The Most High
The first verses call for glorifying the Lord Most High and describe creation and proportion. Consider the relationship between recognizing what is created and offering praise. Read the Arabic slowly enough to hear its short, balanced phrasing.
Based on Quran 87:1–2. Original study prompt, not a complete tafsir. Compare the passage ↗English Translation - Noor International Center · QuranEnc.com · v1.1.2 ↗
Issued by Noor International Center. Publisher footnotes appear with their verses.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ سَبِّحِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ ٱلْأَعْلَى
(1) Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ
(2) Who created and proportioned
وَٱلَّذِى قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ
(3) And who destined and [then] guided
وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَخْرَجَ ٱلْمَرْعَىٰ
(4) And who brings out the pasture
فَجَعَلَهُۥ غُثَآءً أَحْوَىٰ
(5) And [then] makes it black stubble.
سَنُقْرِئُكَ فَلَا تَنسَىٰٓ
(6) We will make you recite, [O Muḥammad], and you will not forget,
إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ يَعْلَمُ ٱلْجَهْرَ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ
(7) Except what Allāh should will. Indeed, He knows what is declared and what is hidden.
وَنُيَسِّرُكَ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ
(8) And We will ease you toward ease.[1907]
فَذَكِّرْ إِن نَّفَعَتِ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ
(9) So remind, if the reminder should benefit;[1908]
سَيَذَّكَّرُ مَن يَخْشَىٰ
(10) He who fears [Allāh] will be reminded.
وَيَتَجَنَّبُهَا ٱلْأَشْقَى
(11) But the wretched one will avoid it –
ٱلَّذِى يَصْلَى ٱلنَّارَ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰ
(12) [He] who will [enter and] burn in the greatest Fire,
ثُمَّ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ
(13) Neither dying therein nor living.
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ
(14) He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself
وَذَكَرَ ٱسْمَ رَبِّهِۦ فَصَلَّىٰ
(15) And mentions the name of his Lord and prays.
بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا
(16) But you prefer the worldly life,
وَٱلْءَاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ
(17) While the Hereafter is better and more enduring.
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَفِى ٱلصُّحُفِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ
(18) Indeed, this is in the former scriptures,
صُحُفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ
(19) The scriptures of Abraham and Moses.