Surah al-Alaq (The Clinging Clot) is Meccan. (1)

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

“Read in the name of your Lord Who created—created man from a clinging clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.”

Concerning “Read in the name of your Lord Who created,” most exegetes maintain that this surah was the first surah of the Quran to be revealed, and that the first revelation consisted of its opening five verses, up to His words: “what he did not know.”

Abd al-Wahid al-Mulayhi informed us; Ahmad ibn Abd Allah al-Nuaymi informed us; Muhammad ibn Yusuf informed us; Muhammad ibn Ismail narrated to us; Yahya ibn Bukayr narrated to us; al-Layth narrated to us from Uqayl, from Ibn Shihab, from Urwah ibn al-Zubayr, from Aishah, the Mother of the Believers, who said:

The first form of revelation with which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was initiated was true dreams in sleep. Whenever he saw a dream, it came as clearly as the break of dawn. Then solitude was made beloved to him, and he would withdraw to the Cave of Hira, worshipping there—for a number of nights—before returning to his family. He would take provisions for this retreat, then return to Khadijah and take provisions for another stay, until the Truth came to him while he was in the Cave of Hira.

The Angel came to him and said, “Read.” He replied, “I am not one who reads.” He said: He seized me and pressed me until I was exhausted, then released me and said, “Read.” I said, “I am not one who reads.” [He said: He seized me] (2) and pressed me a second time until I was exhausted. Then he released me and said, “Read.” I said, “I am not one who reads.” So he seized me and pressed me a third time [until I was exhausted] (3), then released me and said: “Read in the name of your Lord Who created—created man from a clinging clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.”

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, returned with these verses, his heart trembling. He entered upon Khadijah bint Khuwaylid and said, “Cover me! Cover me!” So they covered him until his fear had subsided. Then he said to Khadijah, “What is the matter with me?” He told her what had happened and said, “I feared for myself.” Khadijah replied, “No, by Allah! Allah will never disgrace you. You maintain ties of kinship, support the helpless, provide for the destitute, honor the guest, and help those afflicted by calamities.”