6.2: Foretells the story of
the chapter of "Al-Alak"
"And the vision of all is become unto you as the words
of a book that is sealed, which [men] deliver to one
that is learned, saying, Read this, [I pray thee]:
and he saith, I cannot; for it [is] sealed: And the
book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read
this, [I pray thee]: and he saith, I am not learned.
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near
[me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honor
me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear
toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore,
behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this
people, [even] a marvelous work and a wonder: for
the wisdom of their wise [men] shall perish, and the
understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto
them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and
their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and
who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down
shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work
say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing
framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
[Is] it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon
shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful
field shall be esteemed as a forest? And in that day shall
the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the
blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of
darkness."
Isaiah 29:11-18
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was illiterate. His entire life
he never learned to read nor write. The exact circumstances
of this first revelation were as follows: It was the habit
of Muhammad (pbuh) to frequently remove himself from the
midst of his fellow Arabs and their heathenistic actions and
spend many days secluded in the cave of "Hiraa" in the
mountains of Makkah where he would pray to God
according to the religion of Abraham (pbuh).
After many years of this, and having reached the age of
forty (610AD), the angel Gabriel suddenly
appeared before him and ordered him to "Iqra!" (read,
recite, repeat, proclaim). Muhammad (pbuh), in his terror
thought he was being asked to read, so he stammered: "I
am unlettered." The angel Gabriel again ordered him to
"Iqra!" Muhammad (pbuh) again replied: "I am
unlettered." The angel Gabriel now took a firm hold of
him and commanded him "Iqraa in the name of Allah who
created!". Now Muhammad (pbuh) began to understand that
he was not being asked to read, but to recite, to repeat. He
began to repeat after him, and Gabriel revealed to him the
first verses of the Qur'an, those at the beginning of the
chapter of Al-Alak(96):
"Read(Iqraa): In the name of your Lord who created,
Created man from a clot. Read(Iqraa): And your Lord is the
Most Bounteous, Who teaches by the pen, Teaches man that
which he knew not."
The noble Qur'an, Al-Alak(96):1-5
As mentioned above, the actual word angel Gabriel used to
address Muhammad (pbuh) was the Arabic word "Iqra." It is
derived from the Arabic root word "qara". However, if we
were to go back to the original Hebrew form of the verses of
Isaiah 29:11, we would find that the actual word which is
translated into English as "Read this [I pray
thee]" is the Hebrew word qara', {kaw-raw'}. Is it
not an amazing coincidence that the Hebrew text used not
only a word with the same meaning, but the exact same
word itself?
Verse 11 of Isaiah tells us that the final book (the
Qur'an) was revealed to previous prophets, however, they
could not read it. It was "sealed" for them because it was
meant for the last prophet, and until the last prophet's
time came, the people would not yet be able to "bear" this
message (John 16:13). It was also sealed for them because it
was revealed in Arabic.
"A Book whereof the verses are explained in detail; a
Qur'an in Arabic for people who have knowledge"
The noble Qur'an, Fussilat(41):3
"Had We made this as a Qur'an (in a language) other
than Arabic, they would have said: 'Why are not its verses
explained in detail? What! An Arab and non Arabic?' Say: 'It
is a Guide and a Healing for those who believe; and for
those who disbelieve, there is a heaviness (deafness) in
their ears, and it is a blindness upon them: They are as
those who are called from a place far distant (so they
neither hear nor understand)'"
The noble Qur'an, Fussilat(41):44
For more details on why the Arabic language was selected
as the language of the Qur'an, please read chapter 13.
Indeed, the Qur'an was revealed to a man who could
neither read nor write so that it might be apparent to
mankind that he could not have received it from the writings
of man, but only from God Almighty.
"Neither did you (O Muhammad) read any book before it,
nor did you write any book with your right [hand].
In that case, indeed, the followers of falsehood might have
doubted Nay, it is but clear signs in the breasts of those
endowed with knowledge: and none but the unjust reject Our
signs."
The noble Qur'an, Al-Ankaboot(29):48-49.
As we see in the above verses of Isaiah, by the time
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) received this book from God, mankind
will have been reduced to worshipping God in words alone,
while their hearts shall be far removed from true belief.
They will have forsaken the true belief in God in favor of
"the precept of men" (the laws of men). We have
already seen the confirmation of this in chapter one where
we learned how "St. Paul" managed to totally replace the
message of Jesus (pbuh) with his own message, and how the
later followers of Paul believed that they were justified in
using force to get the first Christians to accept their
gospels. We also saw how they burned Gospels that were
accepted as authentic in the first centuries CE, and killed
all Christians who did not "convert." Finally, we also saw
how St. Paul managed to reduce the message of Jesus (pbuh)
to mere "words" of "faith" with no concrete actions or
commandments required of them (i.e. Romans 3:28).
Verse 14 now goes on to explain how when mankind accepts
this situation, then the wisdom of the wise men shall perish
and all that shall be left is mankind's corruption. Once
again, we have seen this in chapter one, where we learned
the historical details of how the followers of Jesus (pbuh)
and the apostles were murdered and their books
destroyed.
This is indeed the same situation described by Muhammad
(pbuh) in one of his sayings. In Sahih Al-Bukhari we read
that Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Al-'As said:
"I heard Allah's Apostle (pbuh) saying, 'Allah does
not take away the knowledge, by taking it away from (the
hearts of) the people, but takes it away by the death of the
religious learned men till when none of them remain, people
will take as their leaders ignorant persons who when
consulted will give their verdict without knowledge. So they
will go astray and will lead the people astray.'"
