Read the surah · Surah 102

At-Takaathurالتكاثر

Competition · 8 verses · Meccan

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In plain wordsEditorial

An editorial summary of the translations. Not a translation or tafsir.

Eight verses on a rivalry over increase that occupies people until they reach the graves - the competition this surah is named for. It repeats that they will come to know, and it closes on being questioned about pleasure.

AALAMIN Editor · signed 25 August 2026

not a scholar — what this signature means

I am not a scholar, and nothing here asks you to treat me as one. The plain words on this site are my restatement of what the five translations shown above say, together with counts derived from the text itself — nothing more. I sign them so that a named person is accountable for every sentence, not so you'll take my word for anything. The authority on this page is the text and its translators. If my words don't match theirs, mine are the ones that are wrong.

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Talal Itani · published 2012

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Verse 1 of 8

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102:1

أَلْهَىٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ

Easy-read (simplified)alhaakumu t-takaathur

DIN 31635ʾalhākumu t-takāṯuru

The translators word this verse differently

Abundance distracts you.

Compare translations (4)

Rivalry in worldly increase distracteth you

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

The contention about numbers deludes you

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

THE DESIRE of increasing riches occupieth you

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

The emulous desire of multiplying riches and children employeth you

George Sale · published 1734

In plain words

Optional editorial orientation

An editorial summary of the translations above. Not a translation or tafsir.

In plain words →

Sources

In-depth analysis →

Talal Itani · 2012
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
John Medows Rodwell · 1861
George Sale · 1734

in a signed study →

102:2

حَتَّىٰ زُرْتُمُ ٱلْمَقَابِرَ

Easy-read (simplified)hattaa zurtumu l-maqaabir

DIN 31635ḥattā zurtumu l-maqābira

The translators word this verse differently

Until you visit the graveyards.

Compare translations (4)

Until ye come to the graves

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

till ye visit the tombs

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

Till ye come to the grave

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

until ye visit the graves

George Sale · published 1734

In plain words

Optional editorial orientation

An editorial summary of the translations above. Not a translation or tafsir.

In plain words →

Sources

In-depth analysis →

Talal Itani · 2012
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
John Medows Rodwell · 1861
George Sale · 1734

in a signed study →

102:3

كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

Easy-read (simplified)kallaa sawfa ta'lamoon

DIN 31635kallā sawfa taʿlamūna

The translators word this verse differently

Indeed, you will know.

Compare translations (4)

Nay, but ye will come to know

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

Not so! In the end ye shall know

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

Nay! but in the end ye shall know

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

By no means should ye thus employ your time: Hereafter shall ye know your folly

George Sale · published 1734

In plain words

Optional editorial orientation

An editorial summary of the translations above. Not a translation or tafsir.

In plain words →

Sources

In-depth analysis →

Talal Itani · 2012
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
John Medows Rodwell · 1861
George Sale · 1734

in a signed study →

102:4

ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

Easy-read (simplified)thumma kallaa sawfa ta'lamoon

DIN 31635ṯumma kallā sawfa taʿlamūna

The translators word this verse differently

Certainly, you will know.

Compare translations (4)

Nay, but ye will come to know

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

And again not so! In the end ye shall know

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

Nay! once more,in the end ye shall know your folly

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

Again, by no means: Hereafter shall ye know your folly

George Sale · published 1734

In plain words

Optional editorial orientation

An editorial summary of the translations above. Not a translation or tafsir.

In plain words →

Sources

In-depth analysis →

Talal Itani · 2012
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
John Medows Rodwell · 1861
George Sale · 1734

in a signed study →

102:5

كَلَّا لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عِلْمَ ٱلْيَقِينِ

Easy-read (simplified)kallaa law ta'lamoona 'ilma l-yaqeen

DIN 31635kallā law taʿlamūna ʿilma l-yaqīni

The translators word this verse differently

If you knew with knowledge of certainty.

Compare translations (4)

Nay, would that ye knew (now) with a sure knowledge

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

Not so! Did ye but know with certain knowledge

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

Nay! would that ye knew it with knowledge of certainty

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

By no means: If ye knew the consequence hereof with certainty of knowledge, ye would not act thus

George Sale · published 1734

In plain words

Optional editorial orientation

An editorial summary of the translations above. Not a translation or tafsir.

In plain words →

Sources

In-depth analysis →

Talal Itani · 2012
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
John Medows Rodwell · 1861
George Sale · 1734

in a signed study →

102:6

لَتَرَوُنَّ ٱلْجَحِيمَ

Easy-read (simplified)latarawunna l-jaheem

DIN 31635latarawunna l-ǧaḥīma

The translators word this verse differently

You would see the Inferno.

Compare translations (4)

For ye will behold hell-fire

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

Ye shall surely see hell

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

Surely ye shall see hell-fire

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

Verily ye shall see hell

George Sale · published 1734

In plain words

Optional editorial orientation

An editorial summary of the translations above. Not a translation or tafsir.

In plain words →

Sources

In-depth analysis →

Talal Itani · 2012
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
John Medows Rodwell · 1861
George Sale · 1734

in a signed study →

102:7

ثُمَّ لَتَرَوُنَّهَا عَيْنَ ٱلْيَقِينِ

Easy-read (simplified)thumma latarawunnahaa 'ayna l-yaqeen

DIN 31635ṯumma latarawunnahā ʿayna l-yaqīni

Then you will see it with the eye of certainty.

Compare translations (4)

Aye, ye will behold it with sure vision

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

And again ye shall surely see it with an eye of certainty

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

Then shall ye surely see it with the eye of certainty

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

Again, ye shall surely see it with the eye of certainty

George Sale · published 1734

In plain words

Optional editorial orientation

An editorial summary of the translations above. Not a translation or tafsir.

In plain words →

Sources

In-depth analysis →

Talal Itani · 2012
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
John Medows Rodwell · 1861
George Sale · 1734

in a signed study →

102:8

ثُمَّ لَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

Easy-read (simplified)thumma latus'alunna yawma'idhin 'ani n-na'eem

DIN 31635ṯumma latusʾalunna yawmaʾiḏin ʿani n-naʿīmi

The translators word this verse differently

Then, on that Day, you will be questioned about the Bliss.

Compare translations (4)

Then, on that day, ye will be asked concerning pleasure

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

Then ye shall surely be asked about pleasure

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

Then shall ye on that day be taken to task concerning pleasures

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

Then shall ye be examined, on that day, concerning the pleasures with which ye have amused yourselves in this life

George Sale · published 1734

In plain words

Optional editorial orientation

An editorial summary of the translations above. Not a translation or tafsir.

In plain words →

Sources

In-depth analysis →

Talal Itani · 2012
Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
John Medows Rodwell · 1861
George Sale · 1734

in a signed study →

Arabic textTanzil Qur'an text (Uthmani) ·Uthmani, Version 1.1·Tanzil Project ·Creative Commons Attribution 3.0·retrieved 24 Aug 2026

Translations Edward Henry Palmer, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired

Edward Henry Palmer, English translation of the Qur'an ·1880 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work ·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026

Translations George Sale, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired

George Sale, English translation of the Qur'an ·1734 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work ·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026

Translations John Medows Rodwell, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired

John Medows Rodwell, English translation of the Qur'an ·1861 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work ·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026

Translations Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran·Public domain — copyright term expired

Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran ·1930 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work ·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026

Translations Talal Itani, ClearQuran·Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

Talal Itani, ClearQuran ·ClearQuran, "God" edition, EPUB·Talal Itani / ClearQuran.com ·Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International·retrieved 7 Sep 2026

Translation by Talal Itani, ClearQuran.com https://clearquran.com