Sūrah 96 · Meccan

How Sūrah Al-Alaq was revealed.

Where and when it came down, what it teaches, and the hadith about it — all on one calm page.

Read Al-Alaq → The revelation story
Where revealed Meccan

Revealed in the Meccan period, before the migration to Madīnah.

Order of revelation #1

Its place in the traditional order in which the sūrahs were revealed.

Length 19 ayahs

1 reading sections in the Muṣḥaf.

The revelation story

How and when it came down.

This Makkan surah is the first revealed. Its purpose is to command the Prophet (ﷺ) to read and convey the message, establishing the dignity of knowledge and the Pen. It affirms Allah as the sole Creator and warns the arrogant human who denies his Lord and attempts to prevent others from prayer and guidance.

Themes and purpose:

This Makkan surah is the first revealed. Its purpose is to command the Prophet (ﷺ) to read and convey the message, establishing the dignity of knowledge and the Pen. It affirms Allah as the sole Creator and warns the arrogant human who denies his Lord and attempts to prevent others from prayer and guidance.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan by consensus.

Context: The first part was revealed to initiate the Prophet’s (ﷺ) mission, instructing him to recite. Ayahs 6-19 were revealed later to address the arrogance of a specific disbeliever (likely Abū Jahl) who attempted to prevent the Prophet (ﷺ) from praying.

Chronology: The first five ayahs were the very first revelation of the Quran, revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) in the Cave of Ḥirā’, in the month of Ramaḍān.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah is known by several names: "Sūrat al-ʿAlaq" (The Clot) and "Sūrat Iqra’" (Read), "Sūrat Iqra’ bi-ismi Rabbika" (Read in the Name of Your Lord), as well as "Sūrat Iqra’ wa-al-ʿAlaq", all with reference to the opening word and/or the word ʿalaq in the second ayah. It has also been called "Sūrat al-Qalam" based on ayah 4, though this name is more predominantly used for Q 68 (Nūn).

Ayah Count: 20 ayahs (Madinah/Makkah) or 19 (Kūfah/Baṣrah).

Surah Overview:

  • The Command to Read: The central purpose is the divine instruction to Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) to recite and receive the Quran. [1]
  • The Pen and Knowledge: Affirming the divine blessing and the dignity of the Pen and knowledge. [3-5]
  • Creation: Directing attention to the miracle of man’s creation from a clot as the foundation for contemplation. [2]
  • Condemning Arrogance: Condemning the arrogant man who, despite his humble origin, considers himself self-sufficient and attempts to prevent others from prayer. [6-10]
  • Warning to the Denier: Warning the one who prohibits prayer that Allah will “seize him by the forelock.” [15-18]
  • Prophetic Steadfastness: Commanding the Prophet (ﷺ) to persist in his worship and draw near to Allah despite the enemy’s threats. [19]

Sūrah background — via the Quran Foundation Content API. Shown as supplied by the provider. We do not edit, summarise or generate it.

Hadith about this sūrah

What the hadith say.

These 8 narrations in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī are connected to specific āyāt of this sūrah — a linkage reviewed by the Quran Foundation. Open any one to read it in full, in Arabic and English.

  1. Relates to āyah1–3
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4955
  2. Relates to āyah1
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4922

    حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، سَأَلْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَوَّلِ، مَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏﴿‏يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ‏﴾‏ قُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ ‏﴿‏اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ‏﴾‏ فَقَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ سَأَلْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رضى الله عنهما عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَقُلْتُ لَهُ مِثْلَ الَّذِي قُلْتَ فَقَالَ جَابِرٌ لاَ أُحَدِّثُكَ إِلاَّ مَا حَدَّثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ جَاوَرْتُ بِحِرَاءٍ، فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ جِوَارِي هَبَطْتُ فَنُودِيتُ فَنَظَرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئًا، وَنَظَرْتُ عَنْ شِمَالِي فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئًا، وَنَظَرْتُ أَمَامِي فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئًا، وَنَظَرْتُ خَلْفِي فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئًا، فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فَرَأَيْتُ شَيْئًا، فَأَتَيْتُ خَدِيجَةَ فَقُلْتُ دَثِّرُونِي وَصُبُّوا عَلَىَّ مَاءً بَارِدًا ـ قَالَ ـ فَدَثَّرُونِي وَصَبُّوا عَلَىَّ مَاءً بَارِدًا قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ ‏﴿‏يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ * قُمْ فَأَنْذِرْ * وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ‏﴾‏ ‏"‏‏.‏

