Surah 96 is fundamentally, I think, about epistemology.  It is about knowledge, how we obtain it, and what it means for us.  The first word, the very title, has this connotation: “Read”, or “proclaim”.  In other words, share knowledge; announce information.  Humans are inherently philosophers and theologians (and poets), speculating freely about the nature of the world, ethics, and ourselves; this surah provides a boundary and an answer for this endless human inquiry.

God, we are told, “created man out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood”.  This should first of all summon us back to humility.  We aren’t “necessary beings” or made out of something as fierce and mystical and beautiful as smokeless flame.  Not only are we creatures, we’re fairly humbly made creatures.  But we’re further told that God taught man “(the use of) the Pen—Taught man that which he did not know”.  How could blood know anything?  Does a rock know anything, or does air?  Inanimate objects are incapable of knowledge, and the fact that even though we are made out of an inert substance and can still be capable of knowledge is a miracle, that is to say, a direct gift from God.  Furthermore, even if blood was capable of knowledge, what could it know?  Would you ask a scab where the planets came from?  In this “information age” where any self-important fool with an Internet connection feels entitled to opine freely on any subject, these words are like a lightning bolt in the black sky of human ignorance.

Oftentimes we think ideas are basically neutral.  “I think he’s wrong, but he’s still a good person” is a phrase frequently thrown around these days.  But we should remember that thought IS worship; everything belongs to God and should therefore be devoted to His glory and anything that isn’t is consecrated for idolatrous uses.  Man “transgresses all bounds, in that he looks upon himself as self-sufficient”.  To hold to an atheistic or humanistic philosophy is not just an intellectual error but is actually sinful, an arrogant blasphemy and a “transgression” of boundaries, just as a scab would be guilty of if it foolishly claimed to be the whole body (or the whole universe).  Someone who believes these things is not being guided by God, and since God is the source of all knowledge they are hopelessly mired in error: “Do you see one who forbids a votary when he turns to pray?  Do you see if he is on (the road of) guidance [is he being guided by God]?  Or enjoins righteousness?”  “Enjoins” is sometimes translated into English as “commands”, and this again displays the religious quality of knowledge.  Someone who teaches any philosophy besides that of Islam, any theory that does not direct man towards self-effacement before God, is issuing a command, not just sharing an idea, and to “obey him” (that is, to subscribe to these wrong ideas) is therefore to be guilty of false and misdirected worship.  Those of us who are involved in academia should heed these words carefully. And why worship a blood clot and not God? 

There is, in fact, a running contrast between this chapter between God and the unbeliever which brings out the disparity between the two sharply.  Man “looks upon himself as self-sufficient”; he “looks” or considers things to be a certain way.  But “doesn’t he know that God sees?”  God does not merely “look upon” things a certain way, He “sees”, clearly and comprehensively.  And when God and the unbeliever confront each other, the infidel will “call (for help) to his council (of comrades); We will call upon the angels of punishment (to deal with him).”  The unbeliever can only call for help because he is weak and fragile and needs others to sustain him (other frail blood-clots, mind you).  God calls for help, on the other hand, because He is sovereign; He is not calling for help in the form of rescue but help in the form of service from armies of angels, for even the cosmos itself obeys God’s voice.  It is sheer folly to obey the unbeliever rather than God; it is a transgression to hold to philosophies (or economic systems) that encourage self-reliance rather than dependence upon God.  Remember finally that “to your Lord is the return (of all)”; all things will eventually come back to their Maker (reminding us once again that we are not sufficient but contingent), and we can return to God one of two ways.  Either He “will drag (you) by the forelock—A lying, sinful forelock!”, or you can willingly “bow down in adoration, and bring yourself the closer (to God)!”

Postscript: As a Christian, I can’t help interpreting this passage in a way that Muhammad would have vehemently condemned.  This surah teaches that God originally created man from blood, but many have turned away.  I believe that, because men have turned away, God has re-created humanity—and once again, He has done it from blood.  Just as the first man’s wife came out of his side, so also the “second Adam”, Christ, had His bride taken from His side, when on the cross He was pierced and from His side came blood and water.  The sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper that these symbolize are what continually create the new humanity, known as the Christian Church.  As such, I won’t be able to help but think of this section of the Qur’an the next time I go up to the altar to bring the chalice to my lips.  “Proclaim! in the name of your Lord and Cherisher.”

