Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As Sallaam-O-Allaikum,

It would be great pleasure if you explain us which and which Surahs were revealed in Madinah and which in Mekkah. We would also like to have some light on the compilation of the Quran's in a book form where many surahs which were revealed in earlier times is compiled later and many surahs which were revealed much later is compiled as beginning of the Quran. Was this compiling done with the knowledge of Our Prophet (saws)?

Why do we read Quran in paras, (30 Paras) doesn't it break the link of the surahs? Why is not Quran compiled in exactly in its revealation form? What is the reason behind dividing Quran in 30 Para's, what must be the reason behind compiling not in its original revealation form?

What ever I want to ask maybe I could not explain in simple words.

May Allah forgive me for my errors. Allah is All forgiving and Oft Merciful. Allah Alone knows Best and He is the only Source of Strenght.

Your Brother

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

The compilation of the Quran

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your comment: It would be great pleasure if you explain us which and which Surahs were revealed in Madinah and which in Mekkah.

Almost all the Qurans or their translations will mention in the preface or index of the Surahs, which of the 114 Surahs of the Quran were revealed in Makkah and which were revealed in Medina. If you cannot find the list, and want us to list them, please do let us know; and it would be out pleasure to list them for you for your reference.

Surahs of the Makkah Period:

These Surahs were revealed before the Hijrah of the Prophet (saws) to Medina. Because these were the first Surahs to be revealed, and the audience were mostly the polytheists of the Quraish, the topics of the

Makkah Surahs revolve around three basic topics:

Tawheed: The Oneness of Allah, and the absolute refutation of the various other gods and deities whom the mushriks (polytheists) worshiped with Allah.

Aakherah: The concept of the Hereafter and the Day of Judgement, where all mankind will be given life again and be presented in the Court of Allah for a full accounting.

Rasaalah : The Message and the Messenger. Allah relates many of the stories of the Prophets before Prophet Mohamed (saws) and the challenges they faced with their own people, in those times. This was done to warn the mushriks of Makkah that what they were doing with Prophet Mohamed (saws) was exactly what the disbelievers used to do, until they were completely overwhelmed with the scourge of Allah Subhanah. These stories of the Prophets also gave good news to the believers and invited them to be patient and steadfast, for victory will always be with the believers.

The Surahs that were revealed in the Islamic State of Medina gives the rules and laws of the Shariah, and the dealings of and with the hypocrites and the People of the Book.

Your comment: We would also like to have some light on the compilation of the Quran's in a book form where many surahs which were revealed in earlier times is compiled later and many surahs which were revealed much later is compiled as beginning of the Quran. Was this compiling done with the knowledge of Our Prophet (saws)?

The Quran that we study and recite today, is in the exact same format, and the Surahs arranged in the exact same manner as when it was first compiled. This process of arranging the Surahs in their sequence was commanded by the Messenger of Allah (saws) under the guidance of Allah Subhanah.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 75 Surah Qiyaamah verses 17-18:(O Prophet) It is upto Us to have it (the Quran) collected and read! Therefore, when We are reciting it, listen to its recital carefully.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 15 Surah Al Hijr verse 9:It is We (Allah), Who has sent down this Quran, and We will assuredly guard it (against corruption).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.819 Narrated by Aisha

Once Fatima came walking and her gait resembled the gait of the Prophet (saws) . The Prophet (saws) said, "Welcome, O my daughter!" Then he made her sit on his right or on his left side, and then he told her a secret, and she started weeping. I asked her, "Why are you weeping?" He again told her a secret and she started laughing. I said, "I never saw happiness so near to sadness as I saw today." I asked her what the Prophet (saws) had told her. She said, "I would never disclose the secret of Allah's Apostle (saws)." When the Prophet (saws) died, I asked her about it. She replied: "The Prophet (saws) said, 'Every year Gabriel used to revise the Qur'an with me once only, but this year he has done so twice. I think this portends my death, and you will be the first of my family to follow me.' So I started weeping. Then he said. 'Don't you like to be the mistress of all the ladies of Paradise or the mistress of all the lady believers? So I laughed for that.' "

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.520 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Gabriel used to repeat the recitation of the Qur'an with the Prophet (saws) once a year, but he repeated it twice with him in the year he died.

