Saturday, March 21, 2026 · 天火 · tianmu.org

Four Suras — Arabic Transliteration and English Translation

✦ ─── ⟐ ─── ✦

This is the second in a series posted to soc.religion.islam in June 1991 by Hameed Ahmed Mohammed, a computer scientist at the Center for Advanced Computer Studies at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Each entry gives the Arabic text in Roman transliteration, followed by an English translation.

The four suras presented here are among the shortest in the Quran, all revealed at Mecca during the early period of the Prophet's mission. Al-Asr (Chapter 103) is three verses long — one of the briefest complete suras — yet it is said by some classical commentators to contain the essence of the entire Quran: faith, righteous action, mutual exhortation to truth, and mutual exhortation to patience. Al-Humazah (104) condemns the wealthy slanderer who thinks his money grants immortality. Al-Fil (105) refers to the Year of the Elephant (570 CE), traditionally the year of the Prophet's birth, when Abraha's army besieging Mecca was repelled. Al-Ma'un (107) is a sharp indictment of those who are seen at worship yet deny small kindnesses to orphans and the poor.

Surah Al-Asr — 103 | The Declining Day

Revealed at Mecca. 3 verses.

Bismillaahir-Rahmaani-Rahim.

  1. Wal-'asri,
  2. 'Innal-'Insaana lafi khusrin,
  3. 'Illallazina 'aamanuu wa'amilus-saalihaati wa tawaa-saw bil-haqqi wa tawaasaw bis-sabr.

In the name of Allah, most Beneficent, most Merciful.

  1. By the declining day,
  2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss,
  3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance.

Surah Al-Humazah — 104 | The Traducer

Revealed at Mecca. 9 verses.

Bismillaahir-Rahmaani-Rahiim.

  1. Waylul-likulli humaza-til-lumazah,
  2. 'Allazi jama-'a maalanw-wa 'addadah,
  3. Yahsabu 'anna maalahuuu 'ahkhladah!
  4. Kallaa la-yumbazanna fil-hutamah.
  5. Wa maaa 'adraaka mal-hu-tamah?
  6. Naarullaahil-muuqdah,
  7. 'Allatii tattali-'u 'alal-af-'idah:
  8. 'Innahaa 'alayhim-mu'sadah,
  9. Fil 'amadim-mumaddadah.

In the name of Allah, most Beneficent, most Merciful.

  1. Woe unto every slandering traducer,
  2. who hath gathered wealth (of this world) and arranged it,
  3. He thinketh that his wealth will render him immortal.
  4. Nay, but verily he will be flung to the Consuming One.
  5. Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Consuming One is!
  6. (It is) the fire of Allah, kindled,
  7. Which leapeth up over the hearts (of men)
  8. Lo! it is closed in on them
  9. In outstretched columns.

Surah Al-Fil — 105 | The Elephant

Revealed at Mecca. 5 verses.

Bismillaahir-Rahmaani-Rahiim.

  1. 'Alam tara kayfa fa'-alarabbuka bi-'as-haabil-fiil?
  2. 'Alam yaj-'al kaidahum fiitazliiL?
  3. Wa 'arsala 'alayhim tayran'abaaabiil,
  4. Tarmiihim-bi-hihaaratim-min-sijjiil,
  5. Faja-'alahum ka-'asfim-ma'-kuul.

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

  1. Hast thou not seen how thy Lord dealt with owners of the Elephant?
  2. Did He not bring their stratagem to naught,
  3. And send against them swarms of flying creatures,
  4. Which pelted them with stones of baked clay,
  5. And made them like green crops devoured (by cattle)?

Surah Al-Ma'un — 107 | Small Kindness

Revealed at Mecca. 7 verses.

Bismillaahir-Rahmaani-Rahiim.

  1. 'Ara-'ayatallazii yukazzibubid-diin?
  2. Fa-zaalikallazii yadu'-'ul-yatiim,
  3. Wa laa yahuzzu 'alaa ta'aamil-miskiin.
  4. Fa-waylul-lil-musalliin,
  5. 'Allaziina hum 'an-salaati-him saahuun,
  6. 'Allaziina hum yuraaa-'uuna,
  7. Wa yamna-'uunal-maa-'uun.

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

  1. Hast thou observed him who belieth religion?
  2. That is he who repelleth the orphan,
  3. And urgeth not the feeding of the needy.
  4. Ah, woe unto worshippers
  5. Who are heedless of their prayer;
  6. Who would be seen (at worship)
  7. Yet refuse small kindness.

Colophon

Compiled by Hameed Ahmed Mohammed ([email protected]), Center for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Southwestern Louisiana. Posted to soc.religion.islam on 17 June 1991 as the second in a series of Quranic transliterations. This is "Part II"; Part I was posted earlier in the group's history. Original Message-ID: [email protected].

Preserved from the UTZOO Usenet mirror (shiftleft.com) for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

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