سُوْرَةُ الْعَلَقِ
Surah Al-Alaq (96) — Ayah 1
ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ﴿1﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱقْرَأْ
iq'ra
Read
بِٱسْمِ
bi-is'mi
in (the) name
رَبِّكَ
rabbika
(of) your Lord
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
the One Who
خَلَقَ
khalaqa
created
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
This is the first revelation of the Noble Qur’an that was sent down to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. In a long hadith narrated from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, the beginning of revelation is mentioned: it started with true dreams, then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, began to seclude himself for many nights in the Cave of Hira. There, the angel came to him and said: [ اِقْرَأْ ] "Read." He said: [ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ ] "I am not one who reads." Jibril, peace be upon him, pressed him firmly and then repeated the same word {’’اِقْرَأْ‘‘}. He kept giving the same answer {’’مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ ‘‘}. After pressing him a third time, the angel said: « اِقْرَاْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَ (1) خَلَقَ الْاِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ (2) اِقْرَاْ وَ رَبُّكَ الْاَكْرَمُ (3) الَّذِيْ عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ (4) عَلَّمَ الْاِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ » [ العلق : ۱تا۵ ] [ دیکھیے بخاري، التفسیر، باب : ۴۹۵۳ ]
(Ayah 1)
➊ {اِقْرَاْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَ:} The command to read in the first revelation shows the importance of reading.
➋ When Allah Almighty gave the command to read, He mentioned His blessing of being the Lord and the Creator, because the very first and greatest blessing is creation; all other blessings come after that. If there is no creation, there is nothing at all. The second blessing is being the Lord, that is, nurturing. That is, read in the name of the One who possesses these blessings, by the blessing of His name, you will also become a reader.
➌ {’’ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَ ‘‘} (Who created) — the object is omitted: whom did He create? That is, since creation is His work, there is no need to specify whom He created.
(Ayah 1)
➊ {اِقْرَاْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَ:} The command to read in the first revelation shows the importance of reading.
➋ When Allah Almighty gave the command to read, He mentioned His blessing of being the Lord and the Creator, because the very first and greatest blessing is creation; all other blessings come after that. If there is no creation, there is nothing at all. The second blessing is being the Lord, that is, nurturing. That is, read in the name of the One who possesses these blessings, by the blessing of His name, you will also become a reader.
➌ {’’ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَ ‘‘} (Who created) — the object is omitted: whom did He create? That is, since creation is His work, there is no need to specify whom He created.
