Meaning of Iqra Behind the Nuzul al-Qur'an Event: Why Was the Prophet, the Ummī, Ordered to Read?

Jakarta — The Nuzulul Qur’an is the event of the Qur’an’s first revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Linguistically, Nuzul Qur’an derives from the words nazzala-yunazzilu-tanzilan, meaning to descend gradually, and anzala-yunzilu-inzalan, meaning to “send down” in a denotative sense. The revelation of the Qur’an, which is the miracle of the Prophet Muhammad, is described in Surah Al Isra (17:106), where Allah States:

وَقُرْاٰنًا فَرَقْنٰهُ لِتَقْرَاَهٗ عَلَى النَّاسِ عَلٰى مُكْثٍ وَّنَزَّلْنٰهُ تَنْزِيْلًا

Arabic transliteration: Wa qur’ānan faraqnāhu litaqra’ahū ’alan-nāsi ’alā mukṡiw wa nazzalnāhu tanzīlā(n).

Meaning: “We revealed the Qur’an gradually so that you (the Prophet Muhammad) may recite it to the people slowly, and We have sent it down gradually.”

According to the tafsir tahlili of Kemenag, Allah SWT explains that the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gradually, piece by piece, so that he could recite it to his people, and provide understanding gradually.

The first Qur’anic verse was revealed in the month of Ramadan, on the Night of Decree (Lailatul Qadar). Surah al-Alaq was the first revelation that Allah sent to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the angel Gabriel.

The first verse of Surah al-Alaq contains the command to read. However, the object of reading is not stated. So, what is the meaning of the command to read? And what was commanded to be read?