ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ 1
Translations
Recite in the name of your Lord who created
Transliteration
Iqra bismi rabbika alladhi khalaq
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah of Surah Al-'Alaq commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to 'Read in the name of your Lord who created.' According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this was the first revelation received by the Prophet, emphasizing that reading and knowledge are sacred acts performed under Allah's name and authority. The command to read establishes the foundation for seeking knowledge as a religious obligation, as all creation and knowledge ultimately derive from Allah's creative power.
Revelation Context
This ayah marks the beginning of revelation to Prophet Muhammad in the cave of Hira around 610 CE. The Angel Gabriel appeared to the Prophet with this command, initiating the 23-year period of Quranic revelation. This context establishes reading and knowledge-seeking as central to the Islamic mission from its very inception.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated the first revelation: 'The first thing that was revealed to the Messenger of Allah was good dreams in sleep, and then he was made to love seclusion.' This hadith provides the biographical context for this ayah's revelation. Additionally, the Prophet said, 'Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave' (attributed in various collections), reflecting the principle established by this first command.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that the pursuit of knowledge is an act of worship when undertaken with the consciousness of Allah's name and remembrance. For modern believers, it emphasizes that education and intellectual development are not secular pursuits but spiritual obligations that connect us to our Creator.