Quran 96:1-5
Al-'Alaq 96 :1 -5
Recite in the name of your Lord who created—created man from a clinging substance. Recite, and your Lord is the Most Generous—who taught by the pen—taught man that which he knew not.
— Sahih International
Context
The first verses revealed to Muhammad, marking the beginning of his prophethood.
Quran 96:1-5
The first verses of the Quran revealed to Muhammad in the Cave of Hira—the beginning of Islam.
The First Revelation
In 610 CE, during the month of Ramadan, Gabriel appeared to Muhammad in the cave and commanded him to “Recite” (Iqra’). Muhammad, who was illiterate, responded that he could not read. After being embraced three times by the angel, these words came.
The Five Verses
- “Recite in the name of your Lord who created” - The command to recite/read; God as Creator
- “Created man from a clinging substance” - Human creation from an embryo
- “Recite, and your Lord is the Most Generous” - God’s generosity
- “Who taught by the pen” - Knowledge transmitted through writing
- “Taught man that which he knew not” - God as source of all knowledge
Significance
These verses:
- Mark the beginning of Muhammad’s prophethood
- Establish the Quran as recitation (the meaning of “Quran”)
- Emphasize knowledge and learning
- Begin the 23-year period of revelation
The Night of Power
This night (Laylat al-Qadr) is commemorated as the holiest night in Islam, better than a thousand months (Quran 97:3).