SURAH 96 AL-ALAQ

CHAPTER 13 – EXPRESS YOUR MIND

Surah 96 - Al-Alaq - The Relationship -  سورة العلق

EXEGESIS OF THE SURAH:

Truly an educative surah which highlights how Insaan [social mind] is connected or cling to relationships, or to be more precise man cannot exist without relationships, a vital key to the developmental process. One of the derivative of عَلَقٍ is تَعلُّق which means relationship or being in contact. Man is a social animal. Expression of thoughts is very important for the progressive development of the personality or the character and also about maintenance of relationships.

There are some individuals who dictate others and curb them from expressing their thoughts. The subjugation of thoughts leads to a low self-image and breeds lack of confidence. The beloved author instructs us to speak out our mind even if the person opposite you is a powerful dictator. The key to evolution or progress is to speak out (IQRA) what is inside your mind, as man is a product of his own thoughts which are settled in his mind. Speak out what you feel is right or hints passed on to you by your consciousness [Rabb]. Your message is for ‘You’ and you are guided by your mind. So don’t let another person control your mind. You know what is best for you, pay attention to the signals ‘You’ receive. Don’t go by the signals/signs passed on to you by another person, analyze yourself. 

What you desire to seek, you eventually achieve; is the tendency of the productive mind. Our desire is like a pen that urges us to write our destiny. In the context of the book Quran the Qalam does not mean ink pen or fountain pen but those budding desires that write, edit, cut our adaptability towards the

 script of life.

There are some arrogant people who are themselves misguided and they prevent or suppress others from expressing their thoughts. Such dictatorial people prevent you from developing and evolving your inherent qualities. When one presents his point of understanding they don’t listen to him, on the contrary they reject him and do not care whether he is on the right or wrong path. These people with a dominating nature are driven by false notions and gradually these wrong notions lords over them and the result is wrong actions or injustice towards their fellow beings. The thinking capacity of the subdued person tends to get over-shadowed, thus leading to a low morale or low confidence as a result looses decision making qualities and always lives in a state of insecurity and fear. So it is recommended to stay away from such arrogant people, and never accept their diktat nor go near them as it will hinder you from evolving or progressing towards peace, tranquility, happiness and prosperity - The backbone of Islam.

VERBATIM TRANSLATION:

96:1

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ

Express with understanding your mind / consciousness, those who chose to evolve

Iqra = Express, Speak out - 2nd person masculine singular imperative verb

Bism = With the distinguish knowledge, understanding, identifying, recognizing, name, distinguishing - prefixed preposition bi  – genitive masculine noun

Rabbuka = Your mind, consciousness, your Lord, Your Sustainer - genitive masculine noun  – 2nd person masculine singular possessive pronoun

Allazi = Those chose to, adhere to, who

Khalaq =  Evolved - 3rd person masculine singular perfect verb

96:2

 خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ

He evolved the humane mind through relationships 

Khalaq = Evolved

Insaan = Human, Humane mind, Social mind

Min = From, through

Alaq = Talooq تَعلُّق and alaq have same root word, relation, link, connection, clung, hold on tightly, relation of rope and the well - genitive masculine indefinite noun

96:3

 اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ 

Express by means of your mind / consciousness the Most Productive

Iqra = Express

Wa = and, means

Rabbuka = Your Mind, your Consciousness

Al-Akram = The Most Productive - nominative masculine singular adjective

96:4

الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ   

The One Who has taught with intense desire

Al-lazi = Those who, The one - masculine singular relative pronoun

Allama = Taught - 3rd person masculine singular (form II) perfect verb

Bil = with

Qalam = ظفر – Clip, edit, cut, sought or desire, destiny is written with the pen of intense desire to succeed - genitive masculine noun (To think Rabb teaching man with pen or any other physical instrument is ridiculous or blasphemy in “Islamic terminology”) - مُتأَقلِم - accustomed to, adaptable, adjustable, acclimatize 

96:5

عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ 

He (mind) has taught humane mind what he knew not

Allama = He has taught

Insaan = Humane Mind, Human, Social mind - accusative masculine noun

Ma = What

Lam = not

Yalam = He knew - 3rd person masculine singular imperfect verb, jussive mood

96:6

كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَيَطْغَىٰ

Nay! Indeed humane mind does transgress

Kalla = Nay

Inna = Indeed, verily

Al-Insaan = The humane mind

Litaghi = Does transgress

96:7

  أَن رَّآهُ اسْتَغْنَىٰ 

Because he considers himself independent

Un = That, Because

Raa-hu = He sees, thinks, consider

Astaghi = Self sufficient, independent

96:8 

  إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ الرُّجْعَىٰ 

Surely towards your Consciousness is the return

Inna = Indeed, surely

Illa = Towards

Rabbika = Your mind, Consciousness

Al-Rajaun = The return, going back to former state

96:9

  أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يَنْهَىٰ 

Have you seen those who suppress? 

