Quran Quote  : 

    • Quran-96:10 Surah Al-alaq English Translation,Transliteration and Tafsir(Tafseer).

    عَبۡدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ

    Transliteration:( 'Abdan iza sallaa )

    10.(Allah's) devotee when he offers Salaah (12). (Kanzul Imaan Translation)

    (10) A servant when he prays? (Saheen International Translation)

    Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics

    Surah Al-Alaq Ayat 10 Tafsir (Commentry)



    • Tafseer-e-Naeemi (Ahmad Yaar Khan)
    • Ibn Kathir
    • Ala-Madudi
    • Shaheen International

    Have You Seen Him Who Prohibits?  (Surah Al-Alaq, 96:9) .... (Allah's) devotee when he offers Salaah[12]

    The Revelation and Context [12]

    1. Context of the Verse:
      • This verse was revealed in reference to Abu Jahl, one of the staunchest enemies of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. Abu Jahl had tried to prevent the Prophet ﷺ from performing Salaah in the Sacred Mosque in Makkah. He made a vow that if he ever saw the Prophet ﷺ offering Salaah there, he would crush his neck (Allah forbid).
      • When Abu Jahl attempted to act on his threat, he was prevented from doing so by a divine intervention. The Holy Prophet ﷺ was offering Salaah, and as Abu Jahl approached him with the evil intention of harm, he found himself suddenly confronted by a fire trench and dangerous birds. Frightened, he turned back.
      • When asked about what had happened, Abu Jahl and his companions explained that they had seen a barrier of fire and fierce birds between them and the Prophet ﷺ, which prevented them from getting closer. The Holy Prophet ﷺ remarked that had Abu Jahl come any closer, the angels would have torn him apart.
      • In this context, "he who forbids" refers to Abu Jahl, and the "bondsman" refers to the Holy Prophet ﷺ, signifying the highest honor and servitude of the Prophet in offering his Salaah.

    Key Lessons and Religious Issues:

    1. The Status of Salaah and Its Prescribed Time:

      • The verse was revealed after the command for Salaah had been established, which happened after the Isra and Mi'raj (the Night Journey). Thus, this Salaah refers to the prescribed Shari'ah prayer, which became obligatory on the Prophet ﷺ and his followers during the Mi'raj.
      • Despite the idols being present in the Holy Ka'bah, the Prophet ﷺ still performed Salaah at this sacred site. This signifies that even if inappropriate things exist at holy sites, the sanctity of the place remains intact.

    2. The Role of Abu Jahl and Stopping Salaah:

      • The verse strongly condemns those who prevent others from performing their Salaah. Abu Jahl's act of stopping the Prophet ﷺ from offering Salaah serves as an example of the severe opposition to Islam.
      • Stopping someone from Salaah is considered a great wrong in Islam, especially when it concerns a believer's fundamental worship. However, jurists clarify that in certain circumstances, it is permissible to stop someone from performing Salaah, such as:
        • During undesirable times (like after Fajr and Asr)
        • In places that are not fit for prayer (usurped land)
        • A husband may stop his wife from offering Tahajjud or Nafl prayers if it would affect their responsibilities
        • An employer can stop an employee from offering Nawafil if it hinders work duties
      • But generally, prevention should be done with an explanation of the issue rather than forcefully stopping someone from Salaah.

    3. Stopping a Muslim from Entering the Mosque:

      • Preventing a person from entering the mosque is likened to preventing them from performing Salaah because Abu Jahl did not just stop the Prophet ﷺ from praying; he stopped him from entering the Sacred Mosque, which also denied him the opportunity to perform Salaah.
      • Religious guidelines state that certain individuals may be stopped from entering the mosque, including:
        • Children who have not reached the age of understanding
        • Mentally disturbed individuals
        • People with unpleasant odors (e.g., garlic, onions, or tobacco)
        • Those with bodily sores that emit bad odors
        • Irreligious individuals who could cause mischief in the mosque
      • It is important to note that after the Conquest of Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ had even stopped the polytheists from performing Tawaf and Hajj as part of a decree to purify the sacred places.

    Summary of Key Takeaways:

    • Salaah is of the utmost importance in Islam, and preventing anyone from offering it, especially in a sacred place like the Sacred Mosque, is a grave sin.
    • The Holy Prophet ﷺ exemplified the highest form of servitude through his Salaah, and his opposition by Abu Jahl shows the intensity of opposition he faced.
    • Certain exceptions exist when preventing someone from Salaah may be permitted, but explanations and wisdom should guide such actions.
    • Stopping someone from entering the mosque is also a severe act, and certain restrictions are valid for ensuring the mosque’s sanctity is preserved.

    Ibn-Kathir

    The tafsir of Surah Alaq verse 10 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
    Please refer to Surah Alaq ayat 6 which provides the complete commentary from verse 6 through 19.

    Ala-Maududi

    (96:10) a servant (of Allah) when he prays?[10]

    10. A servant: the Messenger (peace be upon him) of Allah himself. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has been mentioned by this epithet at several places in the Quran. For example, Glory be to Him Who transported His servant one night from the Masjid al-Haram to the distant Temple. (Surah Bani Israil, Ayat 1); All praise is for Allah Who has sent down this Book to His servant. (Surah Al- Kahf, Ayat 1); And that when the servant of Allah stood up to pray, the people got ready to assault him. (Surah Al- Jinn, Ayat 19). This shows that it is a special style of love by which Allah makes mention of His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) in His Book. Besides, it also shows that Allah after appointing His Messenger to Prophethood had taught him the method of performing the Prayer. There is no mention of this method anywhere in the Quran, saying: O Prophet, perform the Prayer in this and this way. Hence, this is another proof that the Revelation sent down to the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not only consist of what has been recorded in the Quran, but besides this, other things were also taught to him by revelation, which are not recorded in the Quran.

    (10) A servant when he prays?

    Surah Al-Alaq All Ayat (Verses)

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