Surah Al-‘Alaq 96:1

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ

96:1 Allâh spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai when Moses was commissioned to liberate the children of Israel from the yoke of Pharaoh. His assignment was of a tribal nature. After a series of additional Prophets comes the Son of Mary, on whom the spirit of the Lord descended in the shape of a dove. According to the Gospel writers, his message was that “the son of man was the son of God”. Thus, the mission of Moses concerned the affairs of a tribe, while that of Jesus spoke of the personal aggrandisement of some particular personality. However, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) of Islam is given a Message above individual, racial or ethnic interest. His message is addressed to humanity as a whole. It is of a universal character and brings the entire human race within its folds. It tells of the highest goal that a son of man is capable of reaching – that of sweet converse with his Creator. This Message shows the ways and means to achieve that grand goal. “Recite with the Name of your Lord, Nourisher to perfection” اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ has been used with reference to this great goal of glory, which humanity as a whole was destined to attain.