Araayta = Have you seen / observe

Al-Lazi = Those who

Yanhi = Prevent, suppress

96:10

  عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰ

 A subdued person / server when he communicates

Abada = Employee / servant / slave / subdue one

Izza = When

Salli = Communicate, petition, humble request to powerful person, talk, pray - 3rd person masculine singular (form II) perfect verb

96:11

  أَرَأَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى الْهُدَىٰ

Have you seen if he is on the right path / guidance?

Araayta = Have you observe

In = If

Kana = He is ever

Ala = On

Al-Huda = The right path, guidance

96:12 

 أَوْ أَمَرَ بِالتَّقْوَىٰ

Or he enjoins the diligence

Aw = Or

Amr = Enjoins, impose, instruct, command

Bil = With

Taqwa = Diligence, caution

96:13

  أَرَأَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

Have you seen if he falsifies and commands authority?

Araaita = Have you seen

In = if

Kazaba = He denies, lies, false

Wa = and

Tawalli = Commanded, authority over it – و ل ى is the root word

96:14

  أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرَىٰ

Does not he realize that the System of consciousness forecasts / predicts?

Alam = does not

Yalam = know

Bi-una = With that

Allah = System of consciousness

Ura = watches, observes, dreams, predicts, forecast - 3rd person masculine singular imperfect verb

96:15

  كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًا بِالنَّاصِيَةِ

If he does not grow up We (mind/consciousness) will calumniate him with the process of castration / without power

Kalla = Nay

Lin = If, but

Lam = does not

Yantahi = He grows up, matures - 3rd person masculine singular (form VIII) imperfect verb, jussive mood

Lanasfaa = For we will calumniate, crumble - EMPH – emphatic prefix lām
 – 1st person plural imperfect verb EMPH – emphatic suffix nūn

Bi = With

Nasiyat = Process of castration / diminishing of vigor or power – prefixed preposition bi – genitive feminine noun

96:16

  نَاصِيَةٍ كَاذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ 

A process without power of fallacious wrongful actions

Nasiyat = Process of castration, diminishing of vigor or power

Kazibath = Lies, falsehood, untrue

Khatiath = wrongful action / mistaken / sinful - genitive feminine indefinite active participle

96:17 

  فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُ

 So let him seek his inner calling

Fal = So let

Yadu = him desire, seeking, asking - 3rd person masculine singular imperfect verb, jussive mood

Nadihu = Inner calling, his advisor, counseling

96:18

  سَنَدْعُ الزَّبَانِيَةَ

 We will impose arbitrariness or We will compel him to take decision on weak judgment

Sandao = We will call, seek

Al-Zabaniyath = A person who thrust or pushes others to act on weak judgment

96:19 

 كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِب ۩

Nay do not accept him and agree and go near 

Kalla = Nay

La = Not

Totiho = Obey him (but not blindly), follow him - 2nd person masculine singular (form IV) imperfect verb, jussive mood

Wa = and

Asajud = Agree, accept - 2nd person masculine singular imperative verb

Wa = And

Aqtarib = Near - 2nd person masculine singular (form VIII) imperative verb

INTERPRETATION:

  1.     Express with understanding your Mind / Consciousness who evolved you

  2.     Evolved sensible mind from relationships

  3.     Express with your mind -The Highly Productive

  4.     The One Who has taught with intense desire

  5.     He taught sensible mind what he knew not

  6.     Verily sensible mind does transgress

  7.     Because he considers himself independent

  8.     Surely to your conscious is your coming back

  9.   Have you seen those who subjugate?

10.   A subdued man when he communicates?

11.   Have you seen if he is on the right path?

12.   Or enjoins righteous conduct?

13.   Have you seen that he rejects and dictates?

14.  Does not he realize that the system of consciousness can predict (the outcome)?

15.  If he does not amend we will calumniate him without power

16.   Diminishing power of fallacious wrongful actions

17.  So let him consult his inner callings

18.   We will compel him to take decisions on weak judgment

19.   Nay! Do not accept him and agree and go near (that dictator)

MORAL:

Never suppress your thoughts. The key to evolution or progress are thoughts or desires. Desire is like a pen (Qalam) that shapes one’s destiny. What we chose to think, we become. Before expressing, understand your Mind because Mind or Rabb is the Creator of your world and your environment.

Poor self-image is the result of continuous accumulation of criticism that a person carries over a period of time. This leads to shattering of his self confidence which crumbles his life.

Individuals that exhibit low self-esteem are vulnerable to develop psychological disorders. The subdued ones are subject to continuous mental abuse and they are the victims of high-handedness from their master. Thus it is recommended to leave such an environment of hopelessness and despair which degrades you.