How do I tell my child the story of the first revelation of the Quran?

Question

Bloomtivo Academy · Accepted Answer

Tell it simply: the Prophet ﷺ used to go to the Cave of Hira to worship; one night in Ramadan, the angel Jibril came and said “Iqra’” (Read!). The Prophet ﷺ said “I am not a reader.” Then Jibril recited the first verses of Surah Al-’Alaq (96:1–5). He went home trembling, and Khadijah comforted him (Sahih al-Bukhari 3). The first word of the Quran was “Read”. The story of the first revelation is a perfect story for children who are learning to read the Quran themselves.The story in five stepsStepWhat happened1The Prophet ﷺ, aged about 40, often went to the Cave of Hira on a mountain near Makkah to think and worship2One night in Ramadan, the angel Jibril came and said: “Read!”3The Prophet ﷺ said, “I am not a reader.” This happened three times.4Jibril recited: “Read in the name of your Lord who created…” (Quran 96:1–5)5He went home shaking and said “Cover me!” Khadijah comforted him: Allah would never let him down, because he was kind to family and helped people in need (Sahih al-Bukhari 3)The first versesاقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ ۝ خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ۝ اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ ۝ الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ ۝ عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْLessons for childrenThe very first word of the Quran was “Read”, so learning matters in Islam.Allah “taught by the pen”: writing and studying are blessed.Khadijah’s kindness shows how families support each other.Link it to Laylat al-QadrThe Quran began to be revealed in Ramadan, on Laylat al-Qadr. See explaining Laylat al-Qadr.Teacher’s tip: tell this story on the day your child starts the Qaida or the Mushaf. “Your first lesson starts with the same word as the Quran: Iqra’.”Our Seerah programme tells the full story.

Step	What happened
1	The Prophet ﷺ, aged about 40, often went to the Cave of Hira on a mountain near Makkah to think and worship
2	One night in Ramadan, the angel Jibril came and said: “Read!”
3	The Prophet ﷺ said, “I am not a reader.” This happened three times.
4	Jibril recited: “Read in the name of your Lord who created…” (Quran 96:1–5)
5	He went home shaking and said “Cover me!” Khadijah comforted him: Allah would never let him down, because he was kind to family and helped people in need (Sahih al-Bukhari 3)

How do I tell my child the story of the first revelation of the Quran?

The story in five steps

The first verses

Lessons for children

Link it to Laylat al-Qadr

Parents also ask

Ready to watch your child bloom?