Surah Al Alaq

Surah Al Alaq

The clinging clot

Surah 96 in the Qur'an

Surah Al Alaq

• Makki Surah

• Also known as Surahtul Iqra (Read/Recite)

• The first 5 ayats were the first revelation

• The rest of the ayats were revealed later in the makkan era.

• Was revealed to the Prophet (S) in the famous cave Hira

Surah Al Alaq

• 1 Rukuh

• 19 Ayats

• 92 words

• 280 Huroof (Letters)

Before the revelation came to the Prophet (S)

He (S) was already experiencing 'True Dreams' 6 months prior to these ayats being revealed.

The prophet (S) would see something in the dream at night and in the morning it would happen right in front of Him.

True dreams...

are a part of Prophethood and a part of revelation.

When the Prophet began to have these dreams ..He started to disconnect himself from the people. He did not have any interest in what the people were doing, infact he was very upset with all the shirk (People ascribing Partners with Allah) and wrong that was going on. This is the reason why he would go to the cave Hira and stay there in the seclusion of worshipping Allah SWT.

This was absolutely necessary...

That the Prophet (S) had inner strength to be able to receive revelation.

If you think about it...being in a cave, in the middle of the night, all by yourself, up in the mountains, away from people.....now this something which a person would need A LOT! of courage.

I mean...going up that mountain itself is something that is daunting and scary.

But ....

Being alone! All By Yourself for several days!!! this is also very daunting and scary. You have to have a lot of courage.!! This was how Allah SWT helped the Prophet (S) get prepared in order to receive revelation.

Whilst the Prophet (S) was in the cave, all he would do is worship Allah. He would take some food with Him, but after a while he would go back to His family, get some more food and go back to the cave.

One night...

In the month of Ramadan, whilst the Prophet (S) was in the cave. Angel Jibrael AS appeared to Him.

The angel Jibrael AS recited "IQRA" and the Prophet (S) responded " Maa Ana Bi Qaari' I am not a recitor"

Why did the Prophet respond like that? Was He being disobedient ?

No!

It was really because He could not read. Why ?

Because he was an (Ummiyy) Someone who could not read or write.

Why was the Prophet (S) an Ummiyy ?

It was an evidence of His truthfulness

and it showed that there WAS a NEED for guidance from Allah SWT. The entire nation was Ummiyy. The Prophet was one of them.

Jirael AS asked the Prophet to " Read " (Iqra) three times...

And each time the Prophet responded " Maa Ana bi Qari" I cannot read. Then eventually Jibrael AS recited

1. ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ‎

2. خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ‎

3. ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ‎

4. ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ‎

5. عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

1. Recite in the name of your Lord who created

2. He Created man from a clinging substance

3. Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous

4. Who taught by the pen 

5. He Taught man that which he knew not

The Prophet (S) was frightened, He was terrified with what happened in the cave

He immediately left the cave and ran all the way home to His wife Khadijah and said " Zammilooni! Zammilooni!

cover me! cover me!

Khadijah RA comforted the Prophet (S) and said " No, Allah SWT will never abandon you"

" In fact Allah, He will help you, You are a righteous person, you speak the truth, you honour your guests, you take care of the needy and fulfill all your promises"

ٱقْرَأْ

Read!

What does this command mean?

What does reading signify ?

What happens when you read?

You Gain Knowledge !

That is the purpose of reading.

So that you can increase on your knowledge and understanding in order to know what you are to doing.

Before reading, what must we mention ? ?

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ

"In the name of Allah"

Why should we mention the name of Allah before we read ? or before we do ANYTHING!

In order to seek His help. Whenever we say Bismillah, we are asking for Allah's help.

خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ

Created man from a clinging substance‎

This ayah explains the beginning of the creation of a human being . This is in the Womb of the mother.

Yes guys!!.... We all looked like that at in the early stages of our life..

Alhamdulillah !! we dont still look like that now hey 🙈🙉🙊

ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous

ٱقْرَأْ Has been repeated here for the pupose of emphasis.

Allah SWT is the most generous, the most noble, respectful. We should only turn to Allah alone.

ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ

The one who has taught by the pen

What does this show ?

For gaining knowledge, two things are very important......

Qira'ah as well as Kitaabah

(Reading as well as writing)

If a person wishes to gain knowledge , then he must read and also write.

WHY?

Because....

