096- AL-ALAQ
THE BLOOD CLOT
Al-ʿAlaq is an early Makkan sūrah. The first five verses are considered by most to be the first verses of the Quran to be revealed; the remaining verses were revealed later in the Makkan period when opposition to the revelation arose among the leaders of the Quraysh. This initial revelation is said to have taken place during the last third of the month of Ramadan, in 610 of the Christian era, twelve years before the migration to Madinah (hijrah) in 622, which marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
According to the Prophet’s wife ʿĀʾishah, “The first thing that began happening with the Messenger of God from the revelation were dreams he would see in his sleep that would come true. He would not see any dream except that it would come to be, like the break of day in the morning. Then seclusion became beloved to him. So he used to go to the cave of [Mount] Ḥirāʾ and devote himself to worship there for a number of nights, and would bring provisions. Then he would return to [his wife] Khadijah and replenish his provisions for a similar number of nights. This continued until the revelation suddenly came to him while he was in the cave of Hiraʾ.
“The Archangel [Gabriel] came to him while he was in the cave and said, ‘Recite!’ The Messenger of God said, ‘I replied, “I am not a reciter.”’ Then he said, ‘So he seized me and pressed me until I could no longer bear it. Then he released me and said, “Recite!” So I replied, “I am not a reciter.” Then he pressed me a second time until I could no longer bear it. Then he released me and said, “Recite!” So I replied, “I am not a reciter.” Then he pressed me a third time until I could no longer bear it. Then he released me and said, “Recite in the Name of thy Lord Who created” until he reached that which he knew not.’
“Then he [the Prophet] returned with those verses and with his heart trembling until he reached Khadījah and said, ‘Cover me, cover me.’ So they wrapped him up until his fear went away. Then he said to Khadījah, ‘What is wrong with me?’ and told her what had happened and said, ‘I fear for my soul.’ She replied, ‘Never! By God, God will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your relatives, you speak the truth, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guests generously, and you help the deserving who are afflicted by misfortune.’
“She then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who, during the period of ignorance in pre-Islamic Arabia, became a Christian and used to write the scriptures in Arabic. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as God willed for him to write. He was then an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadījah said to him, ‘O my cousin! Listen to the story of your nephew.’ Waraqah asked, ‘O my nephew! What have you seen?’ The Messenger of God described what he saw. Waraqah said, ‘This is the Nāmūs [from the Greek nomos, indicating a revealed law] that God sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live until the time when your people will drive you out.’ The Messenger of God said, ‘Will they drive me out?’ Waraqah replied, ‘Yes, no man has come with something similar to what you have brought but that he was treated with hostility and enmity; and if I should remain alive till that day, then I would firmly support you’” (Bg, IK, Q). The sūrah begins with an injunction to recite (vv. 1–5) followed by an admonition of mankind in general (vv. 6–8) and a more specific admonition of those who prevent others from practicing religion (vv. 9–16). It concludes with a challenge to those who call upon what is other than God to protect them (vv. 17–19).
(source: “The Study Quran” a new translation and commentary by Seyyed Hossein Nasr)
Comments
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.