Surah 50
Surah Qaf (The Letter "Qaf")
ق
Also written: Qaaf
Surah Qaf (ق) is surah 50 of the 114 surahs of the Quran. It has 45 ayahs, was revealed in Mecca (Meccan), and its name means “The Letter "Qaf"”.
- Number
- 50
- Ayahs
- 45
- Revelation
- Meccan
- Meaning
- The Letter "Qaf"
Names, meaning and Meccan/Medinan classification as listed in the quran-json dataset.
About Surah Qaf
Qaf is a Meccan surah named after the Arabic letter that opens it. Its single great subject is the resurrection: the disbelievers think it far-fetched that dust could live again, and the surah answers with the sky, the earth, the rain and the first creation. It describes God’s closeness to every person, the angels recording each word, the moment of death and the Day of Judgement.
Main themes
- “A far return” (50:1–5): the deniers are amazed that a warner came from among them and that the dead should be raised.
- The evidence around us (50:6–11): the flawless sky, the spread-out earth, blessed rain, tall palms and a dead land brought to life — “so too will be the coming forth”.
- Earlier nations (50:12–14): the people of Noah, the companions of the well, Thamud, ’Ad, Pharaoh, Lot’s people, the dwellers of the thicket and the people of Tubba’.
- Nearer than the jugular vein (50:16–18): God knows what the soul whispers, and two angels seated right and left record every word spoken.
- Death and judgement (50:19–29): the stupor of death, the trumpet, each soul arriving with a driver and a witness, and a companion who disowns the one he misled.
- Paradise brought near (50:31–35): for everyone who turned to God and kept faith, with “more” still to come. Hell, by contrast, is asked whether it is full and replies, “Are there more?” (50:30).
In the Prophet’s practice
Sahih Muslim reports that a woman companion learned Qaf directly from the Prophet because he recited it so often in his Friday sermon. Another hadith in Sahih Muslim says he recited Qaf and Surah Al-Qamar (54) in the Eid prayers. The surah tells him to be patient and glorify God before sunrise and sunset (50:39–40), and ends: remind with the Quran whoever fears the warning (50:45).
Frequently asked questions
- How many verses are in Surah Qaf?
- 45.
- Did the Prophet recite Surah Qaf in the Friday sermon?
- Yes. A hadith in Sahih Muslim says he recited it often in the Friday khutbah.
- Which verse says God is closer than the jugular vein?
- Surah Qaf, verse 16.
- How many ayahs are in Surah Qaf?
- Surah Qaf has 45 ayahs. It is surah number 50 in the Quran and is Meccan.
- Can I read Surah Qaf in English or save it as a PDF?
- Yes. This page shows the Arabic text of every ayah with the Saheeh International English meaning under it. Use “Print / Save as PDF” for a clean printable copy that you can save as a PDF file from your browser.
- Is Surah Qaf the same as Surah Qaaf?
- Yes. Qaaf and Qaf are different English spellings of the same surah name, ق.
Summaries describe the surah’s content and commonly cited reports for general readers; they are not a tafsir or a religious ruling.
Making a video of Surah Qaf
Surah Qaf has 45 ayahs, so most videos use a passage from it rather than the whole surah. Choose the ayahs you want on the new-project page; one to five ayahs suit a Reel or Short, while longer passages work better in 16:9 for YouTube.
In the editor, the Online Recitations tab lists the reciters Quran Foundation provides for this surah. See how to create a Quran video for the full steps.
Free · no account needed · MP4 export
Surah Qaf in Arabic with English meaning
Arabic: Uthmani script from The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia (quranenc.com), Uthmani script, via quran-json (CC-BY-SA 4.0), shown as in the verified dataset; open-tanween marks use the equivalent codepoints this font draws, as in the editor. English meaning: Saheeh International (tanzil.net). A translation conveys the meaning; it is not the Quran itself.