    Narrated Yahya bin Abi Kathir: I asked Aba Salama bin `Abdur-Rahman about the first Sura revealed of the Qur'an. He replied "O you, wrapped-up (i.e. Al Muddaththir)." I said, "They say it was, 'Read, in the Name of your Lord Who created,' (i.e. Surat Al-`Alaq (the Clot)." On that, Abu Salama said, "I asked Jabir bin `Abdullah about that, saying the same as you have said, whereupon he said, 'I will not tell you except what Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had told us. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "I was in seclusion in the cave of Hiram', and after I completed the limited period of my seclusion. I came down (from the cave) and heard a voice calling me. I looked to my right, but saw nothing. Then I looked up and saw something. So I went to Khadija (the Prophet's wife) and told her to wrap me up and pour cold water on me. So they wrapped me up and poured cold water on me." Then, 'O you, (Muhammad) wrapped up! Arise and warn,' (Surat Al Muddaththir) was revealed." (74.1)

    Open at Sunnah.com →

    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4924

    حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَرْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ أَىُّ الْقُرْآنِ أُنْزِلَ أَوَّلُ فَقَالَ ‏﴿‏يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ‏﴾‏ فَقُلْتُ أُنْبِئْتُ أَنَّهُ ‏﴿‏اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ‏﴾‏ فَقَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ سَأَلْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الْقُرْآنِ أُنْزِلَ أَوَّلُ فَقَالَ ‏﴿‏يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ‏﴾‏ فَقُلْتُ أُنْبِئْتُ أَنَّهُ ‏﴿‏اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ‏﴾‏ فَقَالَ لاَ أُخْبِرُكَ إِلاَّ بِمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ جَاوَرْتُ فِي حِرَاءٍ فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ جِوَارِي، هَبَطْتُ فَاسْتَبْطَنْتُ الْوَادِيَ فَنُودِيتُ، فَنَظَرْتُ أَمَامِي وَخَلْفِي وَعَنْ يَمِينِي وَعَنْ شِمَالِي فَإِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ عَلَى عَرْشٍ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ، فَأَتَيْتُ خَدِيجَةَ فَقُلْتُ دَثِّرُونِي وَصُبُّوا عَلَىَّ مَاءً بَارِدًا، وَأُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ ‏﴿‏يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ * قُمْ فَأَنْذِرْ * وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ‏﴾‏‏"‏

    Narrated Yahya: I asked Aba Salama, "Which Sura of the Qur'an was revealed first?" He replied, "O you, wrapped-up' (Al-Muddaththir)." I said, "I have been informed that it was, 'Read, in the Name of your Lord who created (i.e. Surat Al-Alaq)...similar to the narration related by `Ali bin Al-Mubarak, 444 above).

