»The surah that contains the first revealed verses of the Quran, reminding the human being of The Clinging Mass, a stage that reflects the miracle of human creation in the womb of the mother. The surah is also known by the first Quranic instruction: Read. It is named after “the clining mass” (ʿalaq) mentioned in verse 2. The first five verses are known to be the first revelation of the Quran when the Prophet Muḥammad was instructed to read. The second part came later to show that man transgresses when he becomes self-satisfied.«

The surah is also known as: Clots of Blood, Proclaim, Read, Recite, The Blood-clot, The Clinging Clot, The Clinging Form, The Clot, The Embryo.