Iqraa

Iqraa (Arabic: اقرأ) is an Arabic verb meaning "to read" or "to recite." The term appears in many contexts, from everyday language to scholarly and religious phrases. It is most widely known in connection with Islam as the imperative form of the verb used in a foundational moment of the faith.

In Islamic tradition, Iqraa is the first word revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The revelation is reported in the opening verses of Surah Al-Alaq (Chapter 96), traditionally dated to the early 7th century CE: “Read in the name of your Lord who created.” The subsequent lines emphasize God as the teacher who imparts knowledge, including the use of the pen and the teaching of humanity what it did not know. The event is regarded as marking the beginning of Muhammad’s prophethood and a broader emphasis on literacy, learning, and the pursuit of knowledge within Islam.

Beyond the Qur’anic context, Iqraa is widely used as a given name in Arabic-speaking communities, often for girls, and appears in branding for educational and Islamic media projects. Transliteration varies, with spellings such as Iqra, Iqraa, or Iqrā in Latin script. The name is associated with themes of reading, education, and the transmission of knowledge, reflecting its religious origin as well as its broader cultural usage.

See also: Qur’an revelation, Surah Al-Alaq, literacy in Islam.