Unveiling the 'Iqra' Revelation: The First Verse Revealed to Prophet Muhammad
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — The first instruction to descend on the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the Qur’an was the word ‘Iqra’, commonly translated as ‘Read’. This instruction appears in Surah Al-‘Alaq, verses 1–5, which marks the beginning of revelation in the Cave of Hira. Yet there is an intriguing fact: the Prophet Muhammad is described as ummi, meaning illiterate. The question therefore arises: why did God’s first command to ’read’ come to a Prophet who could not read or write?
Reading the Universe
Scholars and Islamic thinkers explain that the word Iqra has a much broader meaning: reading, understanding, examining, and reflecting on the different signs of life. In other words, the command invites the use of reason and awareness to understand Allah’s creation.
One form of the ‘reading’ referred to is reading the universe. The Qur’an repeatedly calls on people to observe the heavens, the earth, and the creatures that inhabit them. One verse is Surah Al-Baqarah 164:
[Arabic text]
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, the alternation of night and day, the ships that sail the seas with what benefits mankind, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens in the form of water by which He gives life to the earth after its death, and He scatters therein all kinds of living creatures, and the turning of winds and clouds, controlled between the heavens and the earth, surely are signs for a people who understand.
The natural world is viewed as signs of Allah’s majesty, showing order, purpose, and wisdom in creation. Through contemplation of nature, humans are urged to recognise the existence and power of the Creator.
Reading the History of Humankind
Iqra can also be understood as a call to read history. The Qur’an contains many stories about earlier peoples, such as Noah, ’Ad, and Thamud. These tales offer lessons about the consequences of faith and defiance of truth. Through these narratives, people are invited to understand how a society can develop, endure, or even perish. By reading history, humans can draw wisdom from the journeys of those who came before and use it as a mirror to improve life today.
Reading the Self
Beyond nature and history, the Qur’an also invites people to read themselves. Humans are urged to reflect on how they were created. Such self-reflection is a path to recognise the grandeur of Allah and to understand the purpose of human life. This awareness helps people recognise their limitations while appreciating the gifts bestowed by the Creator.
A Foundation for Building the Muslim Ummah
From this understanding, the command Iqra is essentially a call to build a civilisation grounded in knowledge and contemplation. The fact that the command was revealed to Prophet Muhammad, who could not read, underscores that the Qur’an is a revelation from Allah, forming the foundation for building an Islamic civilisation without human intervention. Therefore, the meaning of Iqra extends beyond reading text to include efforts to understand nature, history, and the self as signs of Allah’s magnificence.