العلق
Surah Al-’Alaq
The Clot · Surah 96 · Meccan · 19 verses
1ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ١Read: In the name of thy Lord Who createth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is the first command revealed, in the cave of Hira: read, beginning with Allah’s exalted name. The angel came to the Prophet, who had never read, held him tightly and said: “Read!”2خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ ٢Createth man from a clot.InsightElmalılı says the root meaning of “‘alaq” is to cling and attach: the first cluster that clings to the womb. Such is the small, weak beginning of man.3ٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ ٣Read: And thy Lord is the Most Bounteous.InsightElmalılı says the second “Read!” has two meanings: a reminder that reading is learned by repetition, and a command to pass on what one reads to others.4ٱلَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِٱلۡقَلَمِ ٤Who teacheth by the pen.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, it is Allah who taught writing by the pen and knowledge through it. Otherwise man, created from a clot, would know neither pen nor writing.5عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ ٥Teacheth man that which he knew not.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah teaches man both by creating abilities and faculties in him and by setting up proofs and revealing signs: knowledge given freely and knowledge gained by effort both come from Him.6كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَيَطۡغَىٰٓ ٦Nay, but verily man is rebellious.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this part of the surah came later, prompted by Abu Jahl, who said: “If I see Muhammad praying at the Ka‘bah, I will trample his neck.”7أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰٓ ٧That he thinketh himself independent.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, man transgresses when he thinks he no longer needs anything and has reached his goal. So he should never see himself as self-sufficient, but keep reading in his Lord’s name.8إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجۡعَىٰٓ ٨Lo! unto thy Lord is the return.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the return is to Him and there is no escaping it. So whatever rank a person reaches, he should not see himself as self-sufficient and should guard against arrogance.9أَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي يَنۡهَىٰ ٩Hast thou seen him who dissuadeth.10عَبۡدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ ١٠A slave when he prayeth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, stopping a servant right in the middle of prayer is great audacity and arrogance. The one who does this does it because he sees himself as self-sufficient.11أَرَءَيۡتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ ١١Hast thou seen if he relieth on the guidance (of Allah).12أَوۡ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقۡوَىٰٓ ١٢Or enjoineth piety.13أَرَءَيۡتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ ١٣Hast thou seen if he denieth (Allah’s guidance) and is froward.14أَلَمۡ يَعۡلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ ١٤Is he then unaware that Allah seeth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah, to whom all return, sees the straight and the crooked, the good and the bad, and repays everyone for their deeds.15كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمۡ يَنتَهِ لَنَسۡفَعَۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ ١٥Nay, but if he cease not We will seize him by the forelock.InsightElmalılı says the “forelock” stands for the person himself: it is not the brow but the person who lies and sins. It is a heavy warning for one who does not give up his arrogance.16نَاصِيَةࣲ كَٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةࣲ ١٦The lying, sinful forelock.17فَلۡيَدۡعُ نَادِيَهُۥ ١٧Then let him call upon his henchmen.InsightElmalılı explains “nadi” as a council gathered to discuss something; in Mecca the Quraysh met in the “Dar an-Nadwah”. No council can help anyone against Allah.18سَنَدۡعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ ١٨We will call the guards of hell.19كَلَّا لَا تُطِعۡهُ وَٱسۡجُدۡۤ وَٱقۡتَرِب۩ ١٩Nay, Obey not thou him. But prostrate thyself, and draw near (unto Allah).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this commands not obeying the arrogant one and continuing to read in obedience to the Lord. Prostration and prayer are the finest way to draw near to Allah. This is a verse of prostration.