    Open at Sunnah.com →

  3. Relates to āyah1–4
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4953

    حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ مَرْوَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ أَبِي رِزْمَةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو صَالِحٍ، سَلْمَوَيْهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ عُرْوَةَ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ كَانَ أَوَّلُ مَا بُدِئَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الرُّؤْيَا الصَّادِقَةُ فِي النَّوْمِ، فَكَانَ لاَ يَرَى رُؤْيَا إِلاَّ جَاءَتْ مِثْلَ فَلَقِ الصُّبْحِ، ثُمَّ حُبِّبَ إِلَيْهِ الْخَلاَءُ فَكَانَ يَلْحَقُ بِغَارِ حِرَاءٍ فَيَتَحَنَّثُ فِيهِ ـ قَالَ وَالتَّحَنُّثُ التَّعَبُّدُ ـ اللَّيَالِيَ ذَوَاتِ الْعَدَدِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ، وَيَتَزَوَّدُ لِذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى خَدِيجَةَ فَيَتَزَوَّدُ بِمِثْلِهَا، حَتَّى فَجِئَهُ الْحَقُّ وَهْوَ فِي غَارِ حِرَاءٍ فَجَاءَهُ الْمَلَكُ فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجُهْدُ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي‏.‏ فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ‏.‏ قُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ‏.‏ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّانِيِةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجُهْدُ، ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي‏.‏ فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ‏.‏ قُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ‏.‏ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّالِثَةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجُهْدُ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏﴿‏اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ * خَلَقَ الإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ * اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الأَكْرَمُ * الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ‏﴾‏ ‏"‏‏.‏ الآيَاتِ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ ‏﴿‏عَلَّمَ الإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ‏﴾‏ فَرَجَعَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَرْجُفُ بَوَادِرُهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَى خَدِيجَةَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ زَمِّلُونِي زَمِّلُونِي ‏"‏‏.‏ فَزَمَّلُوهُ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ عَنْهُ الرَّوْعُ قَالَ لِخَدِيجَةَ ‏"‏ أَىْ خَدِيجَةُ مَا لِي، لَقَدْ خَشِيتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي ‏"‏‏.‏ فَأَخْبَرَهَا الْخَبَرَ‏.‏ قَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ كَلاَّ أَبْشِرْ، فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ يُخْزِيكَ اللَّهُ أَبَدًا، فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ، وَتَصْدُقُ الْحَدِيثَ، وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ، وَتَكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُومَ، وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ، وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ‏.‏ فَانْطَلَقَتْ بِهِ خَدِيجَةُ حَتَّى أَتَتْ بِهِ وَرَقَةَ بْنَ نَوْفَلٍ وَهْوَ ابْنُ عَمِّ خَدِيجَةَ أَخِي أَبِيهَا، وَكَانَ امْرَأً تَنَصَّرَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ يَكْتُبُ الْكِتَابَ الْعَرَبِيَّ وَيَكْتُبُ مِنَ الإِنْجِيلِ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ، وَكَانَ شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا قَدْ عَمِيَ فَقَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ يَا ابْنَ عَمِّ اسْمَعْ مِنِ ابْنِ أَخِيكَ‏.‏ قَالَ وَرَقَةُ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي مَاذَا تَرَى فَأَخْبَرَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَبَرَ مَا رَأَى‏.‏ فَقَالَ وَرَقَةُ هَذَا النَّامُوسُ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُوسَى، لَيْتَنِي فِيهَا جَذَعًا، لَيْتَنِي أَكُونُ حَيًّا‏.‏ ذَكَرَ حَرْفًا‏.‏ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَوَمُخْرِجِيَّ هُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ وَرَقَةُ نَعَمْ لَمْ يَأْتِ رَجُلٌ بِمَا جِئْتَ بِهِ إِلاَّ أُوذِيَ، وَإِنْ يُدْرِكْنِي يَوْمُكَ حَيًّا أَنْصُرْكَ نَصْرًا مُؤَزَّرًا‏.‏ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْشَبْ وَرَقَةُ أَنْ تُوُفِّيَ، وَفَتَرَ الْوَحْىُ، فَتْرَةً حَتَّى حَزِنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏

    Narrated Aisha: (the wife of the Prophet) The commencement (of the Divine Inspiration) to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was in the form of true dreams in his sleep, for he never had a dream but it turned out to be true and clear as the bright daylight. Then he began to like seclusions, so he used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship Allah continuously for many nights before going back to his family to take the necessary provision (of food) for the stay. He come back to (his wife) Khadija again to take his provision (of food) likewise, till one day he received the Guidance while he was in the cave of Hira. An Angel came to him and asked him to read. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "I do not know how to read." The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "Then the Angel held me (forcibly) and pressed me so hard that I felt distressed. Then he released me and again asked me to read, and I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he held me again and pressed me for the second time till I felt distressed. He then released me and asked me to read, but again I replied. 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he held me for the third time and pressed me till I got distressed, and then he released me and said, 'Read, in the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists), has created man out of a clot, Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen, has taught man that which he knew not." (96.1-5). Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) returned with that experience; and the muscles between his neck and shoulders were trembling till he came upon Khadija (his wife) and said, "Cover me!" They covered him, and when the state of fear was over, he said to Khadija, "O Khadija! What is wrong with me? I was afraid that something bad might happen to me." Then he told her the story. Khadija said, "Nay! But receive the good tidings! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you, for by Allah, you keep good relations with your Kith and kin, speak the truth, help the poor and the destitute, entertain your guests generously and assist those who are stricken with calamities." Khadija then took him to Waraqa bin Naufil, the son of Khadija's paternal uncle. Waraqa had been converted to Christianity in the Pre-lslamic Period and used to write Arabic and write of the Gospel in Arabic as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said (to Waraqa), "O my cousin! Listen to what your nephew is going to say." Waraqa said, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" The Prophet (ﷺ) then described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, "This is the same Angel (Gabriel) who was sent to Moses. I wish I were young." He added some other statement. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked, "Will these people drive me out?" Waraqa said, "Yes, for nobody brought the like of what you have brought, but was treated with hostility. If I were to remain alive till your day (when you start preaching). then I would support you strongly." But a short while later Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was paused (stopped) for a while so that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was very much grieved.

    Open at Sunnah.com →

    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4956

The link between each āyah and these narrations is the Quran Foundation's reviewed reference map. The wording is reproduced verbatim from a public-domain edition of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and is not edited, summarised or generated; every narration also opens at Sunnah.com so it can be checked against another copy.

Learning to pray as you read? How to pray step by step, how to perform wuḍūʾ, and how many rakʿahs each prayer has.