Islam is the religion of knowledge. The first ayah of the Qur'an to be revealed enjoined reading which is the key to knowledge. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists). He created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by pen? He has taught man that which he knew not” [al-‘Alaq 96:1-5]