Article: To learn is the holiest of struggles

Aniza Damis
New Straits Times
09-06-2009
To learn is the holiest of struggles
Byline: Aniza Damis
Edition: New Sunday Times
Section: Main Section

PROPHET Muhammad was an illiterate.

When the archangel Gabriel first approached Muhammad at a cave in the side of Mount Hiraa, 5km north of Mecca, Gabriel instructed the prophet to read.
"I don't know how to read," Muhammad said (in Arabic).

"Iqraa!" (Read!) said Gabriel again. Again, Muhammad said he did not know how to read.

After the third of this sort of exchange, Gabriel roared:

"Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), has created man from a mere clot of congealed blood.

"Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, ...

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