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Surah Al-'Alaq

Surah 96 · The Clot · 19 verses · meccan

The Clot — al-'Alaq, from verse 2. Its first five verses were the first revelation of the Quran.

The story

The very first word Allah ever sent to the Prophet ﷺ was "Read!" He was alone in a cave when it happened, and he was so frightened he ran home. That night, Islam began.

How it unfolds

  1. AYAH 1-5

    The first revelation

    Read, in the name of your Lord — the pen, and knowledge given.

  2. AYAH 6-14

    Self-sufficiency

    The root of transgression, and a man forbidding a servant from praying.

  3. AYAH 15-19

    Prostrate and draw near

    The warning, and the closing command.

Verses to carry

  • 96:1"Read in the name of your Lord who created." The first word of the Quran.
  • 96:7"Because he sees himself as self-sufficient." The root of every transgression.
  • 96:19"But prostrate and draw near."

Remember this

The very first thing Allah told us to do was to read and learn.

Talk about it

The first word of the Quran is "Read". What would you like to learn about next?

Introductions to the surah in Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Mawdudi's Tafhim al-Qur'an; ayah numbering per the Madani mushaf. The first revelation in the cave of Hira: Bukhari 3, Muslim 160.

Awaiting scholar review — please read alongside a trusted tafsir.

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