96.

Sura Iqraa (or Read or Proclaim)

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

This Sura is also named Alaq (or The Blood Clot). The first five verses
of this Sura were the first revelation of the Glorious Qur-an made to the
Prophet (SA) in mount Hira where he used to pass considerable time in
meditation. This he did until suddenly an angel, later identified as Gibriel,
came to him saying, “recite!” He answered, “I cannot read”. The angel took
hold of the Prophet (SA) and pressed him so vehemently that he was nearly
suffocated and repeated his command, “Recite!” The Prophet (SA) again
answered, “I cannot read”. A second time the angel pressed him vehemently
and repeated the command for the third time. The Prophet (SA) then
answered, “What shall I recite? The angel said, “Recite in the name of your
Lord”, and so on, until he recited these verses. Shaking with fear, the Prophet
(SA) returned to his wife Khadijah exclaiming, “cover me up, cover me up!”
After his fear had subsided, he narrated his experience at Hira to her.
Thereafter, there was a lull in revelations for a period extending perhaps to
more than a year. Sura Mudassir’s (No.74) opening verses were then revealed,
intimating to the Prophet (SA) what he has to do as the Apostle of Allah; then
came the verses No. 6 to 19 of the present Sura. Both portions were joined as
they were linked with one another. Thus the major themes of this Suras are the
following:

1. The command to the Holy Prophet (SA) to recite in the name of Allah,
whose power and magnanimity are here related to the gift of revelation to
man (verses 1-5).
2. The man is declared to be arrogant in his feeling of self-sufficiency. Yet to
Allah all things return (verses 6-8).
3. A new theme is here introduced in that the text seems to refer to a specific
man who had thought to prevent the Prophet (SA) from praying in the
precincts of the Kaaba (verses 9-14). These verses, however, could apply
to any similar situation to any time.
4. This admonition is then by a strict threat of Heavenly punishment in the
Fire of Hell. The Sura then terminates with a consoling call to the Holy
Prophet (SA) to draw near to Allah and bow down in prayer before Him
(verses (15-19)

Verses 9-19 were revealed concerning Abu Jahl who was one of the
bitterest enemies of the Holy Prophet. He sought to prevent the Holy Prophet
from praying in Kaaba, threatening him with bodily harm. At the close of the
recitation of this Sura, the recite and anyone present must prostrate
themselves.

The Sura says: Recite in the name of your Lord who created, man from
a blood clot. Recite, and your Lord is the most Bountiful who taught by the
pen, taught man that which he did not know. No indeed, but man waxes
arrogant for he thinks himself to be self-sufficient. Surely to your Lord shall
be the return. Have you considered him who forbids a servant when he prays?
Have you considered whether he is guided aright, or that he enjoins fear of
Allah? Have you considered whether he cries lies and turns away? Does he
know that Allah sees? No, indeed, if he does not desist, we shall seize him by
the forelock. So let him call upon his concourse! We shall call the guardians
(of Hell). No, indeed, do not obey him; rather prostrate yourself and draw
near.