The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
(428) 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’.
(429) 97. THE NIGHT OF GLORY This Meccan sura celebrates the night when the first revelation of the Quran was sent down. In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy 1 We sent it down on the Night of Glory. 2 What will explain to you what that Night of Glory is? 3 The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months; 4 on that night the angels and the Spirit a descend again and again with their Lord’s permission on every task; 5 [there is] peace that night until the break of dawn. a The Angel Gabriel.
- Page 404 and 405: 65. DIVORCE A Medinan sura that out
- Page 406 and 407: 66. PROHIBITION A Medinan sura that
- Page 408 and 409: 67. CONTROL a A Meccan sura that ch
- Page 410 and 411: 68. THE PEN An early Meccan sura th
- Page 412 and 413: 386 The Quran 68: 51 made him one o
- Page 414 and 415: 388 The Quran 69: 26 given any Reco
- Page 416 and 417: 390 The Quran 70: 36 36 What is wro
- Page 418 and 419: 392 The Quran 71: 25 many astray. L
- Page 420 and 421: 394 The Quran 72: 17 abundant water
- Page 422 and 423: 396 The Quran 73: 20 measure of it
- Page 424 and 425: 398 The Quran 74: 32 Hellfire - and
- Page 426 and 427: 400 The Quran 75: 32 32 but denied
- Page 428 and 429: 402 The Quran 76: 22 22 [It will be
- Page 430 and 431: 404 The Quran 77: 37 will be given
- Page 432 and 433: 406 The Quran 78: 39 when the Spiri
- Page 434 and 435: 408 The Quran 79: 35 great overwhel
- Page 436 and 437: 410 The Quran 80: 37 37 each of the
- Page 438 and 439: (412) 82. TORN APART A Meccan sura
- Page 440 and 441: 414 The Quran passed by them, 31 jo
- Page 442 and 443: (416) 85. THE TOWERING CONSTELLATIO
- Page 444 and 445: (418) 87. THE MOST HIGH A Meccan su
- Page 446 and 447: (420) 89. DAYBREAK A Meccan sura in
- Page 448 and 449: (422) 90. THE CITY Revealed in Mecc
- Page 450 and 451: (424) 92. THE NIGHT A Meccan sura s
- Page 452 and 453: (426) 94. RELIEF This Meccan sura,
- Page 456 and 457: (430) 98. CLEAR EVIDENCE A Medinan
- Page 458 and 459: (432) 100. THE CHARGING STEEDS An e
- Page 460 and 461: (434) 102. STRIVING FOR MORE A Mecc
- Page 462 and 463: (436) 104. THE BACKBITER A Meccan s
- Page 464 and 465: (438) 106. QURAYSH This Meccan sura
- Page 466 and 467: (440) 108. ABUNDANCE When the Proph
- Page 468 and 469: (442) 110. HELP A Medinan sura said
- Page 470 and 471: (444) 112. PURITY [OF FAITH] This s
- Page 472 and 473: (446) 114. PEOPLE Another Meccan su
- Page 474 and 475: 448 almsgiving (cont.): 24; as mark
- Page 476 and 477: 450 creation (cont.): basis in God
- Page 478 and 479: 452 doubters, see disbelievers draw
- Page 480 and 481: 454 Hud (prophet) (cont.): encourag
- Page 482 and 483: 456 man: birth and resurrection (co
- Page 484 and 485: 458 Muhammad (cont.): their reward
- Page 486 and 487: 460 polytheism (cont.): 249, 250, 2
- Page 488 and 489: 462 sand dunes, place of destructio
- Page 490: 464 war and warfare: (cont.): kinsh
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97. THE NIGHT OF GLORY<br />
This Meccan sura celebrates the night when the first revelation of the Quran<br />
was sent down.<br />
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy<br />
1 We sent it down on the Night of Glory. 2 What will explain to you<br />
what that Night of Glory is? 3 <strong>The</strong> Night of Glory is better than a<br />
thousand months; 4 on that night the angels and the Spirit a descend<br />
again and again with their Lord’s permission on every task; 5 [there<br />
is] peace that night until the break of dawn.<br />
a <strong>The</strong> Angel Gabriel.
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