The name of the Soorah is taken from the second verse, implying “the Soorah in which Al-‘Alaq has been mentioned.” ‘Alaq is the plural of ‘Alaqah, which means a clot that sticks together and/or clings. The word is commonly used for blood clot that is wet and sticky (that clings). It is also used for leeches that cling and suck blood. In this Soorah, it has been used for zygote, the cell created by the sticking together (fusion) of an ovum (egg) and a spermatozoon (sperm), which clings to the uterine wall.

This is the companion soorah of At-Teen, which reminded people that Allaah’s messengers were sent as superb examples of excellence in order to help people reach their full potential to excel and earn unending reward, and that those who rejected the messengers’ call were doomed. As the first five verses of Al-‘Alaq constitute the first revelation of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala’s words to Muĥammad sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the last Messenger of Allaah, the Soorah introduces the beginning of the mission of Prophet Muĥammad sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and then describes an instance of aggressive rejection by a Makkan chief and declares how he will be punished for his rejection of the Messenger’s call.

There is a consensus among historians that the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s mission began with the visit of angel Jibreel (Gabriel) with the first revelation when the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was worshipping Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala in seclusion at the cave of Ĥira.

As the historians have reported, the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam avoided the worship of idols throughout his life. He used to worship Allaah alone, in accordance with the ways and methods reported from the life of Ibraaheem and Ismaa‘eel ‘alayhimussalaam in terms of Ŝalaah, Tawaaf of Ka‘bah, ‘Umrah, Ĥajj, etc. In addition, he started going to the cave of Ĥira for one month a year to meditate and worship Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala in seclusion. When he was 40 years old, he started having very clear and vivid dreams that would come true in real life, exactly as seen in the vision. During those days, he considerably increased the duration he was spending in secluded worship. Then one night in the month of Ramadhaan, when he was 40½ years old, during one of his seclusions in the cave of Ĥira, a stranger suddenly appeared to him and talked to him about Allaah, the One and Only God, and asked him to proclaim the truth about Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala to people as Allaah’s Messenger. It was the angel Jibreel who brought him the first five verses of this Soorah.

This unexpected, unanticipated incident shook up Muĥammad sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He did not know what to make of it. He was frightened, so he rushed home. Shaken and trembling, when he reached home, he asked his wife to cover him with a blanket. After some rest under the blanket, he regained his composure and related the incident to his wife and expressed concern about his personal well being. Khadeejah lovingly reassured him with the following words, “Don’t worry. By God, Allaah will not cause you to suffer, because You are kind to the relatives, speak the truth, keep the trusts, support the helpless, feed the poor, serve the guests honourably, participate in good activities and excel in personal qualities.” In the books of Ĥadeeth, one of the reports of this incident from ‘Aaishah radhiallaahu ‘anha is as follows:

The first aspect of revelation to Allaah’s Messenger sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was that his dreams came true. Whatever vision he might have in his sleep would occur exactly as he had seen, as if he had seen witnessed it in broad daylight. Then, he began to enjoy seclusion. He sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to retreat alone into the cave of Ĥira where he would spend several days in devotion before going back to his family. He used to take some food with him and go for worship in seclusion. When he would come back, Khadeejah radhiallaahu ‘anha would provide a fresh supply of food and he would go away for another period. One day while he was in the cave of Ĥira, an angel came to him and said, “Recite to people!” He replied, “I am not a reciter.” The Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam says, “He hugged me and pressed hard until I was exhausted, then he released me and said, “Recite to people[1][1]!” and I replied, “I am not a reciter.” So, he hugged me and pressed me hard a second time until I was exhausted, then he released me and said, “Recite to people!” I replied, “I am not a reciter.” He then hugged me and pressed me hard for the third time. Then he said, “Recite to people, in the name of your Lord Who created, created people from clinging clots. Recite! Your Lord is the most Honourable, Who has taught by the pen, has taught man what he did not know.” The Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam returned home to Khadeejah radhiallaahu ‘anha frightened and trembling and said, “Cover me up with a blanket! Cover me up!” She covered him with a blanket. When his fear subsided, he turned to Khadeejah and exclaimed, “What has happened to me?” and related to her what had happened and said, “I fear for myself.” And Khadeejah radhiallaahu ‘anha replied, “Do not worry, and relax! By Allaah, He will not let you suffer any humiliation (or grief[2][2]), because you are kind to your relatives, you speak the truth, you assist anyone in need, you are hospitable to your guests and you help in every just cause.” Then she took him to Waraqah ibn Nowfal, her paternal cousin who was a Christian convert and a scholar with good knowledge of Arabic, Hebrew and the Bible. He had lost his eyesight as he had grown very old. Khadeejah said to Waraqah, “Cousin, would you like to hear what your nephew[3][3] has to say?” Waraqah said, “Well, nephew, what have you seen?” The Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam related to him what he had seen. When he finished, Waraqah said, “It is the same angel that was sent down to Moosa (Moses) ‘alayhissalaam. I wish I was a young man so that I might be alive when your people force you out of the city.” The Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam exclaimed, “Would they force me out?” Waraqah answered “Yes! No man has ever preached a message like yours but was met with enmity. If I live till that day, I will certainly give you all my support.” But Waraqah died soon after this incident.