قٓۚ وَٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ ٱلۡمَجِيدِ ١
50:1Qaf. By the honored Qur'an
بَلۡ عَجِبُوٓاْ أَن جَآءَهُم مُّنذِرࣱ مِّنۡهُمۡ فَقَالَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا شَيۡءٌ عَجِيبٌ ٢
50:2But they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, and the disbelievers say, "This is an amazing thing
أَءِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابࣰاۖ ذَٰلِكَ رَجۡعُۢ بَعِيدࣱ ٣
50:3When we have died and have become dust, [we will return to life]? That is a distant return
قَدۡ عَلِمۡنَا مَا تَنقُصُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ مِنۡهُمۡۖ وَعِندَنَا كِتَٰبٌ حَفِيظُۢ ٤
50:4We know what the earth diminishes of them, and with Us is a retaining record
بَلۡ كَذَّبُواْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ فَهُمۡ فِيٓ أَمۡرࣲ مَّرِيجٍ ٥
50:5But they denied the truth when it came to them, so they are in a confused condition
أَفَلَمۡ يَنظُرُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ كَيۡفَ بَنَيۡنَٰهَا وَزَيَّنَّـٰهَا وَمَا لَهَا مِن فُرُوجࣲ ٦
50:6Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and [how] it has no rifts
وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ مَدَدۡنَٰهَا وَأَلۡقَيۡنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِيَ وَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوۡجِۭ بَهِيجࣲ ٧
50:7And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind
تَبۡصِرَةࣰ وَذِكۡرَىٰ لِكُلِّ عَبۡدࣲ مُّنِيبࣲ ٨
50:8Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah]
وَنَزَّلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءࣰ مُّبَٰرَكࣰا فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا بِهِۦ جَنَّـٰتࣲ وَحَبَّ ٱلۡحَصِيدِ ٩
50:9And We have sent down blessed rain from the sky and made grow thereby gardens and grain from the harvest
وَٱلنَّخۡلَ بَاسِقَٰتࣲ لَّهَا طَلۡعࣱ نَّضِيدࣱ ١٠
50:10And lofty palm trees having fruit arranged in layers
رِّزۡقࣰا لِّلۡعِبَادِۖ وَأَحۡيَيۡنَا بِهِۦ بَلۡدَةࣰ مَّيۡتࣰاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡخُرُوجُ ١١
50:11As provision for the servants, and We have given life thereby to a dead land. Thus is the resurrection
كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحࣲ وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلرَّسِّ وَثَمُودُ ١٢
50:12The people of Noah denied before them, and the companions of the well and Thamud
وَعَادࣱ وَفِرۡعَوۡنُ وَإِخۡوَٰنُ لُوطࣲ ١٣
50:13And 'Aad and Pharaoh and the brothers of Lot
وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡأَيۡكَةِ وَقَوۡمُ تُبَّعࣲۚ كُلࣱّ كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِيدِ ١٤
50:14And the companions of the thicket and the people of Tubba'. All denied the messengers, so My threat was justly fulfilled
أَفَعَيِينَا بِٱلۡخَلۡقِ ٱلۡأَوَّلِۚ بَلۡ هُمۡ فِي لَبۡسࣲ مِّنۡ خَلۡقࣲ جَدِيدࣲ ١٥
50:15Did We fail in the first creation? But they are in confusion over a new creation
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ وَنَعۡلَمُ مَا تُوَسۡوِسُ بِهِۦ نَفۡسُهُۥۖ وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ ٱلۡوَرِيدِ ١٦
50:16And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein
إِذۡ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلۡمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدࣱ ١٧
50:17When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left
مَّا يَلۡفِظُ مِن قَوۡلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيۡهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدࣱ ١٨
50:18Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record]
وَجَآءَتۡ سَكۡرَةُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنۡهُ تَحِيدُ ١٩
50:19And the intoxication of death will bring the truth; that is what you were trying to avoid
وَنُفِخَ فِي ٱلصُّورِۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡوَعِيدِ ٢٠
50:20And the Horn will be blown. That is the Day of [carrying out] the threat
وَجَآءَتۡ كُلُّ نَفۡسࣲ مَّعَهَا سَآئِقࣱ وَشَهِيدࣱ ٢١
50:21And every soul will come, with it a driver and a witness
لَّقَدۡ كُنتَ فِي غَفۡلَةࣲ مِّنۡ هَٰذَا فَكَشَفۡنَا عَنكَ غِطَآءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ حَدِيدࣱ ٢٢
50:22[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 هَٰذَا مَا لَدَيَّ عَتِيدٌ ٢٣
50:23And his companion, [the angel], will say, "This [record] is what is with me, prepared
