Egyptian Calligraphy of the first lines of Sura al-Alaq

Sūrat al-ʿAlaq (العلق"The Clot"), is the 96th sura or chapter of the Qur'an. It is composed of 19 Ayat (verses or "signs"), and is traditionally believed to have been revealed at Mecca at cave Hira. It is sometimes also known as Sūrat al-Iqrā (إقرا, "Read").

The first five verses of this sura are believed by nearly all sources, to be the first verses of the Qur'an to be revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.^{[citation needed]}

The Meaning of 'Alaq[link]

The linguistic definition of ′alaq علق (singular 'alaqah علقة) is "leech", "medicinal leech", "coagulated blood", "blood clot", or "the early stage of the embryo".^[1] ′Alaq is also a derivative of 'alaqa which means "attached and hanging to something." ^[2] Professor Abdul Haleem mentions that "′alaq can also mean anything that clings: a clot of blood, a leech, even a lump of mud. All these meanings involve the basic idea of clinging or sticking."^[3] ′Alaq represents the essential helplessness of man in the beginning of creation.

The term ′alaqah is the second stage of human prenatal development (sura Al-Mu’minoon 23: 12-14) which "descriptively encompasses the primary external and internal features" of the early embryo.^[4] The term ′alaqah also occurs in several languages related to Arabic. In Hebrew there is עֲלוּקָה alûqāh (or alukah), the generic name for any blood-sucking worm or leech,^[5] and in Aramaic and Syriac there are words with apparently similar meanings.^[6]

Mathematical Structure in Quran Suras based on number 19 (Over it is Nineteen)[link]

In 1974 Rashad Khalifa claimed to have found a mathematical structure in the Quran that is based on the number 19.^[7] He also claimed that this structure of 19 is interwoven throughout the Quran and they are like the signature from its author. Various Muslim organisations however have criticised Khalifa's studies, accusing him of spreading heresy.^[8][9]

References[link]

1. ^ Sahin, H. (2006). "Alaq". In O. Leaman (Ed.), The Qur’an: An Encyclopedia: Routledge
2. ^ Hussain, S. (1980). The Clot (al-‘Alaq). The Islamic Quarterly, Vol. 24, no. 3-4, pp. 107-110.
3. ^ Abdel Haleem, M. A. (2005). The Qurʾan. New York: Oxford University Press
4. ^ Kareem, E. (2012). Embryology in the Qur’an: The ‘Alaqah Stage. http://islampapers.com/2012/02/09/alaqah
5. ^ Blue Letter Bible. Dictionary and Word Search for ‘aluwqah (Strong's 5936) from http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5936&t=ESV
6. ^ Kareem, E. (2012). "Embryology in the Qur’an: The ‘Alaqah Stage" (page 6), http://islampapers.com/2012/02/09/alaqah
7. ^ [Quran the final Testament, Translated from the Original, by Rashad Khalifa, ISBN 978-1-890825-00-3, Library of Congress:2007938221]
8. ^ Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips. (2002). "Book: The Qur'an's Numerical Miracle"
9. ^ Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips. (2006). "The Hoax of the Numerical Miracle of the Qur’aan" 22 April 2007. (accessed 1 April 2012).

Translation[link]

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

96:1 Read in the name of your Lord, Who created-

96:2 Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood ['alaq علق]:

96:3 Read! And thy Lord is Most honourable,-

96:4 He Who taught (the use of) the pen,-

96:5 Taught man that which he knew not.

96:6 Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds,

96:7 In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient.

96:8 Verily, to thy Lord is the return (of all).

96:9 Seest thou one who forbids-

96:10 A votary when he (turns) to pray?

96:11 Seest thou if he is on (the road of) Guidance?-

96:12 Or enjoins Righteousness?

96:13 Seest thou if he denies (Truth) and turns away?

96:14 Knoweth he not that Allah doth see?

96:15 Let him beware! If he desist not, We will drag him by the forelock,-

96:16 A lying, sinful forelock!

96:17 Then, let him call (for help) to his council (of comrades):

96:18 We will call on the angels of punishment (to deal with him)!

96:19 Nay, do not listen to him but bow down in adoration and bring thyself closer (to Allah)!

.............................................................................

In this surah, God presents a concise but compelling argument: Man is a creature of wonder, beginning with its development from a biomass (or Alaq), who has been granted the gift of sentience by God. Then as a being Man divides into two distinct groups: those who recognize their cosmic condition, seek divine guidance (by 'reading' God's word), and bow to God's will (symbolized by 'prostration'); and those who even in the face of these apparent wonders of Man's condition, consider the Human to be an 'independent' entity, answerable to no transcendent authority, and even more contentiously, take it upon themselves to prevent the first class of man from following God's Word and submitting to Him.

God then states that the first type of Man, the believer, is the righteous one, and that the second class is both in error and is in fact a "lying and sinful" creature. The sura concludes with God's warning to the denier that the "guards of Hell" await, and that such men should cease from denying the believer the right to worship unmolested by them. The sura's last verse are words of encouragement to the believer to "not yield" to the threats of unbelievers but to continue in persistence in obeying God, and a promise of nearness to God for such a believer.

The First Revelation: Verses 1-5[link]

The first five verses of this sura are believed by nearly all sources, both traditional and modern, to be the first verses of the Qur'an to be revealed to Muhammad. A few commentators disagree with this account, claiming that the first revelation was the beginning of surat al-Muddaththir or surat al-Fatiha, but theirs is a minority position.

Verses 6-19[link]

The remainder of the surah, revealed later, questions the morality and beliefs of mankind, who "thinks himself self-sufficient", unaware that all things will return to their Lord. The text continues, addressing the impiety of "the man who forbids Our servant to pray". These later lines are thought to date from the time when Muhammad began to pray the salat in the Kaaba. Abu Jahl attempted to interrupt the prayer by trampling on Muhammad's neck while he was prostrated. "Does he not realize that God sees all?"

The Qur'an commands Muhammad (and by inference all believers) to continue the prayer regardless, as those who persecute the faithful are unaware that God sees what they do.

External links[link]

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Qur'an - Al-Alaq

• Al-Alaq at Sacred Texts
• Surah 'Alaq (96) – The Hanging Blood Clot