Al-Nuzul al-Tadriji: Difference between revisions

'''Al-Nuzūl al-Tadrījī''' (gradual revelation) or '''al-Nuzūl al-Tafṣīlī''' (articulated revelation) is the revelation of the Qur'an during the 23 years of the mission of the Prophet (s) in the form of a single verse or a number of verses in different temporal and spatial circumstances. The majority of Quranic exegetes believe that the instant (daf'i) revelation of the Qur'an took place in the Night of Qadr, and its gradual revelation began with the revelation of the first verses of Sura al-'Alaq on the day of the Prophet’s bi'that and ended with the revelation of Sura al-Nasr. The instant revelation of the Qur'an was denied by some exegetes who believe that the Qur'an was only gradually revealed, which began in the Night of Qadr. Different reasons have been cited for the gradual revelation of the Qur'an, such as bestowing peacefulness and steadfastness to hearts of the Prophet (s) and his companions, as well as gradual introduction of Muslims to religious decrees.

According to Quranic exegetes, the Qur'an was revealed piecemeal, dependently on appropriate temporal and spatial circumstances, by Gabriel to the Prophet (s). In terminologies of Quranic sciences, this is known as “tadriji” (gradual) or “tafsili” (articulated) revelation, which is in contrast to “daf'i” (instant) revelation of the Qur'an which took place in the Night of Qadr when the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet (s) all at once. The majority of exegetes take the gradual revelation to have taken 23 years. However, on other accounts, the duration of the gradual revelation was 20 years.

According to the majority of Shiite and Sunni exegetes, the revelation of the Qur'an began at the same time as the Prophet’s bi'that, and the first verses of Sura al-'Alaq were the first verses revealed. And the last sura revealed to the Prophet (s) was Sura al-Nasr. There are few hadiths in which Sura al-Hamd or Sura al-Duha or Sura al-Najm are cited as the first sura, and the Verse of Ikmal and Sura al-Ma'ida are said to, respectively, be the last verse and the last sura revealed to the Prophet.

Al-Shayk al-Mufid, al-Sayyid al-Murtada, and Ibn Shahrashub have denied the instant (daf'i) revelation of the Qur'an, holding that the Qur'an was only gradually revealed to the Prophet (s). In their view, verses such as “Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Qadr” or “The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an,” are about the beginning of the gradual revelation of the Qur'an in the Night of Qadr and the Ramadan month.

The most important Quranic reason for the gradual revelation is stated, according to exegetes, in the verse 106 of Sura al-Isra': “And [it is] a Qur'an which We have separated [by intervals] that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period.” According to Quranic verses and hadiths, the Qur'an was revealed piecemeal lest Muslims be faced with an abundance of rulings and decrees all at once. Thus, they were introduced to religious commands and beliefs on particular occasions. This made it easier for them to understand Quranic verses and act thereupon. Other reasons have also been cited for the gradual revelation, including:

* Peacefulness of the Prophet’s heart

* Steadfastness of the Prophet’s companions and the reinforcement of their faith

  | quality =

  | links =

  | photo =

  | navbox =