Was the Quran Revealed on the Prophet All at Once?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
Did the Quran descend upon the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) all at once, or in a different manner?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
The Gradual Revelation of the Quran
The Quran was not revealed to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) all at once, unlike the previous scriptures, such as the Torah and the Gospel, which were revealed to the earlier prophets in their entirety. Instead, Allah (Most High) chose to reveal the Quran in stages, according to the needs of the time and the circumstances. Often, five or ten verses would be revealed at a time, or sometimes even fewer or more.
Duration of Revelation
The Quran continued to be revealed over a period of twenty-three years, beginning with the commencement of revelation when the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was forty years old until he joined the Highest Company at the age of sixty-three.
Evidence from the Quran for Gradual Revelation
Among the evidences for the gradual revelation of the Quran is the verse where Allah (Most High) says:
“The disbelievers say, ‘If only the Quran had been sent down to him all at once!’ (We have sent it) as such (in stages) so We may reassure your heart with it. And We have revealed it at a deliberate pace.” [Quran, 25:32]
Here, Allah (Most High) explains the wisdom behind revealing the Quran gradually, which is to strengthen the heart of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Another verse that affirms the gradual revelation is:
“(It is) a Quran We have revealed in stages so that you may recite it to people at a deliberate pace. And We have sent it down in successive revelations.” [Quran, 17:106]
Ibn ‘Atiyya explains the phrase “in stages” as referring to Allah’s will for the Quran to be revealed in response to events and actions that occurred over specific and defined times. [Ibn ‘Atiyya, al-Muharrar wa al-Wajiz]
Revelation in Response to Questions
There are also numerous verses that demonstrate the Quran being revealed gradually, in response to various occurrences. For example, the Quran would be revealed to answer questions posed to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), such as:
“They ask you (O Prophet) in what (way) they should donate. Say, ‘Whatever donations you give are for parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, and (needy) travelers. Whatever good you do is certainly well known to Allah.’” [Quran, 2:215]
Another instance is when the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was asked about the soul:
“They ask you (O Prophet) about the spirit. Say, ‘Its nature is known only to my Lord, and you (O humanity) have been given but little knowledge.’” [Quran, 17:85]
There are many other questions and inquiries like these. It is clear that these questions were raised to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) at different times and in various situations, necessitating that the answers be revealed accordingly over time.
Revelation in Response to Events
Additionally, the Quran was revealed in response to unfolding events and incidents. Whenever a new situation arose, verses would be revealed to address it, and Allah would clarify His rulings that were appropriate for the situation. An example of this is the incident of the slander (Hadith al-Ifk), after which Allah (Most High) revealed:
“Indeed, those who came up with that (outrageous) slander are a group of you.” [Quran, 24:11]
This refers to ten verses that were revealed concerning one of the most significant events—the slander against the noble Mother of the Believers, ‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her). The Quranic revelation vindicated the pure and chaste woman from above the seven heavens. There are countless other examples that demonstrate the gradual revelation of the Quran.
Wisdom Behind Gradual Revelation
The wisdom behind the gradual revelation of the Quran includes facilitating its memorization, understanding, and knowledge of its rulings, allowing for the gradual development and education of the emerging Muslim community in both knowledge and practice, and providing ongoing guidance in response to changing circumstances and events. These and other reasons are why the Quran was revealed gradually.
Note: Please see Zurqani’s “Manahil al-‘Irfan” and ‘Itr’s “‘Ulum al-Quran” for more details on this important topic.
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
