Surah Al-‘Alaq 96:2

خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ

96:2 The verb Khalakaخَلَقَ carries the sense that the act of Divine creation has not ended but is being continuously repeated. ‘Alaqعَلَقٍ means “hanging on something” and thus forming a connection with it. ‘Alaqعَلَقٍ also means to stick fast to something. It has in it the essence of concern and love. The phrase Khalika minn ‘alaqخلق من علق –who created from a clot embodies in it the idea that love for his Creator is ingrained in human nature and is a part of it. It is therefore natural that he should find his connection to his Creator. In a broader sense the word ‘Alaqعلق also signifies a clot, a germ cell that fertilizes the female ovum by forming a connecting link and sticking with the ovum. The words tell us how a human being develops from the state of primitiveness, simplicity and the insignificance of his biological origin to the perfection of his intellectual, moral and spiritual state. We also find a similar message in verse 30:54 where we read, “Allâh is He who created you from a state of weakness”. The verse also carries the message for the one who received these words: Similar is your condition. You are being created as a new being after you have formed a connection with your Creator. In this verse, the initial stage of a mere sperm drop has been intentionally left out, for the Holy Prophet (pbuh) had already passed through this stage of his life when the Divine Revelation started descending upon him. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) worshiped in the Cave of Hirâ for many years before this verse was revealed. Therefore the word ‘alaq has been used to show that the Holy Prophets (pbuh) love was for his Lord and the spiritual connection with Allâh had already been formed.