For the next few days, the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam remained shaken and bewildered by his experience. Naturally, his mind was deluged with questions[4][4] and concerns about the implications of what he had been told and what he should expect in the future. He was extremely worried as to how he was going to do this daunting task of delivering Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala’s message to people, especially when strong opposition was expected from his people, as explained by Waraqah. He would think of killing himself by throwing himself off a mountain. On every such intention, the person who visited him in the cave would appear to him in the sky and tell him, “You are the messenger of Allaah and I am Jibreel.”

Some writers of Seerah have expressed an opinion that the first five verses of this Soorah Al-‘Alaq were not revealed at the time of the initial visit by Jibreel. At that time, he was only told about his newly assigned role and left to cope with this reality. The whole Soorah Al-‘Alaq was revealed later on in one complete revelation. Some of them think that Soorah Faatiĥah was then the first Soorah to be revealed. Others think that the first revelation consisted of the first seven verses of Soorah Al-Mudaththir. However, the overwhelming majority of scholars agrees that the first five verses were revealed at the first visit of Jibreel and the remaining Soorah was revealed later on. The majority opinion is supported by the context of Al-‘Alaq itself because immediately after Al-‘Alaq, the next Soorah, Al-Qadr, declares that the first revelation of the Qur-aan happened in the night of Al-Qadr, thus indicating the relationship of Al-‘Alaq with the first revelation.

Shortly after this first revelation, Jibreel came again to Muĥammad sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and taught him how to perform ablution and to offer Ŝalaah to Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala and also taught him Soorah Faatiĥah. Then, after a short break, the first seven verses of Soorah Al-Mudaththir were revealed and revelation continued periodically thereafter without any break for about 23 years.

Foot notes:

[1] The Arabic word “Iqra” is usually translated as “Read”. Although this Arabic word is often used for simple “reading”, it also means reading aloud or reciting to people. However, whenever it has been used in the Qur-aan about the Qur-aan itself, it has always been used for “reading aloud” or “reciting to people or someone”, as per the following verses:

When the Qur-aan is recited, listen to it attentively and keep quiet so that you are shown mercy. 7:204

And when you recite the Qur-aan, We place between you and those who do not believe in the hereafter a hidden barrier. 17:45

And it is a Qur-aan which We have revealed in portions so that you may recite it to people at intervals, and We have revealed it by successive revelations. 17:106

Had We revealed it to any of the non-Arabs, and had he recited it to them, they would not have believed in it. 26:199

Therefore, when We have recited it, follow its recital. 45:18

When the Qur-aan is recited to them, they do not prostrate. 84:21

[2] Two words reported in two versions of this report.

[3] He was nephew in the sense that the Prophet’s great great grandfather, ‘Abd Manaaf, was brother of Waraqah’s great grandfather, ‘Abd Al-‘Uzzaa.

[4] Questions that might have been such as: “Have I really been given this difficult task or am I possessed? Why would Allaah ask me to do this work? How am I to go to people and tell them that I have been appointed prophet? How would they react? Are they going to believe me or make fun of me? In the society I have so much honour, will I now be ridiculed? What kind of opposition will I face? Will I be forced to leave from my own kith and kin??