Divine Revelation: A study of the qur’anic sciences

1. Divine Revelation: A study of the qur’anic sciences Lecture 4 February 10 2013 Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

2. MakkanAND madinan revelationsTIMES AND LOCATIONS OF REVELATION Chapters 5.1-5.2 Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

3. Makki and madani revelations • The Surahs in the Qur’an are labeled as “Makki” or “Madani” • Many misinterpret this to mean that the Surah/Ayah was revealed in the city of Makkah or Madinah • That is not the case • Makki = Revealed before Hijrah • Madani = Revealed after Hijrah Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

4. Makki and madani revelations • The Prophet ﷺ himself is not known to have classified the Surahs as Makkan or Madinan • This classification came from the Sahabah and their followers • Some Surahs or Ayahs were not classified by the Sahabah, but the Scholars were able to classify them based on consistent patterns found in Makkan or Madinan revelations • We will cover shortly Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

5. Makki and madani revelations • Some Surahs are entirely Makkan • Ex. Surah Al-Muddathir • Some Surahs are entirely Madinan • Ex. Surah Al-Imran • Some Surahs are Makkan as a whole, but contain one or more Madinan verses • Ex. Surah Al-A’raf • Some Surahs are Madinan as a whole, but contain one or more Makkan verses • Ex. Surah Al-Hajj • Classification of a Surah is based on the majority of its verses • But in some cases a Surah is classified based on when its initial verses were revealed (before or after Hijrah) Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

6. Characteristics of makkan verses CONSISTENT • Any Surah that contains the word “كلا” • Contains an Ayah of Sajdah • According to the Hanafis; Shaf’is consider one Madinan verse to be an Ayah of Sajdah (Surah Al-Hajj) FREQUENT • Mention the story of Adam and Iblis • Except Surah Al-Baqarah • Contain يا ايِّها الناس(Oh People!) • Surahs are short in length • Mushrikin (idol-worshippers) are addressed • Complex, elegant language Themes: Tawhid, prophethood, afterlife, resurrection, stories of previous prophets, comfort and encouragement of patience Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

7. Characteristics of madinan verses CONSISTENT • Mention of the munafiqun (hypocrites) • There were no hypocrites in Makkah • Any Surah mentioning jihad FREQUENT • Contains يا ايِّها الذين آمنوا(Oh you who believe!) • Long in length • People of the Book are addressed • Straight-forward language • The language is simpler because majority of these verses discuss Law, which must be clear and unambiguous Themes: Family and societal law, jihad, obligations (fara’id), penalties (hudud) Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

8. TIMES AND LOCATIONS OF REVELATION “By the One besides Whom there is no Lord, there is no chapter revealed in the Book of Allah except that I am the most knowledgeable one regarding where it was revealed. There is no verse from the Book of Allah that has been revealed except that I am the most knowledgeable one regarding the circumstances of its revelation.” (Bukhārī , Muslim) ~ AbdullāhibnMas’ūd(R) Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

9. Classifications • Hadri – Verses revealed when the Prophet ﷺwas staying at home and not travelling • Majority of verses fall in this category • Safri – Revealed during travel • Ex. إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا۟ ٱلْأَمَٰنَٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا • Nahari – Revealed during the daytime • Most verses are in this category • Layla – Revealed at night • Ex. إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

10. classifications • Sayfi – Revealed during the summer • Ex. يَسْتَفْتُونَكَ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِى ٱلْكَلَٰلَةِ • Shitaa’i – Revealed during the winter • Ex. The ayaat from Surah Al-Nur which condemn the slanderers of Sayyidah ‘Ayesha (RA) • Firashi – Revealed to the Prophet ﷺ while he was lying in his bed • Ex. وَٱللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

11. CLASSIFICATIONS • Nawmi – Revealed while the Prophet ﷺ was sleeping • SayyidinaAnas: “The Holy Prophet ﷺwas once sitting among us when he suddenly got a wink of sleep, and thereafter he raised his head, smiled, and said that a Surah has just been revealed to him, and then he recited Surah Al-Kauthar.” • This was not actual sleep, but a state particular to the Prophet ﷺwhen Wahy was sent to him • Samaawi – Revealed during the Mi’raj of the Prophet ﷺ • The last verses of Surah Al-Baqarah near Sidrat-ulMuntaha • Fidaai – Not revealed on earth nor in the sky, but somewhere in the atmosphere – IbnArabi • 3 verses of Surah As-Saffat and 1 verse of Surah Az-Zukhruf • Imam Suyuti could not find any authentic proof for this Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

12. Gradual descent of qur’an Mentioned earlier – Qur’an was revealed bit by bit • Sometimes Jibril (AS) came with a single verse or a portion of a verse • Smallest portion of Qur’an to be revealed: غير أولى الضرر (portion of Surah Nisa) • Largest revelation: Surah Al-An’am • Reasons for why not revealed all at once: • Difficult for Prophet ﷺbecause he was unlettered • Entire Qur’an would become obligatory all at once • Brought peace to the heart of the Prophet ﷺduring difficulty • Many verses refer to specific incidents (Asbab al-Nuzul) Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

13. Asbab al-nuzul: causes of revelation • Many verses in the Qur’an were revealed by Allah SWT in reference to specific incidents and contexts in the Prophet’s ﷺlife that caused revelation to descend. These incidents are referred to as the Causes of Revelation, or Asbabal-Nuzul • Knowledge of the causes of revelation is an essential component of tafsir and understanding of the Qur’an • To understand why a command was given يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَٰرَىٰ • To understand the true meaning of a verse وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْمَشْرِقُ وَٱلْمَغْرِبُ ۚ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا۟ فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ • Many more reasons are listed by the Scholars Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

14. Causes of revelation: General and specific commands • The verses of Quran revealed regarding a specific incident are of four kinds in relation to their general or specific application: • If the verse addresses a person by name, the ḥukm is specific to that person (e.g. Ṣūrat al-Lahab) • If the exact name is not mentioned, but other evidence determines that it is about a specific person, the ḥukm is specific to him (e.g. Ṣūratal-Layl) وسيجنّبها الأتقى • If the words of the verse are specific, but Hadith shows that the Prophet ﷺapplied it generally, it’s ḥukm is general (e.g. verses of inheritance were revealed specifically, but Hadith shows that Prophet applied them generally) • If words of the verse are general, but Hadith show that they were revealed for a specific incident, the ḥukm is general Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

15. Chronological vs. compiled order • The Qur’an is not compiled in order of when the Surahs/Ayahs were revealed • The Prophet ﷺinstructed the Sahabah where to put the Ayahs in the Surahs when they were revealed to him • There is a difference of opinion regarding the order of the Surahs • The order of Surahs was also dictated by Wahy • The order of Surahs was determined by the Sahabah • The stronger opinion is the order of Surahs is from Wahy • The chronological order of the entire Qur’an cannot be mapped with certainty • The Sahabah did not put much importance in this, other than for understanding the Asbab al-Nuzul • Many non-Muslim scholars have attempted to put the Qur’an in chronological order, because they feel it is currently “out of order” • The Qur’an is exactly in the order in which Allah SWT has willed Qur'anic Sciences - DKI

16. Assignments & Questions • Review Chapters 5.1-5.2 in Course Manual • Read ahead to Chapter 5.3-5.5 • Recommended supplementary reading: An Approach to the Qur’anic Sciences By Mufti Muhammad TaqiUthmani • Questions? Qur'anic Sciences - DKI