Sūrat al-ʿAlaq (The Clot)

96

His saying, the Almighty: "Who taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not."

19416 - On the authority of Qatādah regarding His saying: "Who taught by the pen," he said: The pen is a great favor from Allah. Were it not for the pen, no religion would stand, and no livelihood would be sound. And regarding His saying: "Taught man that which he knew not," he said: It is writing.

His saying, the Almighty: "No! [But] indeed, mankind transgresses. Because he sees himself self-sufficient."

19417 - On the authority of Ibn Masʿūd, he said: There are two who are insatiable: one who seeks knowledge and one who seeks the world, and they are not equal. As for the seeker of knowledge, he increases in the pleasure of the Most Merciful. Then he recited: "Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge." As for the seeker of the world, he continues in transgression. Then he recited: "No! [But] indeed, mankind transgresses. Because he sees himself self-sufficient." And Allah knows best.

19418 - Ibn Jarīr said: Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā narrated to us, al-Muʿtamir narrated to us from his father, Nuʿaym b. Abī Hind narrated to us, from Abī Ḥāzim, from Abū Hurayrah, who said: Abū Jahl said: Does Muḥammad smear his face [in the dust] among you? They said: Yes. He said: By al-Lāt and al-ʿUzzā, if I see him praying like that, I will surely step on his neck and rub his face in the dust. So he came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, while he was praying, intending to step on his neck. He said: Then they were suddenly surprised as he was recoiling on his heels, shielding himself with his hands. He said: It was said to him: What is the matter with you? He said: Indeed, between me and him is a trench of fire, terror, and wings. He said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "Had he come near me, the angels would have snatched him limb by limb." He said: And Allah revealed—I do not know if this is in the hadith of Abū Hurayrah or not—"No! [But] indeed, mankind transgresses..." until the end of the Sūrah.

His saying, the Almighty: "Have you seen the one who forbids a servant when he prays?"

19419 - On the authority of Mujāhid regarding "Have you seen the one who forbids a servant when he prays?" he said: Abū Jahl forbade Muḥammad when he prayed. "Then let him call his associates [council]," he said: His clan. "We will call the angels of Hell," he said: The angels.