In verse 15, we are told that there will remain among
those corrupt individuals those who shall know the truth but
shall strive to hide it from becoming known. Once again, we
have seen this in chapters, one, and two. For more, see
chapter 7. Once again, when the Qur'an was revealed, it
confirmed this situation, we read:
"Those unto whom We gave the Scripture recognize (this
prophet) as they recognize their sons. But lo! a party of
them conceal the truth which they themselves know."
The noble Qur'an, Al-Baqara(2):14
"And whether you hide your word or publish it, He
certainly has (full) knowledge, of the secrets of (all)
hearts."
The noble Qur'an, Al-Mulk(67):13
Verses 16 goes on to tell us how this treachery,
concealment of the truth, and "overturning" of verses, laws,
and obligations shall be exposed, and the wicked shall be
held accountable for their deeds. Yet again, in the Qur'an
we read:
"That Day shall We set a seal on their mouths. But
their hands will speak to us, and their feet bear witness,
to all that they used to do"
The noble Qur'an, Ya-seen(36):65
"And (remember) the day that the enemies of Allah
shall be gathered to the Fire so that they will (all) be
collected there. Till, when they reach it, their hearing and
their eyes and their skins will testify against them as to
what they used to do. And they will say to their skins 'Why
did you testify against us?' They will say: 'Allah has
caused us to speak, [for He is] the One who caused
all things [which He willed] to speak, and He
created you the first time, and unto Him you are returned".
The noble Qur'an, Fussilat(41):19-21.
"O People of the Scripture! Now has Our messenger come
unto you, revealing to you much of that which you used to
hide in the Scripture, and forgiving much. Now has come unto
you light from Allah and plain Scripture,"
The noble Qur'an, Al-Maidah(5):15
"They did not estimate Allah with an estimation due to
Him when they said: "Nothing did God send down to man
[by way of revelation]" Say: "Who then sent down the
Book which moses brought?- a light and guidance to man: But
you make it into [separate] sheets for show, while
you conceal much [of its contents]: and [by
which] you were taught that which you knew not
yourselves nor [did] your fathers [know
it]?." Say: 'Allah [sent it down]': Then leave
them to plunge in vain discourse and trifling."
The noble Qur'an, Al-An'am(6):91
Finally, we read in Isaiah 18 that when this final
message is revealed to this "unlettered" prophet, those who
have been lost in darkness and ignorance through the work of
the corrupt shall be brought out of their ignorance and
their darkness and shall be returned to the true message of
God.
"Wherewith God guides all those who seek His good
pleasure unto paths of peace. He brings them out of darkness
unto light by His decree and guides them unto a straight
path."
The noble Qur'an, Al-Maidah(5):16
"And that those who have been given knowledge may know
that it is the truth from thy Lord, so that they may believe
therein and their hearts may submit humbly unto Him. Lo!
Allah verily is guiding those who believe unto a right
path."
The noble Qur'an, Al-Hajj (22):54
As we saw at the very beginning of this chapter, this
very prophesy was mentioned quite clearly in the Qur'an:
"Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered
Prophet whom they find written in the Torah and the Gospel
with them. He enjoins upon them that which is right and
forbids for them that which is evil. He makes lawful for
them all things that are good and prohibits for them all
that is foul and he relieves them from their burden and the
fetters that they used to wear. Then those who believe in
him, honor him, assist him, and follow the light which is
sent down with him: they are the successful"
The Qur'an, Al-A'araf(7):157.
The complete story is narrated by Aisha (pbuh) in Sahih
Al-Bukhari:
"The commencement of the Divine Inspiration of Allah's
Apostle was in the form of good dreams which came true like
bright daylight, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed
upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira
where he used to worship (Allah alone) continually for many
days before wishing to see his family. He used to take with
him provisions for the stay and then come back to (his wife)
Khadeejah to eat his food again as before.
One day suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he
was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him
to read. The Prophet (pbuh) replied, "I do not know how to
read." The Prophet (pbuh) added, "The angel caught me
(forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it
any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and
I replied, "I do not know how to read." Thereupon he caught
me again and pressed me a second time until I could not bear
it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read
but again I replied, "I do not know how to read (or what
shall I read)?" Thereupon he caught me for the third time
and pressed me, and then released me and said, "Read in the
name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists),
created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most
Generous.'"(96):1-3.
Then Allah's Apostle (pbuh) returned with the
Inspiration and with his heart trembling. He went to
Khadeejah the daughter of Khuwaylid (his wife) and said,
"Cover me!" She covered him until his fear subsided. After
that he told her everything that had happened and said, "I
fear that something may happen to me." Khadeejah replied,
"Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep
good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor and the
destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the
deserving people afflicted with calamities."
Khadeejah then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqah
ibn Nawfal ibn Asad ibn AbdulUzza, who, during the
pre-Islamic period became a Christian and used to write in
the Hebrew alphabet. He would write from the Gospel in
Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old
man and had lost his eyesight.
Khadeejah said to Waraqah, "Listen to the story of
your nephew, O my cousin!" Waraqah asked, "O my nephew! What
have you seen?" Allah's Apostle described that which he had
seen. Waraqah said, "This is the one who keeps the secrets
(angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were
young and could live until the time when your people will
turn you out." Allah's Apostle asked, "Will they drive me
out?" Waraqah replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone
(man) who came with something similar to that which you have
brought was greeted with hostility; and if I remain alive
until the day when you will be turned out then I should
support you strongly."
But after a few days Waraqah died (see Section
6.4 and Chapter 10 for the
confirmation of this prophesy of Muhammad, pbuh, being
'driven out')
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