View source for Al-Alaq

{{Short description|96th chapter of the Qur'an}}
{{Redirect|Iqra}}
{{Infobox surah
| number         = 96
| number-3       = 096
| name           = Al-ʻAlaq 
| name-ar        = العلق
| name-en        = The Clot
| image          = File:Iqra.jpg
| prev_sura      = Quran 95
| next_sura      = Quran 97
| classification = Meccan
| othernames-ar  = سورة إقرا (Sūrat Iqrā)
| othernames     = The Embryo, The Clinging Form, The Clinging-Clot, The Clot, The Germ-Cell, Read 
| juz            = 30 
| rukus          = <!-- if only one ruku, skip this field -->
| verses         = 19
| words          = <!-- optional, uncommon -->
| letters        = <!-- optional, uncommon -->
| muqattaat      = <!-- only if applicable -->
| sajdahs        = 1 (Verse 19)
| audio          = Chapter 96, Al-Alaq (Murattal) v2 - Recitation of the Holy Qur'an.mp3
}}
{{Listen
|filename=Chapter 96, Al-Alaq (Mujawwad) - Recitation of the Holy Qur'an.mp3
|title=''Al-Alaq''
|pos=right
|description= Recitation of Al-Alaq in [[mujawwad]].
|format=[[Mp3]]
}}
{{Quran}} 
'''Al-ʻAlaq''' ({{langx|ar| العلق}}, ''al-ʻalaq'', also known as "The Clinging Clot" or "The Embryo"<ref>{{Cite book |last=Yüksel |first=Edip |title=Mesaj |year=2014 |publisher=Ozan Yayıncılık |isbn=9789757891314}}</ref>) is the 96th chapter ([[sūrah]]) of the [[Qur'an]]. It is composed of 19 ''[[āyāt]]'' or verses. It is sometimes also known as '''Sūrat Iqrā''' ({{lang|ar|سورة إقرا}}, "Read").

Chapter 96 of the Qur'an is traditionally believed to have been [[Muhammad's first revelation]]. It is said that while Muhammad was on retreat in the [[Cave of Hira]], at Jabal al-Nour near [[Mecca]], the angel [[Gabriel]] appeared before him and commanded him to "Read!". He responded, "But I cannot read!". Then the angel Gabriel embraced him tightly and revealed to him the first lines, "Read: In the name of your Lord Who created, (1) Created man from a clot. (2) Read: And your Lord is the Most Generous, (3) Who taught by the pen, (4) Taught man that which he knew not."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Surah Al-Alaq Verse 5 {{!}} 96:5 العلق - Quran O|url=https://qurano.com/en/96-al-alaq/verse-5/|access-date=2021-07-05|website=qurano.com|language=en}}</ref> (Bukhari 4953). It is traditionally understood the first five [[ayat]] or verses (1–5) of Surah Alaq were revealed; however, this is not the first fully complete Surah to be revealed and was actually revealed in 3 parts.

==Summary==
:'''1-5''' Angel Gabriel commanding towards Muhammad to recite the first verses of the Qur'an.  
:'''6-14''' Rebuke of [[Abu Jahl]] for hindering the Muslim cause.
:'''15 [[۩]] 19''' [[Abu Jahl]] threatened with the torments  of Hell as punishment.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wherry |first1=Elwood Morris |author1-link=Elwood Morris Wherry |title=A Complete Index to [[Sale's Text]], Preliminary Discourse, and Notes |date=1896 |publisher=Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co |location=London}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

===1-5 The first revelation ===
{{main|Muhammad's first revelation}}
The first five verses of this sura are believed by some commentators to be the first verses of the [[Quran]] claimed to be related by Muhammad.  He received them while on a retreat in a mountain cave at Hira, just outside the city of [[Mecca]], in 610 CE. A few commentators disagree with this account, claiming that the first revelation was the beginning of surat [[al-Muddaththir]] or surat [[al-Fatiha]], but theirs is a minority position. Moreover, the term [[:wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/ʔināš-|إِنْسَان insān]], which is translated "man, human", appears 65 times in the Qur'an, meaning "humanity".<ref>Haleem, M. A.. The Qur'an: a new translation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.</ref>

=== 6–19 The morality and beliefs of mankind ===
The remainder of the surah, claimed to have been revealed later, questions the morality and beliefs of mankind, who "thinks himself self-sufficient", unaware that all things will return to their Lord. Once man becomes self-satisfied, he has the tendency to transgress. These ayahs were revealed shortly after Muhammed started to pray publicly, as many people questioned his actions. The text continues, addressing the impiety of "the man who forbids Our servant to pray". These later lines are thought to date from the time when Muhammad began to [[prayer|pray]] the [[salat]] in the Kaaba. Abu Jahl (member of the Quraish) attempted to interrupt the prayer by trampling on Muhammad's neck while he was prostrated. "Does he not realize that God sees all?"

The Qur'an commands Muhammad (and by inference all believers) to continue the prayer regardless, as those who persecute the faithful are unaware that God sees what they do. After the first 8 ayahs were revealed, Muhammed left the cave at Hira, and then surahs Ad-Duha, Nashra, and the second part of this surah were revealed after 6 months. 

