Introduction
Verses 1-5 of this Surah were the first direct Revelation to the Holy Prophet. The circumstances, material and physical, in which they came, are described so beautifully by Brother Abdullah Yusuf Ali, in his English translation of the Holy Qur'an, "The Holy Qur'an : Text, Translation and Commentary," through his running Commentary in rhythmic prose.
Commentary
There is a cave in the side of Mount Hira
Some three miles north of the city of Makkah,
In a valley which turns left from the road to Arafat.
To which Muhammad used to retire for peaceful contemplation:
Often alone, but sometimes with his wife Khadijah.
Day and Nights he spent there with his Lord.
Hard were the problems he revolved in his mind-
Harder and more cross-grained than the red granite
Of the rock around him - problems not his own,
But his people's, yea, and of human destiny,
Of the Mercy of Allah, and the age-long conflict
Of evil and righteousness, sin and abounding Grace.
........Abdullah Yusuf Ali [C.27]
Not till forty years of earthly life had passed
That the veil was lifted from the Preserved Tablet
And its contents began to be transferred to the tablet of his mind,
To be proclaimed to the world, and read and studied
For all time - a fountain of mercy and wisdom,
A warning to the heedless, a guide to the erring,
An assurance to those in doubt, a solace to the suffering,
A hope to those in despair - to complete the chain
Of Revelation through the mouths
Of Divinely inspired Prophets.
........Abdullah Yusuf Ali [C.28]
The Chosen One (Prophet Muhammad) was in the Cave of Hira.
For two years and more he had prayed there and adored
His Creator and wondered at the mystery
Of man with his corruptible flesh, just growing
Out of clot, and the soul in him
Reaching out to knowledge sublime, new
And ever new, taught by the bounty
Of Allah, and leading to that which man himself
Knoweth not. And now, behold! a dazzling
Vision of beauty and light overpowered his senses,
And he heard the word "Iqra!".
........Abdullah Yusuf Ali [C.29]
"Iqra!" which being interpreted may mean
"Read!" or "Proclaim!" or "Recite!"
The unlettered Prophet was puzzled;
He could not read. The Angel seemed
To press him to his breast in a close embrace,
And the cry rang clear "Iqra!"
And so it happened three times; until
The first overpowering sensation yielded
To a collected grasp of the words which made clear
His Mission; its Author, Allah, the Creator,
Its subject, Man, Allah's wondrous handiwork,
Capable, by Grace, of rising to heights sublime;
And the instrument of that mission, the sanctified Pen,
And the sanctified Book, the Gift of Allah,
Which men might read, or write, or study, or treasure in their souls.
........Abdullah Yusuf Ali [C.30]
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
1. "Proclaim! (or Read!)
2. Created man, out of
A (mere) clot
Of congealed blood:
3. Proclaim! And thy Lord
Is Most Bountiful-
4. He Who taught
(The use of) the Pen-
5. Taught man that
Which he knew not."
....Qur'an [Surah 96 Verses 1-5]
After that there was an interval or break (Fatrah), extending over some months or perhaps over a year. Surah Al-Qalam...click is usually considered to have been the next Revelation in point of time.
But the remainder of this Surah (Surah 96 : Al-Alaq) came soon after the Fatrah, and that portion is joined on to the first five verses containing the command to preach, because it explains the chief obstacle to the delivery of the message to man, viz.: man's own obstinacy, vanity and insolence.
Noble is the mission of the Prophet, selected
To proclaim the Message of Allah, the Lord
And Cherisher of all His Creation, Whose measureless
Bounties include the instruction of man
In new and ever new knowledge, But alas
For man! he fancies himself self-sufficient,
Turns away from the Path, and misleads others.
But nothing is hidden from Allah. He will bring
All untruth and sin and rebellion to Judgement,
And subdue all evil. The righteous bow
In adoration to Allah, and draw closer to Him.
........Abdullah Yusuf Ali [C.276]
6. Nay, but man doth
7. In that he looketh
Upon himself as self-sufficient.
8. Verily, to thy Lord
Is the return (of all).
9. Seest thou one
Who forbids-
10. A votary when he
(Turns) to pray?
11. Seest thou if
He is on (the road
Of) Guidance?-
12. Or enjoins Righteousness?
13. Seest thou if he
Denies (Truth) and turns away?
14. Knoweth he not
That Allah doth see?
15. Let him beware! If he
Desist not, We will
Drag him by the forelock-
16. A lying, sinful forelock!
17. Then, let him call
(Fo help) to his council
(Of comrades):
18. We will call
On the angels of punishment
(To deal with him)!
19. Nay, heed him not:
But bow down in adoration,
And bring thyself
The closer (to Allah)!"
....Qur'an [Surah 96 Verses 6-19]
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