Read !

[maro]

From among the 6,236 verses of the quran ,this was the first :

" Read ! In the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created "

why do you think the word "Read" was chosen to be the first ? what makes that word so important ? and what is its significance ?

[Nehustan]

Because by reading we learn things that we do not know. It means that we need not only acquire knowledge first hand, we may read reports of others' experiences. Obviously in a more acute sense we learn that of God as revealed through his prophets that we may not know, or if we do know or have a feeling, it can aid us in confirming or rejecting such knowledge i.e. personal and/or reports. It gives us a type of cartographic legend to map our knowledge.

[not4me]

I posted this before and I find it relevant to this topic:
Allah sent his prophets with physical miracles to support them. And these supernatural miracles were another thing different from the message itself; medicine of Jesus was different from the Gospel and the stick of Moses was different from the Torah. Therefore, belief in those messages (and that their source was from God), in the first ages, relied basically on the physical miracles. However, these physical miracles didn't keep many people from their disbelief, what kept them from belief was their arrogance and stubbornness not lack of evidence. This was for humanity in its infantile stage, now that humanity should grow to maturity, the approach of the last message to humanity was different from the messages that preceded it. The last message moved from depending on physical miracles for belief to relying on the message itself for belief. Thus the Qur'an with all what it contained; codes of moral, social and political justice and spiritual values, is the message and the miracle at the same time. And this is much deeper and more effective on the human mind than physical miracles unrelated to the core of the message. The Qur'an basically and directly addressed the human mind and intellect and returned its significance and regard. Therefore, the first thing that was revealed to the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was "read" declaring the end of the age of supernatural physical miracles and beginning of the age of knowledge and intellect as basis for belief.

[TashaN]

Allah taught Adam the names which he know not before that. Allah could have made these names--as how one of my lectureres described it today--a "built-in" in the sense of "Be and it's Been", but Allah prefered that Adam must learn. The same with us, the only way to learn is to read and recite in the name of Allah, and all the gates of knowledge will be opened for us.

[Peace]

" Read ! In the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created "

The first verse that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was "Read" because of the importance of knowledge. Our religion is a religion of knowledge because Knowledge is a light that benefits both the individual as well as the community.

[not4me]

"And so amongst men and crawling creatures and cattle, are they of various colours. Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge: for Allah is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving."
Qur'an

[Ilias Ahmad]

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ

Read in the Name of your Lord Who created (all things) (96:1)

The word iqra actually means recite. The Qur'an is a book of recitation, not merely a book that is read and studied as a text, it is a living book which is recited aloud, that is part of its spiritual power.

[maro]

Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists). He has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen. He has taught man that which he knew not" [Quran, 96: 1-5]

I agree that knowledge is important but I was wondering why it's mentioned even before Al A'qeda "Faith " , Moralities , Gihad…..untill I heard someone describing the issue in a beautiful way….he said : knowledge is like electricity...and all the other things are like the electric equipment..…it's then logic that knowledge precede all other things…

Even Al A'qeda needs knowledge : [47: 19] Know, therefore, that there is no god but Allah

Holding the proper Morality standards needs knowledge , even Gihad without knowledge will go off track ,….and al khwarij are the best example for that...also Abd el Rahman IBn Malgam who thought he was getting closer to Allah by assassinating Ali (RAA)…

The word " ilm " knowledge and its derivatives is mentioned 779 times in the quran with its 114 chapters ( the more frequent word after the word "Allah" )….In the story of Adam , and as a continuation of what Tashan mentioned, what made Adam a more honored creature than angels to the degree that they should bow down to him is knowledge …not to mention that the whole story emphasizes the importance of knowledge

…[2 ;31] And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: "Tell Me the names of these if ye are right."

[32] They said: "Glory to Thee: of knowledge we have none, save what Thou hast taught us: in truth it is Thou Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom."

[33] He said: "O Adam! Tell them their names." When he had told them, Allah said: "Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heavens and earth, and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?"

Also , all through the Quran , knowledge is associated with the prophet(PBUT)…

.[21:74]And to Lut, too, We gave Judgment and Knowledge, and We saved him from the town which practised abominations: truly they were a people given to Evil, a rebellious people.

[21:79] To Sulaiman We inspired the (right) understanding of thematter:to each (of them) We gave Judgment and Knowledge; it was Our power that made the hills and the birds celebrate Our praises, with Dawud: it was We Who did (all these things)

[12:22] When Yusuf attained his full manhood, We gave him power and knowledge: thus do We reward those who do right

[5:110]Then will Allah say: "O 'Isa the son of Maryam! recount My favour to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the holy spirit, so that thou didst speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel.

[4:113]….. Allah hath sent down to thee the Book and Wisdom and taught thee what thou knewest not (before): and great is the Grace of Allah unto thee. (the verse is about prophet Muhammad (pbuh))


Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) further said :
[Seeking knowledge is incumbant on every muslim]

[ The excess of know;edge "ilm" is better than the excess of worship " ibadah " , and the best of your religion is the wara' (piety , self restrain ) ]

[ Who who leaves his home in order to seek knowledge , He's in allah's path untill he returns to his home ]

Back to the relation between Faith and knowlege , the more the science advances and allows us to explore the universe around us , the more our Faith in God , the great creator , is strenghtened . THe books are not the only thing that can be read , the universe around us with all its wonders is a very precious book to read .One can also read the events , both the hisorical and current ones and try to figure the divine rules controlling our lives out..

[48:23] (Such has been) the practice (approved) of Allah already in the past: no change wilt thou find in the practice (approved) of Allah.

When the early muslims understood the order "Read" with its deep significance , they excelled in all branches of science , and most important , they were truely good muslims

The first thing Allah created was the "Pen " ,and from among the signs of the Hour will be the disappearance of knowledge and the appearance of ignorance (as prophet Muhamad "PBUH" mentioned ) , It's also mentioned that the Satan can make a thousand worshipper go astray much easier than a single scholar.....The quran further made knowledge a basic standard for choosing someone for leadership over the others…..In the story of Taloot (Saul) , when the sons Israel objected to Taloot's choice as a king , their prophet said …[2:247] "….Allah hath chosen him above you, and hath gifted him abundantly with knowledge and bodily prowess "

And at last I remind myself and all of u :

[17:85]……… of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you(O men!)"

[20:114]…….but say, "O my Lord! advance me in knowledge."