خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ 2
Translations
Created man from a clinging substance.
Transliteration
Khalaqa al-insana min 'alaq
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares that Allah created man from 'alaq, which means a clot of blood or a clinging thing. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as referring to the embryonic stage of human development, where the fetus clings to the uterine wall. This ayah emphasizes humanity's humble origins and complete dependence on the Creator, contrasting with human arrogance and forgetfulness of their weakness and need for Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-'Alaq, the first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It appears in the second ayah of this surah, which marks the beginning of the Quranic revelation and establishes the fundamental relationship between Creator and creation, emphasizing that knowledge and creation are divine attributes.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of Jibril teaching the Prophet about the stages of human development in the womb is thematically related: 'The angel comes to the womb after 120 days and says, "O Lord, male or female?"' (Sahih Bukhari 3208). Additionally, the hadith about the first revelation emphasizes the significance of this surah: 'The first thing revealed to the Prophet was the beginning of Surah Al-'Alaq' (Sahih Bukhari 3).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us of our humble physical origins and our complete dependence on Allah's will, serving as a cure for arrogance and a motivation for gratitude. It also encourages contemplation of our creation as a sign of Allah's wisdom and power, fostering awareness of our purpose beyond mere physical existence.