God says
Read* in the name of thy Sustainer, who created – created man out of a germ-cell!** Read – for the Sustainer is the Most Bountiful One who has taught [man] the use of the pen – taught man what he did not know!*** -- Q.96:1-5
(Theses first to five verses of the surah form the very first revelation of the Quran)
* “Reading” primarily signifies a conscious taking-in with a view to understanding of words and ideas received from an outside source: in this case, the message of the Qur’an.** It is noteworthy that this very first Qur’anic revelation – beginning with the instruction to read – alludes to man’s embryonic evolution out of a “germ-cell”-- i.e., out of a fertilized female ovum – thus contrasting the primitiveness and simplicity of his biological origins with his intellectual and spiritual potential: a contrast which clearly points to the existence of a conscious design and a purpose underlying the creation of life.
For your convenience, note of third astrix along with the verses :1-5 will be given next Friday, inshaAllah.
Prophet said
1. “The superiority of a learned man (‘aalim) over a (mere) worshipper (‘aabid) is like the superiority of the moon on the night when it is full over all other stars” – H: Ibn Hanbal, Abu Daod, Tirmizi, Nasai, Ibn Majah and Darimi.
2. “Seeking knowledge is compulsory upon every Muslim male and female” --H: Ibn Majah. N: Anas.
3. “When a man dies, all his actions are cut off from him except three: ever- recurring charity, knowledge from which benefit (continues to be) derived, and a virtuous son praying for him (parents)”-- H: Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.
4. “…..good questioning is half learning’ – H: Bukhari. N: Abu Hurairah.
