Why Was the Quran Revealed Gradually?

Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa

Question 

Why was the Quran revealed to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) gradually and not all at once?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds, and 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 Noble Quran was gradually revealed upon the heart of the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers (Allah bless him and give him peace) over a period of more than twenty years. Several purposes and wisdom were behind its gradual revelation.

The revelation of the Quran upon the heart of the chosen one (Allah bless him and give him peace) is distinct from the revelation of the other heavenly books, which were revealed all at once. The Quran, however, was revealed gradually.

The evidence for this gradual and segmented revelation is found in the words of Allah (Most High):

“(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]

And His words:

“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. Whenever they bring you an argument, We come to you with the right refutation and the best explanation.” [Quran, 25:32-33]

It is narrated that the disbelievers from among the Jews and polytheists criticized the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) for the gradual revelation of the Quran and suggested that it be revealed all at once. Allah revealed these two verses in response to them. [Zurqani, Manahil al-‘Irfan]

The gradual revelation of the Noble Quran had several secrets and numerous wisdoms, which can be summarized as follows:

Firstly: Strengthening and Fortifying the Prophet’s Heart and Spirit

Renewal of Revelation: The repeated renewal of revelation and the frequent descent of the angel with it from the Divine to His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) brought joy and filled the Prophet’s heart with happiness. This occurred because each instance of revelation conveyed a sense of divine care and attention.

Ease of Memorization and Understanding: The gradual revelation facilitated the Prophet’s task of memorizing, understanding, and comprehending its laws and wisdom.

Miraculous Nature: Each instance of the segmented revelation often included a new miracle. The Quran repeatedly challenged the disbelievers to produce something like it, showcasing their inability and causing them great frustration. Undoubtedly, the miracles supported the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), bolstered his followers, and defeated his enemies.

Consolation during Hardships: The enmity against the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) intensified, and he faced numerous hardships. During these times, the Prophet’s heart needed consolation. Whenever his enemies pressured him, his Lord comforted him. This consolation sometimes came through the stories of the prophets and messengers, which have a significant presence in the Quran. Allah (Most High) says, “And We relate to you (O Prophet) the stories of the messengers to reassure your heart.” [Quran, 11:120]

Other times, the comfort came through Allah’s promises of victory, support, and protection, as in His saying:

“So be patient with your Lord’s decree, for you are truly under Our (watchful) Eyes.” [Quran, 52:48]

Sometimes the consolation was through warnings to his enemies, as in:

“(Soon) their united front will be defeated and (forced to) flee.” [Quran, 54:45], and

“If they turn away, then say, (O Prophet,) ‘I warn you of a (mighty) blast, like the one that befell ’Ȃd and Thamûd.’” [Quran, 41:13]

At other times, the consolation took the form of explicit commands to be patient, as in Allah’s statement, “So endure patiently, as did the Messengers of Firm Resolve.” [Quran, 46:35]

Gradual Education and Training of this Ummah in Knowledge and Action

Facilitating Memorization: The Quran was revealed to an illiterate nation with limited writing tools available even to the few who could write. If the Quran had been revealed all at once, they would have struggled to memorize it. Therefore, Divine wisdom necessitated that it be revealed gradually, making it easier for them to memorize and recite.

Easing Comprehension: Similarly, the gradual revelation facilitated their understanding of the Quran, as it was easier for them to grasp its meanings in smaller portions.

Gradual Abandonment of False Beliefs and Practices: The gradual revelation helped in the systematic eradication of their false beliefs, corrupt worship practices, and reprehensible customs. They were gradually trained to abandon these practices step by step. Each time Islam succeeded in demolishing one falsehood, it moved on to the next, starting with the most important and then addressing the lesser issues, until they were completely rid of these impurities.

Strengthening the Hearts of Believers: The Quran fortified the believers’ hearts and equipped them with patience and certainty through the stories of the prophets and messengers. These stories recounted their experiences with their enemies and disbelievers, and Allah’s promises of victory, reward, support, and empowerment for His righteous servants. As Allah (Most High) says:

“Allah has promised those of you who believe and do good that He will certainly make them successors in the land, as He did with those before them; and will surely establish for them their faith which He has chosen for them; and will indeed change their fear into security—(provided that) they worship Me, associating nothing with Me. But whoever disbelieves after this (promise), it is they who will be the rebellious.” [Quran, 24:55]

Accommodating Events and Emergencies as They Arise

Addressing New Developments: Whenever something new occurred, verses were revealed to address it, and Allah provided detailed rulings that suited the situation. This included answering the questions posed to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), whether the questions were to confirm his message or to seek enlightenment and know Allah’s rulings.

Providing Immediate Guidance: The Quran provided guidance for specific incidents and events as they happened, detailing Allah’s rulings for each situation. These incidents did not occur all at once but rather progressively, necessitating the detailed and gradual revelation of the Quran in accordance with these events, such as the incident of slander (Hadithat al-Ifk).

Correcting Mistakes and Guiding Muslims: The Quran also aims to correct Muslims’ mistakes and guide them to the right path simultaneously. Undoubtedly, these mistakes occurred at different times, and it was wise for the Quranic revelations that addressed these mistakes to be timely as well.

Indicating the Divine Origin of the Quran

The Quran’s gradual revelation over more than twenty years, without showing any disjointedness or inconsistency, points to its divine origin. It is impossible for the Quran to be the words of Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) or any other created being. The seamless and consistent nature of the Quran, despite its segmented revelation corresponding to various events and incidents, leads us to understand that, “Had it been from anyone other than Allah, they would have certainly found in it many inconsistencies.” [Quran, 4:82]

Summary

The entire Book of our Lord (Most High) is full of secrets and wisdom. It is like the rain, which revives dead land whenever it falls, causing it to flourish. The gradual revelation of the Quran, piece by piece, is more beneficial than if it had been revealed all at once.

Note: These insights were derived from the book “Manahil al-‘Irfan fī ‘Ulum al-Quran” by Zurqani, with adaptation.

May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.

And Allah knows best.

[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa