Makkah LiveSurah Al-‘Alaq (The Clinging Clot) — Full Text in Clear Arabic Script
19 ayahs · Meccan· Hafs ‘an ‘Asim · reading time ~2 minutes · the nineteenth surah of Juz ‘Amma
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By Saad Al-Ghamdi
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
About Surah Al-‘Alaq
Surah Al-‘Alaq is the 96th surah in the order of the mushaf, and one of the Meccan surahs — revealed to the Prophet ﷺ before the migration to Madinah. It contains 19 ayahs, and it is the nineteenth surah of Juz ‘Amma, the final part of the Quran that most Muslims begin their memorisation with.
The surah opens with the very first words of the Quran to be revealed: «iqra’ bismi rabbikal-ladhi khalaq» — “Read in the name of your Lord who created.” Allah commands His Prophet ﷺ to read, and teaches that He is the One who created man from a clinging clot («‘alaq») and who taught mankind by the pen what it did not know. The surah then turns to the arrogance of man who transgresses when he feels himself self-sufficient, and to one who forbids a servant from praying, before closing with the command to prostrate — the verse of sajdah at ayah 19.
The text shown on this page is the narration of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim, the reading used in most of the Muslim world, in the Uthmani script that follows the Madinah mushaf. The audio recitation is by Sheikh Saad Al-Ghamdi.
Virtues and place of Surah Al-‘Alaq
1. The honour of the first revelation
Surah Al-‘Alaq holds a place unmatched among the surahs of the Quran: its opening five ayahs are the first revelation, brought down by the angel Jibril to the Prophet ﷺ in the cave of Hira. Aisha related that the angel came to him and said, “Read!”; he replied, “I am not a reader”; the angel pressed him and repeated the command until he revealed «iqra’ bismi rabbikal-ladhi khalaq» — the opening of this surah, and the first words of the Quran ever revealed. This narration is recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
2. A verse of sajdah
The surah closes with a verse of prostration (sajdah of recitation) at its final ayah. Abu Hurairah reported that he prostrated during the recitation of «idha as-sama’u inshaqqat» and «iqra’ bismi rabbik», and said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prostrated in them — a narration recorded in Sahih Muslim. It is sunnah, therefore, to perform sujud at-tilawah on reaching ayah 19.
3. From the dignity of knowledge to the humility of prostration
The surah traces a remarkable arc: it opens with the dignity of knowledge — the command to read, in the name of the Lord who teaches by the pen what man did not know — and closes with the humility of prostration, «wasjud waqtarib», “prostrate and draw near.” Between the two lies a warning against the arrogance of the one who transgresses when he feels himself self-sufficient.
Themes of the Surah
1. The First Revelation — Read! (ayahs 1–5)
The surah opens with the command that would change history: “Read in the name of your Lord who created — created man from a clinging clot. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous — who taught by the pen — taught man that which he knew not.” These are the first verses of the Quran ever revealed, brought by Jibril to the Prophet ﷺ in the cave of Hira.
Read from ayah 1 →2. Man Transgresses (ayahs 6–14)
No — but man transgresses because he sees himself self-sufficient, yet to his Lord is the return. The surah then asks: have you seen the one who forbids a servant when he prays? Have you seen if he is upon guidance or enjoins righteousness? And have you seen if the forbidder denies and turns away — does he not know that Allah sees?
Read from ayah 6 →3. The Forelock, and the Command to Prostrate (ayahs 15–19)
No! If he does not desist, he will be seized by the forelock — a lying, sinning forelock. Let him call his associates: Allah will call the angels of Hell, az-zabaniyah. No — do not obey him, but prostrate and draw near. The surah closes with this command, at the verse of sajdah, ayah 19.
Read from ayah 15 →Tips for reading and memorising
- At 19 ayahs it is short, and can often be memorised in a sitting or two.
- Begin with the first five ayahs — the first revelation — and let their meaning settle before moving on.
- Listen to the recitation above by Sheikh Saad Al-Ghamdi and repeat after him.
- Remember to perform sujud at-tilawah when you reach the sajdah at ayah 19, whether reading alone or in prayer.
- Use the “font size” buttons at the top of the page for a comfortable read.
- You can print the surah from your browser (Ctrl+P) for a clean paper copy.
Frequently asked questions
How many ayahs are in Surah Al-‘Alaq?
Surah Al-‘Alaq has 19 ayahs. It is the 96th surah in the order of the mushaf, a Meccan surah, and the nineteenth surah of Juz ‘Amma.
Why is it called Surah Al-‘Alaq?
It is called Surah Al-‘Alaq (“The Clinging Clot”) after the word «‘alaq» in its second ayah, where Allah says that He created man from a clinging clot.
Which verses of the Quran were revealed first?
The opening five ayahs of Surah Al-‘Alaq are the first revelation of the Quran. Aisha related that the angel Jibril came to the Prophet ﷺ in the cave of Hira and said “Read!”; he replied “I am not a reader”; the angel pressed him and repeated the command until he revealed «iqra’ bismi rabbikal-ladhi khalaq» — recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
What is Surah Al-‘Alaq about?
It opens with the command to read in the name of the Lord who created man from a clinging clot and taught him by the pen (ayahs 1–5). It then warns against the transgression of one who feels self-sufficient and forbids a servant from praying (ayahs 6–14), before closing with a warning to the forelock of the wrongdoer and the command to prostrate (ayahs 15–19).
Where is the sajdah in Surah Al-‘Alaq, and what should I do when I reach it?
The verse of prostration (sajdah of recitation) is at ayah 19, the final verse. Abu Hurairah reported that he prostrated during the recitation of «idha as-sama’u inshaqqat» and «iqra’ bismi rabbik», and said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prostrated in them — recorded in Sahih Muslim. It is sunnah to perform sujud at-tilawah on reaching this ayah.
Who was the person who forbade the Prophet ﷺ from praying?
The commentators relate that ayahs 9–19 were revealed concerning Abu Jahl, who threatened to trample the Prophet ﷺ if he saw him praying at the Ka‘bah.
What are az-zabaniyah, mentioned in ayah 18?
The commentators explain that az-zabaniyah are the angels of Hell, whom Allah will call to seize the wrongdoer who persists in his transgression.
How long does it take to read the full surah?
A complete recitation of Surah Al-‘Alaq takes about 2 minutes at a moderate pace.
Which recitation is the text on this page based on?
The text shown on this page is the narration of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim — the most widely used reading in the Muslim world — written in the Uthmani script that follows the Madinah mushaf. The audio recitation on this page is by Sheikh Saad Al-Ghamdi.
More surahs to read
- Surah Al-Fatihah — full text — Mother of the Book — recited in every rakah of every prayer
- Surah Al-Kahf — full text — recommended to read on Fridays
- Surah As-Sajdah — full text — recited in the Fajr prayer on Fridays and every night before sleep
- Surah Yasin — full text — the Heart of the Quran
- Surah Ar-Rahman — full text — the Bride of the Quran
- Surah Al-Waqi‘ah — full text — the terrors of the Day of Judgment and the three groups of people
- Surah Al-Mulk — full text — recommended every night before sleep
- Surah Al-Insan — full text — recited with As-Sajdah in the Fajr prayer on Fridays
- Surah An-Naba — full text — the first surah of Juz ‘Amma — a powerful proof of the Resurrection
- Surah An-Nazi‘at — full text — the angels who pull out souls, the story of Musa and Pharaoh, and the Great Calamity
- Surah ‘Abasa — full text — the blind man who came seeking, and the Day a man flees from his own brother
- Surah At-Takwir — full text — “when the sun is wrapped up” — as if witnessing the Day of Resurrection
- Surah Al-Infitar — full text — “O man, what has deceived you concerning your Generous Lord?”
- Surah Al-Mutaffifin — full text — woe to those who give short measure — honesty as a matter of faith
- Surah Al-Inshiqaq — full text — contains a verse of prostration — “you will surely ride stage upon stage”
- Surah Al-Buruj — full text — the People of the Ditch — steadfastness of the believers tested by fire
- Surah At-Tariq — full text — the piercing star — every soul has a keeper over it
- Surah Al-A‘la — full text — recited in the Eid and Friday prayers — “glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High”
- Surah Al-Ghashiyah — full text — recited with Al-A‘la in the Eid and Friday prayers — the two kinds of faces on the Last Day
- Surah Al-Fajr — full text — “O reassured soul, return to your Lord well-pleased”
- Surah Al-Balad — full text — the steep path — freeing the enslaved and feeding the hungry
- Surah Ash-Shams — full text — “he has succeeded who purifies the soul”
- Surah Al-Layl — full text — your striving is diverse — the path of ease and the path of hardship
- Surah Ad-Duha — full text — consolation after the pause in revelation — “your Lord has not forsaken you”
- Surah Ash-Sharh — full text — “indeed, with hardship comes ease” — the companion of Ad-Duha
- Surah At-Tin — full text — man created in the best of stature — “is not Allah the most just of judges?”
- Surah Al-Qadr — full text — Laylat al-Qadr — the Night of Decree, better than a thousand months
- Surah Al-Bayyinah — full text — the clear evidence — the best of creation and their reward
- Surah Az-Zalzalah — full text — “whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it”
- Surah Al-‘Adiyat — full text — the charging steeds — man’s ingratitude and the overturning of the graves
- Surah Al-Qari‘ah — full text — the Striking Calamity — the day the scales are set
- Surah At-Takathur — full text — rivalry in worldly increase — “until you visit the graves”
- Surah Al-‘Asr — full text — by time, man is in loss — the surah ash-Shafi‘i said would suffice the people
Selected verses
- Ayat al-Kursi — the greatest verse of the Holy Quran
- Khawatim Surah Al-Baqarah — “whoever recites them at night, they will suffice him”
- Allah does not burden a soul — the closing verse of Surah Al-Baqarah
Listen and watch
- Saudi Quran Radio — listen to recitations of the Holy Quran
- Live broadcast of Masjid al-Haram