NAME: العلق, اقرأ, Al-Alaq, Ikra’.
This Surah has Two names. Names taken from Verse 1 and 2 where there is a mention of the word ”Ikra” and “Alaq” respectively.
١ اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ
1 Recite in the name of your Lord who created –
٢ خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
2 Created man from a clinging substance.
But It does not mean that this name is the actual topic discussed in the whole Surah. It is just a reference and mark/symbol to distinguish this Surah from others as is with most other Surahs of Quran. While there are diversified topics discussed in these Surahs.
ENGLISH NAME: The Blood Clot, Read.
CHAPTER NUMBER: 96
SURAH ALAQ TOTAL VERSES: 19
SURAH ALAQ TOTAL WORDS: 72
TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 55
TOTAL LETTERS: 288
REVELATION PERIOD:
Meccan, Approx. 610 – 614 AD.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
God, Prophet Muhammad, Man, Pen, A Sinful Person, Angels of Hell.
SURAH ALAQ MAIN TOPICS:
God Created Man & Taught Him By pen, The Transgressor Will Be Dragged In Fire Through His Forelock.
SURAH ALAQ KEY VERSES:
٢ خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
2 Created man from a clinging substance.
٤ الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ
4 Who taught by the pen –
١٥ كَلَّا لَئِنْ لَمْ يَنْتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًا بِالنَّاصِيَةِ
15 No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock –
١٦ نَاصِيَةٍ كَاذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ
16 A lying, sinning forelock.
SUMMARY OF TOPICS
1-5(God Created Man From “Alaq” A Clinging substance, And Taught Him by Means Of Pen), 6-7( Man Transgresses When He Sees Himself Self Sufficient), 8-19(Mention of A Sinful Person Who Forbids Prayer, The Wrongdoer/ Transgressor Will Be Dragged In Fire Through His Forelock)
SURAH ALAQ BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACKGROUND
This Surah has 19 verses. The Surah has two names taken from verse 1 and 2: “ اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ” and “خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ” “Recite in the name of your Lord who created” and “Created man from a clinging substance” where the word “اقرأ” and “العلق” meaning “Read” and “The Blood Clot” appears respectively. This Surah was revealed in Mecca and believed to have been the first revelation to Prophet in Mecca at a cave Hira in Mount Jabal al Nour in the month of Ramadan, 610 AD. The remaining verses 6-19 were revealed later when opposition to the revelation appeared among the leaders of the Quraysh and one of its leaders most probably Abu Jahl tried to stop Prophet Muhammad from praying in the Kaaba.
The whole experience and background of this Surah is best explained by the most authentic hadith quoted in many books narrated from Aaisha, wife of the Prophet.
Book: Revelation – كتاب بدء الوحى
Global Id: 3 (2)
In-book reference: Book 1, Hadith 3
English translation: Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 3
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ أَوَّلُ مَا بُدِئَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الْوَحْىِ الرُّؤْيَا الصَّالِحَةُ فِي النَّوْمِ، فَكَانَ لاَ يَرَى رُؤْيَا إِلاَّ جَاءَتْ مِثْلَ فَلَقِ الصُّبْحِ، ثُمَّ حُبِّبَ إِلَيْهِ الْخَلاَءُ، وَكَانَ يَخْلُو بِغَارِ حِرَاءٍ فَيَتَحَنَّثُ فِيهِ ـ وَهُوَ التَّعَبُّدُ ـ اللَّيَالِيَ ذَوَاتِ الْعَدَدِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْزِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ، وَيَتَزَوَّدُ لِذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى خَدِيجَةَ، فَيَتَزَوَّدُ لِمِثْلِهَا، حَتَّى جَاءَهُ الْحَقُّ وَهُوَ فِي غَارِ حِرَاءٍ، فَجَاءَهُ الْمَلَكُ فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ. قَالَ ” مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ ”. قَالَ ” فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدَ، ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ. قُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ. فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّانِيَةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدَ، ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ. فَقُلْتُ مَا أَنَا