Note: This is the third post in our series of Tafseer of Juz ‘Amma.
From the opening ceremonies, to the first move of world leaders, people like to send a message. The intense revelation of the Qur’an is no different. The timing, style and content, sends a message to the final Prophet (saw) and to all of humanity.
Allah (swt) starts the revelation commanding the Prophet to read “Recite in the name of your Lord who created.” The big statement? It’s all about knowledge. Allah reveals that knowledge will be the way of those who submit to him. Knowledge brings honour to our scholars and courage to our leaders. Knowledge is an Islamic tradition. The carriers of this deen understood and embraced this critical message – they embodied it.
Allah has, for his servants, put this message in context and given it some perspective. Allah instructs that all this knowledge is not an abstract pursuit of man, rather, is unconditionally linked to Himself. Allah continues, “Created man from a clinging substance. Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous.”
Intricate words for an intricate message. Allah mentions creation and the creation of man – separately, to show us how special we are. For us to link our pursuit of knowledge to Him we need to know Him, so Allah introduces Himself with the name Al-Aqram – the Most Generous. Who is more generous than the one: “Who taught by the pen. Taught man that which he knew not.”
The pen is mentioned because writing is a way to preserve and share knowledge. Further driving home the main message. And, to top it off, Allah gives a small hint, mentioning a “clinging substance,” a detail of embryology only recently understood. Allah shares some knowledge elucidating that all knowledge is from Allah.
The message can be unwrapped layer by layer, exposing the grace and beauty of a simple and beneficial point, is all about knowledge. This message then necessitates the question: what have we done to make knowledge the cornerstone of our life?
Action Items:
- If knowledge both Islamic (and worldly), isn’t at the core of your life, shouldn’t it be? Make a plan to increase your knowledge intake, for verily, as Allah has shown us, this is the place to start.
- Comment and tell us your plan; share it, so we can all benefit, insha’Allah!
My study plan involves:
- Taking AlMaghrib classes until 2009
- Continuing studies of the Arabic language
- Listening to lectures daily during my 2-3 hour commute
I find that the third of those is alhamdulillah very beneficial for my long-term knowledge.
MashaAllah another great post, nice to read other author’s articles as well.
My plans are:
Memorizing at least 1 page per week
Listening to at least one lecture a day
Can’t think of anything else right now, but I’ll already be happy when I do these things inshaAllah.
Asalaamualaikum
Jazakallah Khair for that inspirational post.
I think that it is really important to be consistent with whatever we’re learning-I am trying to keep up with memorising Quran, although the hardest is in the reviewing! So, inshaAllah will continue with that.
There is a dua that we might like to memorise, asking for beneficial knowledge, ilmun nafia, which is really the knowledge we want, the type that produces khashya tullah…, the type we put into practice, even if it be something small….
Allahumma innee asaluka ilman nafia, wa rizqan tayibah, wa amalan mutaqabbila
Maybe someone can post the arabic text as i dont have on my comp.
Forgot to mention that the prophet saw used to make this dua after every fajr salah….surely we are in more need of it!
Greatly beneficial post, as always. I follow a lot of blogs, yours is my number 1. Enthusiastically look forward to reading all of them