6. REASONS FOR SENDING DOWN THE QUR’ᾹN IN STAGES (1)
The Qur’ān consists of 6236 verses which
is today the most accepted opinion. According to Ibn ‘Abbās there are 6616
verses, Nāfi‘: 6217, Shaybah: 6214, scholars of Egypt: 6226, and al-Zamakhsharī:
6666. The difference lies in counting, such as whether the letters of the
alphabet in the beginning of some surahs (chapters) are considered one verse or
part of a verse. Two or three verses could be considered by some scholars
as one verse. This is because, among other things, one sentence which is
usually understood to have at least one subject and one predicate may consist
of many verses. Sūrat al-Takwīr (chapter 81), for example, starts with 13
verses depicting the situation in the Hereafter: “When the sun…, and when
the stars… and when the mountains…and when the pregnant she-camel…and when…etc…,
then to complete a sentence verse 14 follows: “(Then) every person shall
know what he has brought (of good and evil).” It is said that the Qur’an
was revealed in about 5 verses in each revelation, then, in the above example,
at least 14 verses would have to be revealed to complete the sentence.
The Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet
gradually and in stages for a period of 23 years for many reasons, among which
are as follows:
1.
To strengthen the heart of the Prophet by addressing him continually. Allah said in the Qur’an,
وَقَالَ
الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ الْقُرْآنُ جُمْلَةً وَاحِدَةً
كَذَلِكَ
لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ وَرَتَّلْنَاهُ تَرْتِيلًا (الفرقان :32)
And those who disbelieve say: ‘Why is not the Qur’an
revealed to him all at once?”
Thus (it is sent down in parts),
that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And
We have
revealed it to you gradually, in stages. (Q. 25:32)
Allah also revealed
to the Prophet the story of prophets before him to strengthen his heart. He
said:
وَكُلًّا نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنْبَاءِ الرُّسُلِ مَا
نُثَبِّتُ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ وَجَاءَكَ
فِي هَذِه الْحَقُّ وَمَوْعِظَةٌ وَذِكْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ (هود: 120)
And all that We relate to you (O Muhammad) of
the news of the Messengers is in order that We may
make strong and firm your heart thereby. And in this
(chapter of the Qur’an) has come to you the truth,
as well as an admonition and a reminder
for the believers. (Q. 11:120)
At the outset of
his mission most people disbelieved him, and might weaken his spirit, and then
Allah comforted him by revealing to him that prophets before him were also
called liars, but they were patient. He said:
وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ
مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُوا عَلَى مَا كُذِّبُوا وَأُوذُوا حَتَّى أَتَاهُمْ
نَصْرُنَا وَلَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَكَ مِنْ نَبَإِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ (الأنعام:34)
Verily,
(many) Messenger were denied before you
(O
Muhammad), but with patience they bore the denial,
and they were hurt till Our Help reached them,
and none
can alter the Words (Decisions) of Allah.
Surely there
has reached you the information (news) about
the Messengers (before you) (Q. 6:34)
The Makkan idolaters not only rejected the
Prophet’s call to Islam, but also
ridiculed and made fun of him. Then Allah revealed to him to be patient and to
leave them. He said:
وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا (10)
And be patient (O Muhammad) with what they say,
and keep away from them in a good way.(Q. 73:10)
Their
worshiping idols saddened
the Prophet, but Allah wanted him to be patient and convinced him that He knew
what they said openly or secretly. He said:
وَاتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ آلِهَةً لَعَلَّهُمْ يُنْصَرُونَ. لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
نَصْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُمْ
جُنْدٌ مُحْضَرُونَ. فَلَا يَحْزُنْكَ قَوْلُهُمْ إِنَّا نَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ
وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ (يس:74-76)
And they have taken besides Allah gods, hoping that they
might be
helped (by those co-called gods). They cannot help
them, but they
will be brought forward as a troop against
those who worshipped them (at the time of
Reckoning). So,
let not their
speech, then, grieve you (O Muhammad).
