The Embryo (Al-Alaq)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created- 1 Created man from an embryo; 2 Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, 3 He Who taught (the use of) the pen,- 4 He taught the human being what he did not know. 5 Nay, verily, man becomes grossly overweening 6 Because he considers himself self-sufficient. 7 Verily unto thy Lord is the return. 8 HAST THOU ever considered him who tries to prevent 9 A slave when he prayeth? 10 Have you thought, if he had been on guidance 11 and enjoins piety? 12 What is your opinion – if he denies and turns away, how wretched will be his state! 13 Does he not know that Allah sees everything? 14 No indeed; if he does not desist, We shall drag him by the forelock; 15 By the lying, the sinful forelock. 16 and then let him summon [to his aid] the counsels of his own [spurious] wisdom, 17 We will now call the guards! 18 By no means! Obey not thou him. Continue to adore, and continue to draw nigh. ۩ 19
True are the words of Allah the Almighty.
End of Surah: The Embryo (Al-Alaq). Sent down in Mecca. First revelation of the Quran before
The Pen (Al-Qalam)