Surah Qaf as you explore the Masjid Al Haram area in Makkah in stunning and detailed 3D imagery.