Al-'Alaq, "The Clinging Substance," is the ninety-sixth surah — 19 verses revealed in Mecca.1 Its first five verses are the beginning of the Quran's revelation. 'A'isha described how the Prophet ﷺ, while worshipping alone in the cave of Hira, was told by the angel three times to read and three times answered that he did not know how, until the angel recited these verses to him and he returned home "with his heart beating severely."4
What it is about
The first revelation reads: "Recite in the name of your Lord who created" — who "created man from a clinging substance." Then: "Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous — who taught by the pen" — who "taught man that which he knew not."2 In five verses it names God as Creator and Teacher, and places reading, writing and knowledge at the start of the message.
The rest of the surah turns to human arrogance: "No! [But] indeed, man transgresses because he sees himself self-sufficient. Indeed, to your Lord is the return." It then describes a man who tries to stop worship: "Have you seen the one who forbids a servant when he prays?... Does he not know that Allah sees?" Commentators identify him as Abu Jahl, who swore that if he saw the Prophet ﷺ praying at the Ka'bah he would tread on his neck.5 The surah ends with a command to the believer: "No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to Allah]."3
Why it matters
Al-'Alaq marks the moment Islam began: a man alone in a mountain cave told to "recite" in the name of his Lord. That its first words concern creation, the pen and learning places knowledge at the very start of the message. Its last verse gives a lasting answer to anyone who opposes faith: do not yield, but prostrate and come closer to God. To read Al-'Alaq in Arabic with translations and recitation, open it on Quran.com.