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الكافرون

Surah Al-Kafirun (الكافرون) - Transliteration, Translation and Audio

Chapter 109 of the Quran, 6 verses, "The Disbelievers"

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Surah Al-Kafirun Transliteration and English Translation

  1. 1

    قُلْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ

    Qul yaa-ai yuhal kaafiroon

    Say, "O disbelievers,

  2. 2

    لَآ أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ

    Laa a'budu ma t'abudoon

    I do not worship what you worship.

  3. 3

    وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ

    Wa laa antum 'aabidoona maa a'bud

    Nor are you worshippers of what I worship.

  4. 4

    وَلَآ أَنَا۠ عَابِدٌۭ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ

    Wa laa ana 'abidum maa 'abattum

    Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship.

  5. 5

    وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ

    Wa laa antum 'aabidoona ma a'bud

    Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship.

  6. 6

    لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِىَ دِينِ

    Lakum deenukum wa liya deen.

    For you is your religion, and for me is my religion."

About Surah Al-Kafirun

Surah Al-Kafirun (Arabic: الكافرون), meaning "The Disbelievers", is the 109th chapter of the Quran and has 6 verses. It was revealed in Makkah during the early years of the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), a time of growing pressure from the leaders of Quraysh. The surah draws a clear separation between the worship of Allah alone and the worship of anything else.

It is reported that some leaders of Quraysh proposed that the Prophet worship their idols for a time and that they would worship Allah for a time. The surah answers with a firm declaration that the Prophet was commanded to make: "O disbelievers, I do not worship what you worship. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship." Commentators explain that the repeated verses cover both the present and the future, closing the door to any bargain. It ends with "For you is your religion, and for me is my religion." This is not a statement that all beliefs are equally true, but a clear refusal to mix the worship of Allah with anything else, while leaving others to their own choice and accountability. Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet recited Al-Kafirun and Al-Ikhlas in the two sunnah units of prayer before Fajr, and many Muslims keep that practice today.

Main Themes of Surah Al-Kafirun

Listen to Surah Al-Kafirun with Audio-Synced Transliteration

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Frequently Asked Questions About Surah Al-Kafirun

What is the meaning of "lakum dinukum wa liya din"?
It means "For you is your religion, and for me is my religion." It declares that the Prophet (peace be upon him) will never share in the worship of idols, while leaving the disbelievers to their own choice, and it does not mean that all religions are equally true.
Why does Surah Al-Kafirun repeat the same verses?
Verses 2 to 5 seem to repeat each other, but commentators explain that the wording covers both the present and the future, and the repetition adds emphasis. Together they close the door to any compromise in worship, then or later.
When is Surah Al-Kafirun recited?
Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet recited it with Al-Ikhlas in the two sunnah units of prayer before Fajr. Many Muslims also recite it often in other prayers because it is short and states the core of tawhid so clearly.

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