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Qur’an verses about knowledge

Revelation opens with 'Recite', and the Prophet ﷺ is told to pray, 'My Lord, increase me in knowledge.'

· 8 ayat

Revelation began with a command to read and a reminder that Allah taught by the pen. The Qur’an asks whether those who know are equal to those who do not, raises the people of knowledge by degrees, and gives one short prayer: 'My Lord, increase me in knowledge.' Each verse is shown in Arabic with the Saheeh International translation and a short note on what it says.

The verses

1. Surah Al-'Alaq (96:1)

ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ

Recite in the name of your Lord who created -

The opening of Al-'Alaq: 'Recite in the name of your Lord who created.'

✦ Read in context — quran.com/96/1
2. Surah Al-'Alaq (96:4)

ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ

Who taught by the pen -

The same passage continues: He taught by the pen.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/96/4
3. Surah Al-'Alaq (96:5)

عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

Taught man that which he knew not.

And taught man what he did not know.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/96/5
4. Surah Ta-Ha (20:114)

فَتَعَٰلَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُقْضَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُۥ ۖ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًۭا

So high [above all] is Allah, the Sovereign, the Truth. And, [O Muhammad], do not hasten with [recitation of] the Qur'an before its revelation is completed to you, and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."

The prayer the Prophet ﷺ is told to say: 'My Lord, increase me in knowledge.'

✦ Read in context — quran.com/20/114
5. Surah Az-Zumar (39:9)

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيْلِ سَاجِدًۭا وَقَآئِمًۭا يَحْذَرُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُوا۟ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِۦ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.

'Are those who know equal to those who do not know?' Only people of understanding take heed.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/39/9
6. Surah Al-Mujadila (58:11)

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا۟ فِى ٱلْمَجَٰلِسِ فَٱفْسَحُوا۟ يَفْسَحِ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُوا۟ فَٱنشُزُوا۟ يَرْفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ دَرَجَٰتٍۢ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌۭ

O you who have believed, when you are told, "Space yourselves" in assemblies, then make space; Allah will make space for you. And when you are told, "Arise," then arise; Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.

Allah raises by degrees those who believe and those who were given knowledge.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/58/11
7. Surah Fatir (35:28)

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱلدَّوَآبِّ وَٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ كَذَٰلِكَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَٰٓؤُا۟ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ

And among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various colors similarly. Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.

After describing the colours of creation: only those of His servants who have knowledge truly fear Allah.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/35/28
8. Surah Ali 'Imran (3:18)

شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمِ قَآئِمًۢا بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

Allah witnesses that there is no deity but Him, and so do the angels and those of knowledge.

✦ Read in context — quran.com/3/18

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Qur’an's dua for knowledge?

'Rabbi zidni ilma', 'My Lord, increase me in knowledge', from Qur’an 20:114.

What is the first word of Surah Al-'Alaq?

Iqra', 'Recite' or 'Read' (96:1). The opening verses of Al-'Alaq are widely held to be the first revealed.

Does the Qur’an praise people of knowledge?

Yes. Qur’an 58:11 says Allah raises those given knowledge by degrees, and 39:9 asks whether those who know are equal to those who do not.

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