I think it’s fascinating how this surah was the first in order, how i’m reading the first words of Allah in the Qur’an right now in the comfort of my own home in a different time and space than the sixth century and the days of the prophets. Just wow.

What I understood from Al surah is to read. Read in the name of Allah, for he created us from a tiny clot and for it is God who taught us how to use a pen and taught us what we never knew.

And for the person who decides to stray and sees himself as his own boss, at the end of the day we return to God the merciful, we return to the afterlife. His self-sufficiency (from God) is of no use.

And for those who lie and carry on denying the truth, don’t they know that Allah sees them and sees straight through them? But no it won’t end unless he is striked by his forehead, the lying sinful forehead, so let him call his callers or commanders and we shall call on the guardians of hell. Don’t follow this person, just kneel in prayer and get closer to Allah. 

That’s basically how I perceived it as far as translation goes. The last verse really affects me for some reason 

96:19 كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِب 

I really love how the message is to get closer. You just need to kneel and you’re closer to Allah. I also love how kneeling in prayer precedes getting closer. Because that leads to that. 

salamo alekom.

I am not a fan of using scientific miracles of the quran in cases where the science quoted is still a theory which can be disproven. I believe we should only argue using verses of the Quran addressing solid scientific facts that will not change. Although neurology is a new science and has a long way to go, i’d still like to share this:

The use of the word ‘forehead’ or ‘naseya’ in verses 15 and 16 is very interesting. Why is it that the forehead that is called ‘lying and sinful’ and not the soul, or the heart or the man as a whole?

Situated just behind your forehead is the lobe of the brain known as the ‘frontal lobe’. For many years it was considered a silent part of the brain because its stimulation in animals did not result in sensory/motor (like the parietal lobes on the side and up) auditory (like the temporal lobe on the sides but further down) or visual (like the occipital lobes which are the furthest back) changes.

However, in the past say 50 years, with the developing of better scanning techniques in neurology, humans now know that the frontal brain is where the highest of mental functions reside. Its where thinking, reasoning and decision making starts (and takes place). When you lie, that lie originated from your frontal lobe. When you sin, that sin originated from your frontal lobe. w allaho a’lam. 

p.s. the Prophet’s hadith ‘Oh Lord, I am your slave and the son of your slaves, my forehead is in your hands, firm in your ruling, and my destiny from You is just’ also uses the word ‘forehead’ or ‘naseya’.

p.p.s. We pray the way Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) showed us. But i would like to think that the act of prostration is bringing down the place of our highest intellectual abilities to the ground before Allah; in both humbleness and gratitude.

Yes, you can! Once you’ve selected a translation, just click the magnifying glass to the right of it and the entire Surah will be displayed in that translation!

I hope everyone is doing well with their attempts to find a good translation of the Qur’an by which to engage in the study!  If you are having problems, might I suggest this site?

http://www.islamawakened.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=2

It provides an organized structure with easy access and multiple translations on one page. It’s what I use for everything!

This week, we will be reading Surah Al-Alaq, number 96 in the traditionally ordered Qur’an. Al-Alaq means The Clot, specifically referring to the means by which humans were created.  It was revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Mecca, in the cave of Hira. It is believed to have been the first verses revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him).  

Please submit your thoughts and ideas about the Surah as you read and reflect upon it! I will be posting my own thoughts and ideas on Sunday.  I’m excited to hear everyone’s opinions! :)

this is the schedule proposed for the first ten weeks.  If anyone following thinks it may be an issue, please let me know and I will try to adjust.  I’m trying to start off slow and see what happens and not overburden anyone.  I was very silly and made this table an image, which might not provide the image accessibility, so I’m going to repost the text of the reading schedule below. It’s only the first ten weeks because again, I want to have a look at the pace of everyone and how to best do things before making a big giant schedule.

Week 1: July 1-8, 2011 - Sur’ah Al-Alaq (Sur’ah number:96)

Week 2: July 8-15, 2011 - Sur’ah Al-Qalam (68)

Week 3: July 15-22, 2011 - Sur’ah Al-Muzzammil (73)

Week 4: July 22-29, 2011 - Sur’ah Al-Muddathir (74)

Week 5: July 29-August 5, 2011 - Sur’ah Al-Fatiha, Sur’ah Al-Masadd, Surah At-Takwir (1, 111, 81)

Week 6: August 5-12, 2011 - Sur’ah Al-Ala, Sur’ah Al-Lail (87, 92)

Week 7: August 12-19, 2011 - Sur’ah Al-Fajr (89)

Week 8: August 19-26, 2011 - Sur’ah Ad-Dhuha, Al-Inshirah, Al-Asr (93,94,103)

Week 9: August 26- September 2, 2011 - Sur’ah Al-Adiyat, Al-Kauther, At-Takathur (100, 108, 102)

Week 10: September 2 - September 9, 2011 - Sur’ah Al-Maun, Al-Kafiroon, Al-Fil (107, 109, 105)

We’re going to keep this simple and numbered :)

1. The main language of this blog will be English.  This is due to the overwhelming majority of the participants having English as their first language. This being said, if another language is your first language and you wish to participate, please send me a message and we will do our level best to accommodate and figure out a way for you to be able to participate to the fullest extent.
2. Because the main language is English, and there are many people who are perhaps not Muslim, new to the faith or currently in the process of learning about it, we kindly request that if you are submitting to the blog that you provide translations for any Arabic words that may seem fairly basic to you but may not be to other people.
3. The structure of the study in itself is fairly simple.  I will post a reading list, and every week there will be a different reading. Rather than going in the order of the Qur’an, which is traditionally arranged from longest Surah (chapter) to shortest, we will be approaching this in a chronological order, from the oldest Surah to the newest.  This is so that we can provide a more accurate historical understanding along with the study.
4. Every week, a historical/social/cultural background for the Surah being studied will also be posted, and we highly encourage you to read this as well to garner a better understanding of the reading.
5. After the reading for the week, people will be free to submit their ideas about the Surah.  Ideas do not need to be limited to a mere breakdown of the text, but can be interpreted in light of another ideology (feminist, LGBT, etc), how you personally were affected by this Surah, and what issues this Surah applies to in a modern context.  Submit whatever you want! Except for anything that doesn’t follow the next rule :)
6. Though I wish I didn’t have to, there are some basic guidelines about respect for other people’s interpretations that I’m going to mention.  Not everyone will agree with you - the point of this blog is to respectfully argue your interpretation without disrespecting the opinions of the other members. When conceiving this idea, the primary motivation was to give Muslims who feel marginalized a space in which they can safely discuss their ideas and concerns about Islam.  Your criticisms of any opinions must be guided by logic, good intentions, and a lack of inflammatory language if it is to be published on this site.  If you do not abide by these guidelines, your submission will not be published.
7. Non-muslims, feel free to join in on the dialogue and ask questions! This is a community project, one in which the point is to understand Muslims and Islam better, and questions are the best way to do that!
8. I feel like I probably forgot a couple of rules here, so this may be updated later.  I will make sure to repost it if it does!
9. Happy reading, everyone!

Eric (my husband) and I are currently updating/working on layout/posting reading list.  Everything should be posted by around dinnertime!  Sorry for the mess and confusion that the blog will be until then!

In the name of God, most merciful, most gracious

Salaams, everyone!  My name is Syma and I am one of the administrators for this tumblr. I run a more personal blog on tumblr as well, which a great deal of you already likely follow.  My husband and I will be managing a large portion of the technical aspects of this study, but we want people to be involved as much as possible - the first and foremost priority of this study is to reinforce the idea of plurality of interpretation as well as the value of this plurality.  For this reason, all levels of involvement are encouraged, and from our very busy perspective, the more people that actively participate, the less we will have to scramble every week to provide material for people to read through and understand.  With Ramadan coming up, this is perfect timing for Muslims in particular to engage and try to come to a better understanding of their imaan (faith) with a community that is diverse and possesses a multitude of opinions.  With all that being said, some ground rules need to be set to ensure the success of this blog. In the next few posts, I will be covering the structure, basic expectations, and reading schedule for our study. Inshallah (God willing)this entire venture will be a learning experience for all of us, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and remember, the opportunity for a learning experience is contingent upon active participation!