Surah 96. Al-Alaq Clot - English Translation

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Verses : 19
العلق
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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

bookmark 1. Read: In the Name of your Lord who created.

1. ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ

bookmark 2. Created man from a clot.

2. خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ

bookmark 3. Read: And your Lord is the Most Generous.

3. ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ

bookmark 4. He who taught by the pen.

4. ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ

bookmark 5. Taught man what he never knew.

5. عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

bookmark 6. In fact, man oversteps all bounds.

6. كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ

bookmark 7. When he considers himself exempt.

7. أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ

bookmark 8. But to your Lord is the return.

8. إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ

bookmark 9. Have you seen him who prevents?

9. أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ

bookmark 10. A servant when he prays?

10. عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ

bookmark 11. Do you think he is upon guidance?

11. أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ

bookmark 12. Or advocates righteousness?

12. أَوْ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقْوَىٰٓ

bookmark 13. Do you see how he disbelieved and turned away?

13. أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ

bookmark 14. Does he not know that God sees?

14. أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ

bookmark 15. No. If he does not desist, We will drag him by the forelock.

15. كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ

bookmark 16. A deceitful, sinful forelock.

16. نَاصِيَةٍۢ كَٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍۢ

bookmark 17. Let him call on his gang.

17. فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُۥ

bookmark 18. We will call the Guards.

18. سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ

bookmark 19. No, do not obey him; but kneel down, and come near.

19. كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩

Context of Revelation

The surah Al-‘Alaq (“The Clot”) is a Meccan surah consisting of 19 verses. It is the very first revelation received by the Prophet ﷺ in the Cave of Hira, through the angel Jibril (Gabriel). The first revealed word, Iqra’ (“Read!”), marks the beginning of the prophetic mission and the dawn of divine revelation in Islam.

According to authentic reports from Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ was deeply moved by this encounter, and from these verses began the divine call to convey God’s message to humanity.

Main Teachings and Key Insights

Al-‘Alaq establishes the foundations of the Islamic message: divine knowledge, dependence on God, and human accountability. Its main teachings include:

  • Call to knowledge and learning: God commands humanity to read “in the name of your Lord,” affirming that true knowledge is that which is rooted in faith. (verses 1–5)
  • The creation of man: humanity was created from a clot, a reminder of human frailty and humble origins. (verse 2)
  • Warning against arrogance: when man believes himself self-sufficient, he turns away from his Creator. (verses 6–10)
  • Condemnation of the tyrants: a reference to Abu Jahl, who sought to prevent the Prophet ﷺ from praying. (verses 11–16)
  • Exhortation to prostrate and draw near to God: the surah concludes with a command to humble submission. (verse 19)

This surah inaugurates the link between revelation, knowledge, and submission: knowledge is a divine light that must lead to humility, not pride.

Structure and Main Themes

  • Verses 1–5: the first divine command to read, exalting the Creator and His gift of knowledge.
  • Verses 6–10: denunciation of human arrogance and spiritual rebellion.
  • Verses 11–18: rebuke of the tyrant who hinders prayer and worship.
  • Verse 19: final call to prostration and closeness to God.

The tone of the surah is majestic and spiritual: it intertwines knowledge with humility, faith with action, and reminds that human dignity lies in submission to the Divine.

Key Verses

The key verses are verses 1–5:

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ * خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ * اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ * الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ * عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

Read in the name of your Lord who created—created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, who taught by the pen, taught man what he did not know.

Why are these verses key?

  • They mark the beginning of the Qur’anic revelation and the start of the prophetic mission.
  • They place knowledge at the heart of Islamic faith: reading and writing are sacred acts when done in God’s name.
  • They emphasize humanity’s dependence on its Creator and the humility of its origins.

In summary, Al-‘Alaq marks the dawn of revelation and establishes the inseparable bond between knowledge, faith, and humility. It calls believers to recognize God’s greatness and to draw near to Him through learning, worship, and sincere devotion.

Surah Al-Alaq
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