Title: Evidence that Al-Faatihah was the First Revelation Question: I have been reading with interest your responses suggesting that Surah al-Faatihah was the first revelation. Is there additional evidence supporting why this is and why Surah al-Alaq is not the first? Related to this is the question of the ahadith . There it states that Surah al-Alaq was the first to be revealed. Could you comment on this? Thank you in advance for any answers. Hassamo Demalik Answer: First of all I would like to clarify that I do not suggest that Surah al-Faatihah was the first revelation. My opinion, based on the content and subject matter of the Surah , is that Surah al-Faatihah may understandably have been the first Surah to be revealed. My opinion, as I have stated, is based on the content and the subject matter of the Surah , which in my opinion holds much more significance as compared to historical narratives reported in the books of Hadith . As for the narratives that you have referred they generally do not state that Surah Al-`Alaq was the first one to be revealed. These narratives only state that the first time Gabriel came to Muhammad (pbuh), he directed him to read, and subsequently said "Read in the name of God". As for the actual words of Gabriel, there is some difference in these narratives. According to some [1] , Gabriel read out the first three verses of Surah Al-Alaq , according to some others [2] , Gabriel read out the first five verses of the Surah , according to others [3] , Gabriel read out the first four verses of the Surah , while according to others [4] , the first revelation was, in fact, the opening verses of Surah Al-Mudaththir . As I have stated in one of my earlier responses, Surah Al-`Alaq is clearly a well coordinated unit and it is quite difficult to comprehend how such a unit could have been revealed in small parts. Keeping this fact in perspective, it seems possible that during his first visit to the Prophet (pbuh), Gabriel may have just prepared the Prophet (pbuh) for the revelations to come. Thus, during the first visit, Gabriel may have said the 'Read, in the name of your Lord', which, by the mistake of one or the other narrator, may have been construed as the opening verses of Surah Al-Falaq . Whatever the case may have been, in my opinion, Surah Al-`Alaq , by its content and subject matter, could neither have been the first revealed Surah , nor does it seem very likely that the Surah could have been revealed in parts. I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad October 2, 2001 [1] As for instance in Bukhariy, Kitaab bad' al-Wahiy , narrative no. 3. [2] As for instance in Bukhariy, Kitaab Tafseer al-Qur'an , narrative no. 4572. [3] As for instance in Bukhariy, Kitaab Tafseer al-Qur'an , narrative no. 4574. [4] As for instance in Bukhariy, Kitaab Tafseer al-Qur'an , narrative no. 4541.