بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

 

  اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ. خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ. اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ. الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ.

 عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

“Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created – Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful, He Who taught (the use of) the pen, Taught man that which he knew not.” (96:1-5)

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Revelation of the Holy Qur’an to the Holy Prophet ﷺ commenced with these five verses. The Holy Prophet ﷺ used to seclude himself in the cave of Hira’ for worship, even prior to his appointment as a Prophet. Once when he was in the cave, Jibra’il (a.s) appeared to him for the first time, and after pressing his chest, said to him, ‘Read!’ Since the Prophet ﷺ was unlettered, he replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’ Jibra’il repeated the request thrice, then conveyed these five verses.  

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These very first verses teaches us of commencing with the name of the Almighty to gain full barakah (blessings), hence recitation of Qur’an begins with the name of Allah, the beneficent, the most Merciful. Likewise other actions of worship and general activities should commence with the name of Allah Ta’ala. These verses also teaches us of humility from the reaction of the Holy Prophet ﷺ to Jibra’il’s request. If one is ignorant of something he should accept his ignorance and say ‘I do not know’. Now these verses were revealed to Muahmmad ﷺ who was unlettered or illiterate, one who was not able to read or write. Allah Ta’ala says: 

  هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ

“It is He who sent among the unlettered a messenger from themselves; reciting His revelations to them, and purifying them, and teaching them the Scripture and wisdom; although they were in obvious error before that.” (62:2)

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One of the reasons why Allah Ta’ala chose a unlettered one so he cannot be accused of having read it somewhere or he has transcribed it himself. They accused him of this nevertheless.

وَقَالُوا أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ اكْتَتَبَهَا فَهِيَ تُمْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلً

And they say, “Tales of the ancients; he (messenger) has wrote them down; they are dictated to him morning and evening.” (25:5)

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They clearly had no grounds to accuse him of this since he, the Messenger ﷺ was unlettered. He indeed was unlettered but he was very wise and highly educated in the field of character and integrity. Sometimes the one unable to read or write can cause greater benefit in comparison to the ones who are literate. The Holy Prophet ﷺ was indeed the most influential and produced the greatest benefit to Mankind. Indeed he was sent as a mercy to Mankind.

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BY: MAULANA SYED SALAHUDDIN ABU SULAYMAN