More specifically, ayahs 9–14 were revealed when Muhammed first began praying publicly near the [[Kaaba]] because the Meccans didn't comprehend what he was doing. These were directed towards people who tried to stop others from making devotions toward Allah. Once Abu Jahl saw Muhammed praying publicly, he thought that Muhammed had adopted a new religion and tried to drive him away from the Kaaba. He gathered a crowd and asked: "Is Muhammed setting his face on the ground in front of you (praying)?" When they replied in affirmative he said: "by the gods Al-Lat and Al-Uzza, if I ever catch him in that act of worship (salah), I will set my foot on his neck and rub his face in the dust." Abu Jahl wanted to follow through on his threat, but when he saw Muhammed he stepped forward, motioned to put his foot on his neck, but then became frightened and left. When asked about it later, he said that he had seen a vision of a ditch right in front of Muhammed, filled with fire and a ghoul with fiery wings. After Muhammed heard about the remark, he said: "if he would have come near me, the angels would have struck him down and torn him into pieces."

Ayahs 15–19 say that when Abu Jahl saw Muhammed pray again near the Kaaba, and said "Didn’t I tell you not to do this!" Muhammad scolded him and said that he had the right to pray here, because he was a born citizen of Mecca. Abu Jahl said "you dare to scold me! By God, with one call I can fill this valley with supporters!" This passage was revealed: "If (Abu Jahl) would have called upon his men, the angel of punishment would have seized him."

The translated words 'bow down' in verse 19 comes from the word '[[Sujud]]' which refers to the position in Muslim prayer where the head, hands, knees, and toes are on the ground.<ref>Haleem, M. A.. The Qur'an: a new translation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.</ref>


[[File:Surah Al-Alaq.png|thumb|Al-Alaq]]

== The meaning of 'alaq ==
The linguistic definition of ''ʻalaq'' {{lang|ar|علق}} (singular ʻalaqah {{lang|ar|علقة}}) is "[[leech]]", "[[medicinal leech]]", "coagulated blood", "blood clot", or "the early stage of the embryo".<ref>Sahin, H. (2006). "Alaq". In O. Leaman (Ed.), The Qur’an: An Encyclopedia: Routledge</ref>  ''ʻAlaq'' is also a derivative of ''ʻalaqa'' which means "attached and hanging to something."<ref>Hussain, S. (1980). The Clot (al-‘Alaq). The Islamic Quarterly, Vol. 24, no. 3-4, pp. 107-1wklfn\\\10.</ref> Professor Abdul Haleem mentions that "''ʻalaq''" can also mean anything that clings: a clot of blood, a leech, even a lump of mud. All these meanings involve the basic idea of clinging or sticking."<ref>Abdel Haleem, M. A. (2005). The Qurʾan. New York: Oxford University Press</ref>

The term ''ʻalaqah'' is the second stage of human prenatal development (sura [[Al-Mu’minoon]] 23:12–14) which "descriptively encompasses the primary external and internal features" of the early embryo.<ref>Kareem, E. (2012). Embryology in the Qur’an: The ‘Alaqah Stage. http://islampapers.com/2012/02/09/alaqah</ref> The term ''ʻalaqah'' also occurs in several languages related to [[Arabic]]. In [[Hebrew]] there is {{Script/Hebrew|עֲלוּקָה}} alûqāh (or alukah), the generic name for any blood-sucking worm or leech,<ref>Blue Letter Bible. Dictionary and Word Search for ‘aluwqah (Strong's 5936) from http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5936&t=ESV</ref> and in [[Aramaic]] and [[Syriac language|Syriac]] there are words with apparently similar meanings.<ref>Kareem, E. (2012). {{usurped|1=[http://islampapers.com/2012/02/09/alaqah "Embryology in the Qur’an: The ‘Alaqah Stage"]}} (page 6), http://islampapers.com/2012/02/09/alaqah</ref>

== Hadith ==

{{Original research section|date=February 2024}}

The first and foremost [[exegesis]]/[[tafsir]] of the [[Qur'an]] is found in hadith of Muhammad.<ref>Şatibi, El-muvafakat</ref> Although scholars including [[ibn Taymiyyah]] claim that Muhammad has commented on the whole of the Qur'an, others including [[Al-Ghazali|Ghazali]] cite the limited amount of [[hadith|narratives]], thus indicating that he has commented only on a portion of the Qur'an.<ref>Muhsin Demirci, Tefsir Usulü, 120</ref> Ḥadīth (حديث) is literally "speech" or "report", that is a recorded saying or tradition of Muhammad validated by [[isnad]]; with [[Sirah Rasul Allah]] these comprise the [[sunnah]] and reveal [[shariah]]. According to [[Aishah]],<ref>Grade	: Sahih (Al-Albani)	  صحيح   (الألباني)	حكم     :
Reference	 : Sunan Abi Dawud 1342
In-book reference	 : Book 5, Hadith 93
English translation	 : Book 5, Hadith 1337</ref><ref>Al-Adab Al-Mufrad » Dealings with people and good character – كتاب
English reference	 : Book 14, Hadith 308
Arabic reference	 : Book 1, Hadith 308</ref> the life of Muhammad was the practical implementation of [[Qur'an]].<ref>Sahih Al- Jami' AI-Saghir, No.4811</ref><ref>[[Sunan Ibn Majah]] 2333
In-book reference	 : Book 13, Hadith 26
English translation	 : Vol. 3, Book 13, Hadith 2333</ref><ref>Grade	: Sahih (Darussalam)	
Reference	 : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1601
In-book reference	 : Book 20, Hadith 4
English translation	 : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1602</ref> Therefore, higher count of hadith elevates the importance of the pertinent surah from a certain perspective. According to [[hadith]], first 5 ayaat of this surah were first revelation of whole of the Quran.

