What was the first word of the Quran revealed?

The first word revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was 'Iqra' (اقْرَأْ), meaning 'Read!' or 'Recite!'. According to the authentic hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, this command was delivered by the Angel Gabriel in the cave of Hira, marking the beginning of the Quranic revelation.

Why is 'Iqra' (Read) the first command in Islam?

Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi explain that making 'Iqra' the first command establishes the pursuit of knowledge ('ilm) as the foundation of faith and practice in Islam. It signifies that understanding Allah's creation and revelation is the primary path to knowing Him, placing literacy and learning as sacred acts of worship.

What is the significance of the Pen in Surah Al-Alaq?

According to Tafsir Ibn Kathir, the mention of the Pen ('al-Qalam') in Surah Al-Alaq (96:4) highlights the divine means of preserving and transmitting knowledge. It symbolizes Allah's generosity in teaching humanity what they did not know and honors writing as a sacred tool for education and the preservation of revelation.

Literacy in Islam: The Divine Command 'Iqra' (Read) & The Pursuit of Knowledge

Literacy

القراءة

Explore Verses Related to Literacy

🕋Al-'Alaq96:1 🕋Al-'Alaq96:2 🕋Al-'Alaq96:3 🕋Al-'Alaq96:4 🕋Al-'Alaq96:5

At a Glance

According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the divine command 'Iqra' (اقْرَأْ), meaning 'Read!' or 'Recite!', is the foundational principle of Islam, representing the very first word of the Quran revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The authentic hadith of this event, narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari, marks the beginning of his prophethood. Classical commentators like Ibn Kathir explain that this command, delivered to an unlettered prophet, was a profound miracle signifying that the source of his knowledge was purely divine. The thematic synthesis of the first five verses of Surah Al-Alaq establishes a complete educational philosophy: knowledge begins with reading in the name of the Creator (96:1-2), is a gift from the Most Generous (96:3), is preserved and transmitted by the Pen (96:4), and ultimately originates from Allah Who taught humanity what it did not know (96:5). Al-Tabari's linguistic analysis of the root ق-ر-أ confirms its meaning encompasses reading, reciting, and proclaiming, making literacy and the pursuit of knowledge ('ilm) a sacred act of worship and the cornerstone of Islamic civilization.

📖 Quranic Context

The foundational command of Islam, marking the beginning of the Quranic revelation and the Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ.

Establishes the primary act of engaging with divine revelation and links the pursuit of knowledge directly to worship and acknowledgement of Allah as the Creator and Teacher.

References: Surah Al-Alaq (96:1, 96:3)

💭 Theological Perspective

📜 Hadith Perspective

The detailed accounts of the first revelation in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, narrated by Aisha (RA), form the basis of understanding this event.

The story of Angel Jibril's appearance in the cave of Hira.
The Prophet's ﷺ response, 'I am not a reader.'
The role of Khadijah (RA) and Waraqah ibn Nawfal in confirming the prophethood.

Universal agreement among all Islamic scholars that these verses were the first part of the Quran to be revealed.

💎 Deeper Insights

The command is not just 'Read', but 'Read in the name of your Lord'. This crucial addition transforms literacy from a secular skill into an act of worship. It establishes an 'epistemological framework' for all Muslim intellectual activity: all knowledge must be contextualized within the acknowledgment of the Divine, preventing the arrogance that can come with knowledge (as mentioned later in the same surah).

— Al-Qurtubi, Sayyid Qutb

A profound link exists between the name of the Surah, 'Al-Alaq' (The Clinging Substance/Clot), and the command 'Iqra'. The surah begins by humbling humanity, reminding us of our lowly biological origin ('alaq), and immediately follows by elevating humanity through the divine gift of knowledge (via 'Iqra' and the 'pen'). This creates a powerful juxtaposition: our physical beginning is humble, but our spiritual and intellectual potential is boundless through divinely-guided literacy.

— Ibn Kathir, Modern scientific commentators