أَلۡقِيَا فِي جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيدࣲ ٢٤
50:24[Allah will say], "Throw into Hell every obstinate disbeliever
مَّنَّاعࣲ لِّلۡخَيۡرِ مُعۡتَدࣲ مُّرِيبٍ ٢٥
50:25Preventer of good, aggressor, and doubter
ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَأَلۡقِيَاهُ فِي ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلشَّدِيدِ ٢٦
50:26Who made [as equal] with Allah another deity; then throw him into the severe punishment
۞قَالَ قَرِينُهُۥ رَبَّنَا مَآ أَطۡغَيۡتُهُۥ وَلَٰكِن كَانَ فِي ضَلَٰلِۭ بَعِيدࣲ ٢٧
50:27His [devil] companion will say, "Our Lord, I did not make him transgress, but he [himself] was in extreme error
قَالَ لَا تَخۡتَصِمُواْ لَدَيَّ وَقَدۡ قَدَّمۡتُ إِلَيۡكُم بِٱلۡوَعِيدِ ٢٨
50:28[Allah] will say, "Do not dispute before Me, while I had already presented to you the warning
مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ لَدَيَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِظَلَّـٰمࣲ لِّلۡعَبِيدِ ٢٩
50:29The word will not be changed with Me, and never will I be unjust to the servants
يَوۡمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ ٱمۡتَلَأۡتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلۡ مِن مَّزِيدࣲ ٣٠
50:30On the Day We will say to Hell, "Have you been filled?" and it will say, "Are there some more
وَأُزۡلِفَتِ ٱلۡجَنَّةُ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ غَيۡرَ بَعِيدٍ ٣١
50:31And Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far
هَٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظࣲ ٣٢
50:32[It will be said], "This is what you were promised - for every returner [to Allah] and keeper [of His covenant]
مَّنۡ خَشِيَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَجَآءَ بِقَلۡبࣲ مُّنِيبٍ ٣٣
50:33Who feared the Most Merciful unseen and came with a heart returning [in repentance]
ٱدۡخُلُوهَا بِسَلَٰمࣲۖ ذَٰلِكَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡخُلُودِ ٣٤
50:34Enter it in peace. This is the Day of Eternity
لَهُم مَّا يَشَآءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيۡنَا مَزِيدࣱ ٣٥
50:35They will have whatever they wish therein, and with Us is more
وَكَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا قَبۡلَهُم مِّن قَرۡنٍ هُمۡ أَشَدُّ مِنۡهُم بَطۡشࣰا فَنَقَّبُواْ فِي ٱلۡبِلَٰدِ هَلۡ مِن مَّحِيصٍ ٣٦
50:36And 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 فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكۡرَىٰ لِمَن كَانَ لَهُۥ قَلۡبٌ أَوۡ أَلۡقَى ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدࣱ ٣٧
50:37Indeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind]
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامࣲ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبࣲ ٣٨
50:38And We did certainly create the heavens and earth and what is between them in six days, and there touched Us no weariness
فَٱصۡبِرۡ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ قَبۡلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمۡسِ وَقَبۡلَ ٱلۡغُرُوبِ ٣٩
50:39So be patient, [O Muhammad], over what they say and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ فَسَبِّحۡهُ وَأَدۡبَٰرَ ٱلسُّجُودِ ٤٠
50:40And [in part] of the night exalt Him and after prostration
وَٱسۡتَمِعۡ يَوۡمَ يُنَادِ ٱلۡمُنَادِ مِن مَّكَانࣲ قَرِيبࣲ ٤١
50:41And listen on the Day when the Caller will call out from a place that is near
يَوۡمَ يَسۡمَعُونَ ٱلصَّيۡحَةَ بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡخُرُوجِ ٤٢
50:42The Day they will hear the blast [of the Horn] in truth. That is the Day of Emergence [from the graves]
إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡيِۦ وَنُمِيتُ وَإِلَيۡنَا ٱلۡمَصِيرُ ٤٣
50:43Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and to Us is the destination
يَوۡمَ تَشَقَّقُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ عَنۡهُمۡ سِرَاعࣰاۚ ذَٰلِكَ حَشۡرٌ عَلَيۡنَا يَسِيرࣱ ٤٤
50:44On the Day the earth breaks away from them [and they emerge] rapidly; that is a gathering easy for Us
نَّحۡنُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيۡهِم بِجَبَّارࣲۖ فَذَكِّرۡ بِٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ ٤٥
50:45We are most knowing of what they say, and you are not over them a tyrant. But remind by the Qur'an whoever fears My threat