Qur'an 96:1–5 · Surah Al-'Alaq · Meccan
Recite: the first revelation
Arabic text
ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ1 خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ2 ٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ3 ٱلَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِٱلۡقَلَمِ4 عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ5
Translation · Saheeh International
1Recite in the name of your Lord who created
2Created man from a clinging substance
3Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous
4Who taught by the pen
5Taught man that which he knew not
Explanation
Our educational summary. It is not part of the Qur'an and is not a tafsir.
The first command is to recite or read, and God is described as the One 'who taught by the pen' and 'taught man that which he knew not'. Learning is woven into the very beginning of revelation.
Historical and literary context
According to a narration from 'Aisha in Sahih al-Bukhari, these were the first verses revealed, in the cave of Hira near Mecca.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 3 (graded Sahih) · read on Sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)