* Narrated Yahya: I asked Aba Salama, "Which Sura of the Qur'an was revealed first?" He replied, "O you, wrapped-up' ([[Al-Muddaththir]])." I said, "I have been informed that it was, 'Read, in the Name of your Lord who created (i.e. Surat Al-Alaq) <ref>[[Sahih Bukhari]] USC-MSA web (English) reference	 : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 446
Arabic reference	 : Book 65, Hadith 4924</ref>

* [[Abu Huraira]] reported: We performed prostration along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (as he recited these verses: )" When the heaven burst asunder" ([[Al-Inshiqaq]]) and" Read in the name of Thy Lord (Al-Alaq)" <ref>[[Sahih Muslim]] 578 c
In-book reference	 : Book 5, Hadith 139
USC-MSA web (English) reference	 : Book 4, Hadith 1195
  (deprecated numbering scheme)</ref><ref>[[Sahih Muslim]] 578 d
In-book reference	 : Book 5, Hadith 140
USC-MSA web (English) reference	 : Book 4, Hadith 1196
  (deprecated numbering scheme)</ref><ref>[[Sunan Ibn Majah]] English reference	 : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1058
Arabic reference	 : Book 5, Hadith 1111</ref><ref>[[Jami` at-Tirmidhi]] 573
In-book reference	 : Book 6, Hadith 30
English translation	 : Vol. 2, Book 1, Hadith 573</ref><ref>[[Sunan an-Nasa'i]] 966
In-book reference	 : Book 11, Hadith 91
English translation	 : Vol. 2, Book 11, Hadith 967</ref><ref>[[Sunan Abu Dawud]] 1407
In-book reference	 : Book 7, Hadith 7
English translation	 : Book 7, Hadith 1402</ref>

'''1–3:''' These verses are talking about how God created human beings from Alaq (The Clot of blood or The Clinging Thing). After this verse was revealed, Muhammed responded by saying that he didn't know how to read. After angel Jibraeel squeezed Muhammed's chest a few times, and the 3rd verse was revealed, Muhammed read even though he did not know how to read or write.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

'''4–5:''' These verse stress the importance of an education for a Muslim. As time goes on, things progress and advance, and everything comes from God. God opens peoples brains to new things, and this verse stresses the importance of furthering your education. This hadeeth in relation to this ayah was revealed which says: "a person who reads is handsome in the eyes of God."{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

'''6–8:''' Even though God does so many things for us we still disobey him. Some people say that they do not need Allah. It does not matter because everyone will return to him on the Day of Judgement for reckoning.

'''9–10:''' In this verse "the one who discourages" references [[Abu Jahl]] when he tried to stop Muhammed from making devotions towards Allah, and anyone else for that matter.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

'''11–14:''' These verses question whether the "one who discourages" is being "guided" or even "concerned" about God. They also emphasize that if someone is praying not to stop them because Allah is always watching.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

'''15–19:''' These verse explain why the person who interrupts someone in prayer is said that they will be dragged from their "lying, sinful, forelock." This phrase comes from Abu Jahl, who in the battle of Badr was killed by the hands of 2 child orphans of Medinah. His body was thrown into a well and they dragged him by his hair, which is specifically in reference to verse 15.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===Period of revelation===

This sura has two parts: the first consists of vv. 1–5, and the second of vv. 6–19. The majority of Islamic scholars agreed that the first part forms the first revelation to be sent down to Muhammad in 610. In this regard, the Hadith from [[Aisha]], which [[Ibn Hanbal]], [[Sahih al-Bukhari|Bukhari]], [[Muslim]] and other traditionists have related with several chains of authorities, is one of the most authentic Hadith on the subject. In it Aisha narrates the full story of the beginning of revelation as she herself heard it from Muhammad. Besides, Ibn Abbas, Abu Musa al-Ashari and a group of the Companions also are reported to have stated that these were the very first verses of the Quran to be revealed to [[Muhammad]].{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

The second part was revealed later, when Muhammad began to perform the prescribed prayer in the precincts of the [[Kaaba]], and [[Abu Jahl]] tried to prevent him from this with threats.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://quran.com/96 Quran 96]  [[Clear Quran translation]]

{{Sura|96|[[At-Tin]]|[[Al-Qadr]]}}{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Chapters in the Quran|Alaq]]
[[Category:609]]
[[Category:Life of Muhammad]]