Tafseer of The Clot · Al-Alaq · 96:19
No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to Allah].
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
His statement: كَلا ("No, not at all") — He, exalted be His mention, says: the matter is not as Abū Jahl claims, when he forbids Muḥammad to worship his Lord and to pray to Him. لا تُطِعْهُ ("do not obey him") — He, exalted be His praise, says to His Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ: do not obey Abū Jahl in that which he commands you, namely the abandoning of the prayer to your Lord. وَاسْجُدْ ("and prostrate yourself") before your Lord وَاقْتَرِبْ ("and draw near") to Him, by making yourself beloved to Him through obedience to Him, for Abū Jahl will not be able to harm you, and We protect you against him.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: كَلا لا تُطِعْهُ وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِبْ ("No, do not obey him, but prostrate yourself and draw near") — it has been related to us that it was revealed concerning Abū Jahl. He said: "If I really see Muḥammad praying, then I will tread upon his neck." Then Allah revealed: كَلا لا تُطِعْهُ وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِبْ ("No, do not obey him, but prostrate yourself and draw near"). The Prophet of Allah ﷺ said, when there reached him what Abū Jahl had said: "Had he done it, the angels of punishment (al-zabāniya) would have snatched him away."
End of the explanation of Sūrah Iqraʾ bi-smi Rabbika ("Read in the name of your Lord"), and all praise belongs to Allah alone.