When you read, you learn more things...but when you write, then you are preserving / storing what you have learnt.

عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

Taught man that which he knew not

There are a lot of things that we can learn by observation. and a lot by experimenting. But.....

There are some things that people cannot learn by observing nor by experiment

For example... The Angels

Can we see them ? NO

We cannot observe nor can we experiment .

We had no idea of what belief was untill Allah swt blessed us with the knowledge and understanding of it. Alhamdulillah!!

Allah SWT taught us what we did not know. And we would have NEVER known if It wasnt for the Mercy and Blessings of Allah.

When a person gains knowledge of the religion (Deen)

It means Allah SWT has honoured that person.

The rest of the surah is to be continued Next Week......

In Shaa Allah!!

كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ

No! [But] indeed, man transgresses

(Remember these ayahs were sent later)

Certainly, the human being is very disobedient. The humans were lost and unaware. Allah swt gave them knowledge and honoured them, guided them, yet humans still disobey.

أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ

Because he sees himself self-sufficient

Meaning humans think they dont need Allah , they dont need His help, they dont need Allahs reward. What does this mean ?

They think they are powerful, and can do everything without the help of Allah

What is the reason behind arrogance and disobedience ?

When a person thinks he/she has everything he needs so theres no need to ask Allah swt for anything.

إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ

Indeed, to your Lord is the return.

Meaning...how long can you avoid your lord, how can you think that you don't need your lord? You will definitely go back to your lord, you certainly wont be staying on the earth forever.

Your wealth, your power, your health will not be with you forever.

eventually everything will come to and end!

So what makes you disobey your Lord ?

أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يَنْهَىٰ عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ

"Have you seen the one who forbids a servant when he prays?"

Allah swt is talking about a person named Abu Jahl.

Who was Abu Jahl ?

Abu Jahl

• Was from the tribe of Quraysh

• Was known as Abul Hakam (Father of wisdom)

• People would go to him when they had any matters they didn't agree with. The people would seek the advice from Abu Jahl and he would make a decision for them

• Because of this he was very proud of himself, he thought he was something!.

• Because of that he was deceived and lived as a kaafir (disbeliever) and oppsed the Prophet (S) and died as a kaafir too..

One incident that happened in Makkah....

The people told Abu Jahl that Muhammad (S) was praying by the ka'bah in front of the everyone. And that the Prophet was causing trouble for them and was stopping them from worshipping their Idols..Abu Jahl became very angry and said ......

"Does Muhammad cover his face with dust "

Meaning, when the Prophet (S) was going into prostration (Sajda) and puts his head on the ground.

"is he trying to cover his face with dust whilst hes among you all" ? The people said "yes" and started laugh and make fun of the Prophet (S)

Abu Jahl said " by Al Laat wal Uzzah!, if I see him praying like this, Then I will stamp on his neck and certainly put his face in the dust"

He was a very arrogant man. and the people also incited him to do this

So one day the Prophet (S) went to pray. He went into sajda and put His forehead on the ground.

And when Abu Jahl saw this and .......

Got so angry! and went to put his foot on the neck of the Prophet (S)

But as he went to do that....

He Immediately started to run away from the Prophet (S)

When he was running away, the people were wondering why he was running away, they were asking, "whats wrong, whats the matter" ?

He replied, " between Him and me is a ditch of fire and things, with wings"

Allah Swt made him see the dich with fire and something which scared him.

After He had gone, the Prophet (S) said, if he would have come near me, the Angels would have snatched him limb by limb

The Angels would have finished Abu Jahl off there and then.

What gave Abu Jahl the confidence to do this ?

A person only DARES to disobey Allah and transgress against other people when he thinks himself to be هُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ , thinks he is self sufficient, powerful, does not need Allah. This is why He thought " I can do whatever I want"

Remember what we learnt in the previous ayats....ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ

• When you read, and gain knowledge

• Dont forget the name of your lord

• Dont forget that Allah is the one that has created

• And dont forget that you are something very small

• No matter how much knowledge you gain, still you are something very small in front of Allah.

• So dont forget your reality

Some people who gain knowledge..

consider themselves هُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ and with the little that they know, they become so arrogant, they think they know everything and think they can do whatever they want, and speak to people however they want. Others, when they gain knowledge the become more and more humble. They realise how much they actually dont know! The more they learn they realise the less they know.

To Be continued

Next Week In Shaa Allah.