Understand with ease.

Surah Al-'Alaq (The Clot)

Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Iqra bismi rab bikal lazee khalaq

Khalaqal insaana min 'alaq

Iqra wa rab bukal akram

Al lazee 'allama bil qalam

'Al lamal insaana ma lam y'alam

Kallaa innal insaana layatghaa

Ar-ra aahus taghnaa

Innna ilaa rabbikar ruj'aa

Ara-aital lazee yanhaa

'Abdan iza sallaa

Ara-aita in kana 'alal hudaa

Au amara bit taqwaa

Ara-aita in kaz zaba wa ta walla

Alam y'alam bi-an nal lahaa yaraa

Kalla la illam yantahi la nasfa'am bin nasiyah

Nasiyatin kazi batin khaatiyah

Fal yad'u naadiyah

Sanad 'uz zabaaniyah

Kalla; la tuti'hu wasjud waqtarib (make sajda)

Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists),

Has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood).

Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous,

Who has taught (the writing) by the pen [the first person to write was Prophet Idrees (Enoch)],

Has taught man that which he knew not.

Nay! Verily, man does transgress all bounds (in disbelief and evil deed, etc.).

Because he considers himself self-sufficient.

Surely! Unto your Lord is the return.

Have you (O Muhammad) seen him (i.e. Abu Jahl) who prevents,

A slave (Muhammad) when he prays?

Tell me, if he (Muhammad) is on the guidance (of Allah)?

Or enjoins piety?

Tell me if he (the disbeliever, Abu Jahl) denies (the truth, i.e. this Qur'an), and turns away?

Knows he not that Allah does see (what he does)?

Nay! If he (Abu Jahl) ceases not, We will catch him by the forelock,

A lying, sinful forelock!

Then, let him call upon his council (of helpers),

We will call the guards of Hell (to deal with him)!

Nay! (O Muhammad)! Do not obey him (Abu Jahl). Fall prostrate and draw near to Allah!

This Surah was revealed in Makkah and consist of nineteen verses. There is no doubt that the first five verses of this Surah were the first revelation of the Qur'an. These verse were revealed in the month of Ramadan, thirteen years before the hijirah. Allah's Messeneger SAWW was then forty years old. At that period of his life, solitude became dearer to him, and he used to withdraw into cave in Mount Hira near Makkah for devotion and worship.

One night Angel Jibreel AS suddenly appeared to him and said, "READ." The Prophet SAWW at first thought that he was expected to read actual script which being unlettered he was unable to do: so he answered, "I cannot read." The Angel seized him and pressured him to himself until all stregthen went out of him. Then he released him and said, "READ." The Prophet SAWW answered, "I cannot read." Then he seized him again and pressed him to himself until all strength went out of him, then he released him and said. "READ" to which again the Prophet SAWW answered, "I cannot read." Then he seized him again and pressed him to himself until all strength went out of him, then he released him and said. "READ IN THE NAME OF YOUR LORD WHO CREATED, CREATED MAN FROM A CLINGING SUBSTANCE, READ AND YOUR LORD IS MOST GENEROUS WHO TAUGHT BY THE PEN TAUGHT MAN WHAT WHICH HE DID NOT KNOW."

Verse 6 to 9 were revealed at a later date.

The verse of the Surah other than the first five verse, accroding to most Qur'an scholars refers to Abu Jahl. He was the Prophet's bitterest enemy who persistently tried to prevent the Prophet SAWW and his followers from praying to Allah before the Ka'bah. They however, apply to anyone who attempts to deny to Muslims their lawful right to offer the prayers to Allah SWT.

Another important point to note in this Surah is its reference to reading and knowledge in Islam. The command to read was the first revelation that the Prophet SAWW received.

Both the Qur'an and the Sunnah are full of commands to seek knowledge. The Prophet SAWW streesed the vale of knwoledge on various occasions:

"Allah makes the way to Jannah easy for him who pursues the path in search of knowledge." [Al Bhukhari and Muslim.]

"The superiority of the learned man over a mere worshipper is like the superiority of the moon when it is full over all the stars." [At-Tirmidhi]

"Search for knowledge is a duty imposed on every Muslim, man and woman." [Ibn Majah]

Human ability to learn is one of Allah's great mercies to us, it is also one of the ways HE has honoured us above all other creatures. And the most important knowledge is that which we can learn from the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet SAWW.

Allah SWT commanded the Prophet SAWW to pray to HIM whenever he wishes and not to worry about Abu Jahl and his likes, because Allah would protect him and defend him against the people.

Whenever Prophet SAWW recited this Surah to the end, he would prostrate.