Lesson 7: The Beginning of Revelation

Question 1

Where was the Quran revealed, what were the verses, and what are some benefits from it?

Answer 1

• The Quran came down in the cave of Hira, in which the first 5 verses of Surah ‘Alaq were revealed

> ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ١ خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ٢ ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ ٣ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ ٤ عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ٥

> Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists).He has 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 the pen.He has taught man that which he knew not.

Benefits:

• pondering over these 5 ayat are very important, as this is how the Quran started
• the first word Allah revealed was read, which shows the important of knowledge
• ٱقْرَأْ was mentioned twice
• خَلَقَ was mentioned twice
• ربك was mentioned twice
• عَلَّمَ was mentioned twice
• ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ was mentioned twice

When Allah repeats something its to show the severeness and importance of something

• Allah says read twice before mentioning what he taught to show the means to knowledge is reading.
• We were created to know, learn, be educated especially about our lord. One can never then say Islam does not care about knowledge and progress.

Question 2

What are 3 verses that show us when the Quran came down?

Answer 2

• > شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَBaqarah 185> The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’ân, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allâh intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allâh [i.e. to say Takbîr (Allâhu Akbar; Allâh is the Most Great] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.> إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةٍۢ مُّبَـٰرَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ ٣فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ-Dukhan 3-4> We sent it (this Qur’ân) down on a blessed night [(i.e. night of Al-Qadr, Sûrah No. 97) in the month of Ramadân - the 9th month of the Islâmic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship].Therein [i.e., on that night] is made distinct1every precise matter -> إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ ١ وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ ٢ لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍۢ ٣ تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍۢ ٤ سَلَـٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْرِ ٥Qadr 1-5> Indeed, We sent it [i.e., the Qur’ān] down during the Night of Decree.And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.The angels and the Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.Peace it isuntil the emergence of dawn.

Question 3

What are the different types of descending’s (Nuzul) (What are the different ways the Quran came down?) Side note: This is Not talking about in what manner did the messenger receive it, (not asking if it was like a bell, etc)

Answer 3

• Nuzūl Al Jumlī | In bulk (the entire Quran coming to the lowest heaven)
• Nuzūl Al Mufarrāq | Gradual descending
• Nuzūl as Sanawi | Yearly descending

Question 4

Example/evidence of the type of descending of the Quran: Nuzūl Al Jumlī | In bulk (the entire Quran coming to the lowest heaven)

Answer 4

• Transmitted from Ibn ‘Abbas on the ayah

> إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ

> Indeed, We sent it [i.e., the Qur’ān] down during the Night of Decree.

> عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما، في قوله تعالى: {إنا أنزلناه في ليلة القدر} [القدر: 1] قال: «أنزل القرآن في ليلة القدر جملة واحدة إلى سماء الدنيا كان بموقع النجوم» ، فكان الله ينزله على رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم بعضه في أثر بعض، قال عز وجل: {وقال الذين كفروا لولا نزل عليه القرآن جملة واحدة كذلك لنثبت به فؤادك ورتلناه ترتيلا} [الفرقان: 32].

> Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said regarding the saying of Allah Almighty: {Indeed, We sent it down during the Night of Decree} [Quran 97:1]: ‘The Quran was sent down all at once to the lowest heaven during the Night of Decree, corresponding to the positions of the stars.’ Then Allah would reveal it to His Messenger (peace be upon him) gradually, in parts. Allah Almighty said: {And those who disbelieve say, ‘Why has the Quran not been sent down upon him all at once?’ Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly} [Quran 25:32].

Question 5

With regards to the first type of the descending of the Quran: Nuzūl Al Jumlī | In bulk (the entire Quran coming to the lowest heaven) Shaykh Muhammed Ibn Ibrahim had issues with the report of Ibn ‘Abbas. What was the issue he had, is the narration authentic, and how do we reconcile it when faced with this being cited by the Ashairah?

Answer 5

• Muhammed ibn Ibrahim (the mufti before Ibn Baz) has a refutation of this view of Ibn Abbas as it supports the view of the Asharis. They believe the Quran is a sifa dhaatiyya (essential attribute rather than as a Sifa fi’liyyah (action-based attribute). The Shaykh weakened the Athar of ibn ‘Abbas (he either didn’t affirm its authenticity or had issues with the meaning of it)
  
  • however, shaykh Abdurahman Hassan is of the view is that its authentic. In addition, this is something that requires the Sahabi to speak on this Only if he was told about this from the messenger ﷺ. In addition, Ibn Abbas was not known to use Israeliyyat as evidence unlike ‘Amr ibn al ‘As. Also, no one is known to oppose Ibn ‘Abbas from the companions on this issue.
  • In order to reconcile this then, we say the Quran came down to the first heaven on Laylatul Qadr in its entirety and was revealed gradually depending on situations and events.
  • The issue of how the Quran came down in bulk is from the unseen, it can’t be rationalized. some scholars said its from what Allah has knowledge of.

Question 6

Understanding the type of descending of the Quran: Nuzūl Al Mufarrāq | Gradual descending

Answer 6

• This is the Quran coming down gradually
  
  • We mentioned in the history of Fiqh of why this was the case
  • An example of it is that of the progression of the ruling of Khamr

Question 7

Understanding the type of descending of the Quran: Nuzūl as Sanawi | Yearly descending

Answer 7

This is not mentioned often by many scholars

• It was mentioned by Muqatil ibn Sulayman (150 AH) on his Tafsir of Surah Qadr
• Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, sent it down from the Preserved Tablet to the nearest heaven, to the scribes (who are the writing angels), and that night, a portion of the revelation would be sent down proportionate to what had been decreed

Question 8

How did Jibreel take the Quran?

Answer 8

The Quran came down the lowest heaven, and Jibreel would take it directly from Allah without any intermediary

• The Asharis believe it was taken from the Sama’ ad Dunya (as in Jibreel took it from a creation of Allah) but we say it was taken directly from Allah

Question 9

What is Hukm Rafī’?

Answer 9

This is when a Sahābi says something from the unseen it takes the ruling of as if Rasulullah ﷺ said it. This is what we say of Ibn Abbās’ statement, as it was Mawqūf (but in terms of the ruling its marfu’)

Question 10

A benefit of the Quran coming gradually with the ayah of the Mushrikeen asking why the Quran didn’t come in bulk

Answer 10

• Allah strengthens the heart of the messenger

<aside>

**﴿وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ الْقُرْآنُ جُمْلَةً وَاحِدَةً ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ ۖ وَرَتَّلْنَاهُ تَرْتِيلًا﴾**

</aside>

> 25:32 And those who disbelieve say, “Why was the Qur’an not revealed to him all at once?” Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly.

• To deal with new events and situations
• So the rulings and punishments are done gradually

Question 11

Some of the scholars were of the view that the reason the Mushrikeen asked why the Quran didn’t get revealed in one bulk was because that is what they were used to. What is the evidence for this?

Answer 11

• <aside>
  
  **﴿وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ الْقُرْآنُ جُمْلَةً وَاحِدَةً ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ ۖ وَرَتَّلْنَاهُ تَرْتِيلًا﴾**
  
  [[الفرقان](https://surahquran.com/25.html): 32]
  
  English - Sahih International
  
  </aside>> 25:32 And those who disbelieve say, “Why was the Qur’an not revealed to him all at once?” Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly.
  • Some scholars used this Ayah as evidence that the previous scriptures were revealed all at once, as the disbelievers were basing it off of what they knew. Another evidence for that is
  <aside>
  
  **وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْأَلْوَاحِ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ مَّوْعِظَةًۭ وَتَفْصِيلًۭا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍۢ وَأْمُرْ قَوْمَكَ يَأْخُذُوا۟ بِأَحْسَنِهَا ۚ سَأُو۟رِيكُمْ دَارَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ**
  
  ‘Araf 145
  
  </aside>> And We wrote for him on the tablets [something] of all things - instruction and explanation for all things, [saying], “Take them with determination and order your people to take the best of it. I will show you the home of the defiantly disobedient.”1Allah gave it to him in its entirety (Allah wrote it with his own hands)