The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

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96. THE CLINGING FORM a
A Meccan sura named after the term alaq in verse 2. The first five verses are
known to be the first revelation of the Quran when the Prophet was instructed
to read. The second part came later to show that man transgresses when he
becomes self-satisfied (as exemplified by a specific individual, Abu Jahl).
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 Read! In the name of your Lord who created: 2 He created man b
from a clinging form. 3 Read! Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One
4 who taught by [means of] the pen, 5 who taught man what he did
not know.
6 But man exceeds all bounds 7 when he thinks he is self-sufficient:
8 [Prophet], all will return to your Lord. 9 Have you seen the man
who forbids 10 [Our] servant to pray? 11 Have you seen whether he is
rightly guided, 12 or encourages true piety? 13 Have you seen whether
he denies the truth and turns away from it? 14 Does he not realize that
God sees all? 15 No! If he does not stop, We shall drag him by his
forehead c –– 16 his lying, sinful forehead. 17 Let him summon his comrades;
18 We shall summon the guards of Hell. 19 No! Do not obey him
[Prophet]: bow down d in worship and draw close.
a A stage in the development of a foetus (cf. 22: 5), i.e. embryo. Alaq can also mean
anything that clings: a clot of blood, a leech, even a lump of mud. All these meanings
involve the basic idea of clinging or sticking. Clinging indicates a state of total dependence
in contrast with verse 7.
b See note to 89: 15.
c In Hell. Many translators give ‘forelock’ instead of ‘forehead’ (cf. 54: 48). His head
is sinful, not his forelock.
d Sujud is a position in the Muslim prayer with head, hands, knees, and toes on the
ground, but not the rest of the body as in ‘prostration’.