Qur’an reader

102. At-Takaathur · Competition

Competition for ever more worldly advantage is portrayed as a distraction that lasts until death. Repeated warnings about coming knowledge culminate in the demand to answer for received blessings, challenging listeners to reconsider how they measure success.

Updated 20 October 2026Editorial review edition

Choose a surah

Meccan (traditional classification) · 8 verses

Editorial themes: Worldly rivalry · Mortality · Gratitude · Accountability

English: Marmaduke Pickthall (1930), public-domain translation. Arabic: Tanzil Project, Uthmani 1.1, used verbatim under its text licence. Text provenance & limitations →

A note on Arabic, English and verse numbering

Tanzil’s Arabic source includes the opening basmala with the first verse of surahs other than 9. Pickthall’s numbered translation includes it at 1:1; at other surah openings it is not repeated within the numbered English verse. This display preserves both source conventions. The Arabic is not a collection of all variant readings.

102:1 Compare translations ↗

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ أَلْهَىٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ

Rivalry in worldly increase distracteth you

102:2 Compare translations ↗

حَتَّىٰ زُرْتُمُ ٱلْمَقَابِرَ

Until ye come to the graves.

102:3 Compare translations ↗

كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

Nay, but ye will come to know!

102:4 Compare translations ↗

ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

Nay, but ye will come to know!