Surah Al-Kafirun
الكافرون
The Disbelievers — 6 verses, revealed in Makkah. Read it in Arabic with transliteration and meaning, then learn its background, virtues and tajweed.
Surah Al-Kafirun is surah number 109 of the Quran, meaning “The Disbelievers”. It has 6 verses and was revealed in Makkah. Al-Kafirun makes it clear that a Muslim worships Allah alone and does not mix worship with anything else.
Surah Al-Kafirun with transliteration & meaning
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
- 1
قُلْ یٰۤاَیُّهَا الْكٰفِرُوْنَ ۙ ۱
Qul ya ayyuhal-kafirun.
Say: “O disbelievers,
- 2
لَاۤ اَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُوْنَ ۙ ۲
La a'budu ma ta'budun.
I do not worship what you worship,
- 3
وَلَاۤ اَنْتُمْ عٰبِدُوْنَ مَاۤ اَعْبُدُ ۚ ۳
Wa la antum 'abiduna ma a'bud.
nor do you worship what I worship.
- 4
وَلَاۤ اَنَا عَابِدٌ مَّا عَبَدْتُّمْ ۙ ۴
Wa la ana 'abidum-ma 'abadtum.
Nor will I worship what you have worshipped,
- 5
وَلَاۤ اَنْتُمْ عٰبِدُوْنَ مَاۤ اَعْبُدُ ؕ ۵
Wa la antum 'abiduna ma a'bud.
nor will you worship what I worship.
- 6
لَكُمْ دِیْنُكُمْ وَلِیَ دِیْنِ ۶
Lakum dinukum wa liya din.
For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.”
Background: when and why it was revealed
Revealed in Makkah. Al-Kafirun makes it clear that a Muslim worships Allah alone and does not mix worship with anything else.
The surah teaches the Prophet ﷺ to answer clearly: worship belongs to Allah alone. It also teaches respect — “for you is your religion, and for me is my religion.” The Prophet ﷺ recited it with Al-Ikhlas in the two Sunnah rak'ahs before Fajr (Sahih Muslim 726).
Virtues
- The Prophet ﷺ recited Al-Kafirun and Al-Ikhlas in the two Sunnah rak'ahs before Fajr. (Sahih Muslim 726)
Tajweed tip
- When stopping on “al-kaafiruun”, “ta'buduun” and “a'bud”, stretch the long vowel before the last letter for two, four or six counts.
When to recite it
- In the Sunnah of Fajr
- In Salah
What we learn from Surah Al-Kafirun
Clear about faith
We worship only Allah.
Respect others
We can be firm in faith and polite to everyone.
No mixing in worship
Worship is only for Allah.
Frequently asked questions
How many verses are in Surah Al-Kafirun?
Surah Al-Kafirun has 6 verses.
What does Surah Al-Kafirun mean?
Surah Al-Kafirun means “The Disbelievers”. Al-Kafirun makes it clear that a Muslim worships Allah alone and does not mix worship with anything else.
Was Surah Al-Kafirun revealed in Makkah or Madinah?
It was revealed in Makkah.
When should I recite Surah Al-Kafirun?
In the Sunnah of Fajr, In Salah.
References & sources
Quran references link to Quran.com and hadith references to Sunnah.com, so you can check every source. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us and we will correct it.
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