Verily, we know
what they conceal and what
they reveal. (Q. 36:74-76)
Moreover, Allah promised to protect the Prophet in conveying the
message of Islam, when He said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَإِنْ
لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ
وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ
(المائدة:67)
O
Messenger (Muhammad), proclaim (the Message) which
has been sent down to you from your Lord. And
if you do not,
then you have not conveyed the Message. Allah
will protect
you
from mankind. Verily, Allah guides not the
people
who disbelieve. (Q.5:67)
When
victory seemed to be far away, Allah promised it to the Prophet, when he said:
كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَأَغْلِبَنَّ أَنَا وَرُسُلِي إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
(المجادلة:21)
Allah has decreed:
“Verily, it is I and My Messengers
who
shall be victorious.” Verily, Allah is All-
Powerful,
All-Mighty (Q. 58:21)
When
the companions of the Prophet were not happy with the conclusion of the Treaty of
Hudaybiyyah, as they considered it a one-sided treaty: they had to postpone
their pilgrimage to the next year, and any Muslim from the Makkan tribe who
took refuge to Madinah had to be brought back to Makkah, and not vise-versa. Ssome
of them were even in doubt of his being a prophet. On their way back to
Madinah, the Prophet said to them that it had been revealed to him worth more
than the world and its contents. He recited:
إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُبِينًا . لِيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ
مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ
عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَاطًا مُسْتَقِيمًا.
وَيَنْصُرَكَ اللَّهُ نَصْرًا عَزِيزًا (الفتح:1-3)
Verily,
We have given you (O Muhammad) a manifest
victory. That Allah may forgive you your sins
of the past
and the future, and complete His Favour on
you, and
guide you on the Straight Path. (Q. 48:1-3).
The
Prophet was said to have performed night prayers until his feet became swollen.
It was said to him, “Allah has forgiven you your sins of the past and the
future.” On that, he said, “Shouldn’t I be a thankful slave of Allah?”
(Reported by Bukhari)
The
Prophet’s companions congratulated him for the good news for him; they asked
him whether good news would also be for them. Then Allah revealed,
لِيُدْخِلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا
الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ
فِيهَا وَيُكَفِّرَ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ
وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا (الفتح:5)
That He may admit
the believing men and the believing
women to Gardens under which rivers flow (i.e.
Paradise)
to abide therein
forever, and He may expiate from their
sins; and that is with Allah a supreme
success. (Q.
48:5)
Verse 1-2 and verse 5 are connected, so that it means, that Allah has
given the Prophet s.a.w. victory so that He
forgives his past and future sins, and that He admits believers to Heaven.
2. Out of
consideration for the Prophet since revelation was a very difficult experience
for him. For example:
a.
He
perspired profusely.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ المُؤْمِنِينَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا، أَنَّ الحَارِثَ
بْنَ هِشَامٍ
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ
اللَّهِ، كَيْفَ يَأْتِيكَ الوَحْيُ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
«أَحْيَانًا يَأْتِينِي مِثْلَ صَلْصَلَةِ الجَرَسِ، وَهُوَ أَشَدُّهُ عَلَيَّ،
فَيُفْصَمُ عَنِّي
وَقَدْ وَعَيْتُ عَنْهُ مَا قَالَ،
وَأَحْيَانًا يَتَمَثَّلُ لِيَ المَلَكُ رَجُلًا فَيُكَلِّمُنِي فَأَعِي
مَا يَقُولُ» قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ
يَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهِ الوَحْيُ فِي اليَوْمِ الشَّدِيدِ البَرْدِ، فَيَفْصِمُ
عَنْهُ
وَإِنَّ جَبِينَهُ لَيَتَفَصَّدُ عَرَقًا (رواه البخاري و مسلم)
Narrated ‘Ᾱ’ishah (the mother of the faithful
believers):
Al-Ḥārith bin Hishām (r.a.) asked Allah’s Messenger
s.a.w.
O, Allah’s
Messenger! How is the Divine Inspiration revealed
to you?”
Allah’s Messenger s.a.w. replied, “Sometimes it is
(revealed) like the ringing
of a bell, this form of Inspiration is
the hardest of all and then this state passes off
after I have
grasped what is
inspired. Sometimes the angel comes in
the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever
he says.” ‘Ᾱ’ishah
r.a. added: Verily, I saw the Prophet
s.a.w. being inspired
(divinely) and (noticed) the
sweat
dropping from his forehead on a very
cold day as the Inspiration was over.
(Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)
وقال زيد بن ثابت
:"كُنْتُ أَكْتُبُ الْوَحْيَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَكَانَ إِذَا نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ
أَخَذَتْهُ بُرَحَاءٌ شَدِيدَةٌ
وَعَرِقَ عَرَقًا شَدِيدًا مِثْلَ الْجُمَانِ، ثُمَّ سُرِّيَ عَنْهُ"
Zayd ibn
Thābit said: “I used to write the revelation
for the
Prophet, and when revelation came to him
affliction overtook him and perspired
profusely like
small pearls, then he felt at
peace again .”
b.
His body became very heavy. ‘Ᾱ’ishah said that
it happened that revelation came to the Prophet while he was on his riding she
camel. The camel felt the heaviness of him that she knelt and hit the ground
with her inner neck. It also happened that the Prophet was leaning on the leg
of Zayd ibn Thābit. Zayd said:
"حَتَّى تَكَادَ رِجْلِي
تَنْكَسِرُ مِنْ ثِقَلِ الْقُرْآنِ، وَحَتَّى أَقُولَ:
لَا أَمْشِي عَلَى رِجْلِي
أَبَدًا" (رواه الطبراني)
“The Qur’ān was so heavy, that my legs almost
became broken, and said that I would not be able
to walk again.” (Reported by al-Ṭabrānī)
c.
He heard sound like clinking, heard by the
companions like the hum of bees.
عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ اْلخَطاَّبِ قَالَ:"
كَانَ إِذَا نَزَلَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ
عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْوَحْيُ يُسْمَعُ عِنْدَ وَجْهِهِ دَوِيٌّ كَدَوِيِّ
النَّحْلِ" (رواه أحمد)
‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb said: “When revelation
came
to the Messenger of Allah s.a.w. hum was heard at his
face like the hum of bees” (Reported by Ahmad)
d.
His
face changed.
عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، قَالَ: قال:"كَانَ نَبِيُّ اللهِ إِذَا أُنْزِلَ
عَلَيْهِ كُرِبَ لِذَلِكَ، وَتَرَبَّدَ وَجْهُهُ" (روام مسلم)
‘Ubādah ibn al-Ṣāmit
said: “When the Prophet of Allah
received revelation he
felt distress from it, and his
face turned grey (Reported by Muslim)
e.
He tilted his head and covered it with a cloth.
نَكَسَ رَأْسَهُ وَنَكَسَ أَصْحَابُهُ رُءُوسَهُمْ، فَلَمَّا أُتْلِيَ عَنْهُ
رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ»
Ubādah ibn al-Ṣāmit said: “When the Prophet of
Allah received revelation he tilted his head and covered
it with a cloth, and his companions also covered
their heads.
After the revelation was read
to him his lifted his head.
f.
Snoring was heard from him like that of the young
camel. Ya‘lā ibn Umayyah said:
“I wish I could see the Prophet when revelation was being sent down to him.”
‘Umar asked him if he really wanted to see him in that condition. When he said,
“yes”, ‘Umar lifted his clothes and snored like the snore of the young camel.
All these indicate the severity in receiving revelation, which has been
mentioned by Allah when he says:
إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا (المزمل:5)
Verily, We shall send down
to you a weighty Word (Q.
73:5)
Commentators of the Qur’ān say that the revelation itself is weighty, such
as the above examples; others say that the application of its injunction and
prohibition is weighty. Similarly, the following verse indicate the difficulty
in applying the injunctions and prohibition in the Qur’ān,
لَوْ أَنْزَلْنَا هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى جَبَلٍ لَرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُتَصَدِّعًا
مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ
وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
(21الحشر:21)
Had We send down this Qur’ān on a mountain, you
would surely
have seen it humbling itself and rent asunder by the fear of Allah. Such are
the parables which We put forward to mankind that they may reflect.(Q. 59:21)
Bibliography:
Von Denffer, Ahmad. ‘Ulūm al-Qur’ān. Kuala Lumpur:
A.S. Nordeen, 1991
المكتبة الشاملة
تفسير الطبريhttp://vb.tafsir.net/tafsir35685
many-verses-ayahs-are-there-in-the-quran
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