Observation

This was a popular question among the candidates. Most of the candidates who attempted this question got it rightly including the commentary. The performance generally was very good.
The question required the candidates to write the Arabic or transliteration text of the verses, translate them into English and comment on them thus:

i.Suratul-ʿAlaq (Q.96: 1-5) in Arabic

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

1. اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ
2. خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
3. اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ
4. الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ
5. عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

1. ii. Transliteration
2. ʼÍqra’ bi ismiRabbikalLadhīkhalaqa
3. Khalaqal ’insāna min ‘alaqin.
4. ʼIqra’ waRabbukal ’akram
5. ʼAlladhī ‘allamabilqalam.
6. ʿAllamal ’insānamālamya‘lam
   
   Translation
7. Read in the name of your Lord who creates.
8. Created man from a clot of blood.
9. Read; And your Lord is the most generous.
10. He teaches by the pen.
11. Teaches man what he knows not.
    Commentary

1. This MakkiSūrah takes its title from a word in the second verse (ʿAlaq).
2. Its first five verses constitute Prophet Muhammad’s (S.A.W.) first revelation.
3. The said verses were revealed at cave Hira.
4. The five verses highlight the importance of knowledge acquisition
5. The second verse shows that Allah created humankind from a clot of blood.
6. The pen is mentioned as one of the instruments of knowledge acquisition and dissemination.
7. The generosity of Allah towards His creatures is maintained in the third verse.
8. All knowledge is derived from Allah as He reveals the unknown.
9. The opening verse shows that the Qur’ān is a Book meant for reading and meditation.