Hadrat Jibrael (a.s.) used to revise the Quran, in the format that we have today, with the Prophet (saws), and this exact format was taught by the Prophet (saws) to the believers. This compilation of arranging the Surahs, is done not only with the knowledge of the Prophet (saws), but it was done with the knowledge and guidance of the All Knowing, All Wise, Allah Subhanah.

Why do we read Quran in paras, (30 Paras) doesn't it break the link of the surahs? Why is not Quran compiled in exactly in its revealation form? What is the reason behind dividing Quran in 30 Para's, what must be the reason behind compiling not in its original revealation form?

Allah chose to reveal and then compile it in a different sequence than its sequence of revelation, because when it was first revealed, it was revealed to one man (The Messenger of Allah (saws)), and his main audience were the disbelievers and polytheists of the Quraish. But when the revelations were complete, and an Islamic State had been formed in Medina with a multitude of believers; the Glorious Quran was to be a Book of Guidance for all of mankind, until the end of time! The All Knowing, All Wise Allah has chosen this form of arrangement as the best way for the guidance of mankind!

The 30 Paras were arranged and marked long after the death of the Prophet (saws) and his noble companions. This was done mainly be those believers who memorized the Quran, and they marked these 30 Paras to facilitate their memorization. What is important is the 114 Surahs which were revealed to the Prophet (saws), and these Surahs were arranged by the Prophet (saws) under the guidance of Allah as we have them available to us today. The Paras indeed break the link between the Surahs, and have absolutely no basis or need to be followed by the believers; it was done by the believers only to facilitate the memorization of the Quran.

Your Statement: What ever I want to ask maybe I could not explain in simple words.

On the contrary, brother, you have asked a very interesting and intriguing question which might arise in the mind of many believers, but he might be hesitant to ask in fear of dis-respecting the Quran. The truth is brother, in Islam, if one is asking any, I repeat, any question for the sake of gaining knowledge; then it is considered ‘ibaadah’ to ask and seek knowledge in Islam. May Allah bless you and reward you, and increase your quest for knowledge in this beautiful deen of Truth. And there is no better source of gaining knowledge in Islam between the heavens and the earth, than the Glorious Quran; for they are indeed the very words of our Merciful Lord, which He, in His Sublime and Infinite Mercy, revealed for our guidance. It would indeed be very ungrateful and rebellious of us if we were to leave this guidance, and seek guidance from any other book! Glorified and Exalted is Allah, the Lord of the Universe!

Allah says in Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185:"Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down: this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of CLEAR teachings which show the right way and are a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood."

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 44 Surah Dukhan verse 58:We have made this Book easy in your own tongue so that they may ponder and take good counsel.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 89:We have sent down to you this Book, which makes everything plain, and is a guidance, blessing and good news to those who have surrendered themselves entirely.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 43 Surah Zukhruf verses 43-44:So, hold fast to the Book that has been revealed to you, you are surely on the Siraat al Mustaqeem. The fact is that this book is a great honor for you and your people, and soon you shall be CALLED TO ACCOUNT for it.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verses 52-53:We have brought to these people a Book which gives details based on knowledge and which is a guidance and blessing for those who believe. Now, are these people waiting for anything other than the consequence of which they have been warned in the Book? When the consequence will come before them, those very people who aforetime had disregarded it, will say, “Indeed, the Messenger of our Lord had come with the Truth. Shall we have, then, any ‘shufaa’ who will intercede for us? Or could we be sent back that we might do deeds different from those we did before?” They have, indeed, incurred heavy loss upon themselves, and all the false things they had invented have forsaken them today.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan