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Creator Verses

The first words revealed were an instruction to read

The first revelation to the Prophet ﷺ began with a single command: read.

ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ

Recite in the name of your Lord who created
Al-'Alaq 96:1

Surat Al-'Alaq is the 96th surah in the Quran, but its opening verses were the first to be revealed. Its first word, iqra, means "read" or "recite". It was said to a man who replied that he could not read.

Three verses later, the pen is mentioned:

ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ

Who taught by the pen
Al-'Alaq 96:4

Before any law was given, the first revelation spoke about reading and the pen.

Sources

  1. 01Quran 96:1
  2. 02Quran 96:4 - The pen named three verses later
  3. 03Sahih al-Bukhari 3Sahih