The descent of the Quran

The verses of the Noble Qur'an indicate that he came down on a blessed night of the blessed month of Ramadan, Laylat Al-Qadr (the night of destiny and honour).The most high said (meaning of the verse): "the month of Ramadan during which the Qur'aan [...]" [S2/V185]He also said (meaning of the verse): "we verily sent down during the night of Al-Qadr." [S97/V1] He also - exalted be (meaning of the verse): "we have sent it down in one blessed night, we are truly one who warns" [S44/V3]

These verses as a whole mean that the Noble Qur'an descended on the Prophet, , during the month of Ramadan, during a clear night, Laylat Al-Qadr, this night is privileged and honored that she is better than a thousand months (worship and prayers).

One might wonder: the observed reality is that the Noble Qur'an descended on the Prophet, , 23 years from the beginning of the prophetic mission until the end of his noble life. The most high said in effect (meaning of the verse): "(we sent down) a Koran we have fragmented, so you read it slowly to the people." "And we have sent it down gradually."[S17/V106] Thus, the Quran did not descend in a night, but in twenty-three years.

How to reconcile the meaning of the first verses of this last verse?

Scientists have three opinions in this regard:

1 means the descent of the Koran during Laylat Al-Qadr the beginning of his revelation, of the current practice of to appoint a thing by its beginning as the Foundation of this magnificent building.

Therefore, the beginning of the descent of the Quran occurred during Laylat Al-Qadr and then he continued to be revealed in piecemeal ways depending on the events and circumstances. This is the opinion of Ash - Sha'bi which interpreted the word of the Almighty: "we certainly sent down during the night of Al-Qadr." by: the Noble Quran revelation started during Laylat Al-Qadr, then went on for twenty-three years in accordance with the word of the Almighty: "(Nous avons fait descendre) a Koran we have fragmented, so you read it slowly to the people." And we have sent it down gradually."

2. the Qur'an descended to the lower sky (as-sama' ad-dunya) twenty-three successive nights of Al-Qadr, each of them containing the portion provided by God for the following year, which was down to the Prophet - peace and blessings be upon him – gradually during the year.

3. the Qur'an descended to the lower sky at once during Laylat Al-Qadr, and then it came down to the Prophet gradually in twenty-three years.

The third opinion is that of the majority of scholars and it is the opinion which seems fairest because it combines the meaning of the verses and the authentic narrations establishing the revelation of the Koran throughout the prophetic mission.

Proponents of this view believe that the Noble Quran has experienced three descents:

1. the Table kept down. The most high said (meaning of the verse): "but it is rather a glorified Quran preserved in a Table." [S85/V21] The Quran came down to this Table at once and there was registered; We bring faith in this inscription and rely upon God--exalted be - as its reality and divine sense.

2. the descent from the Table kept to the House of glory to the lower sky, which is expressed in the words of the most high (meaning of the verse): "we verily sent down during the night of Al-Qadr "."

3. the descent of the Noble Quran by Jibril care the faithful (the Angel Gabriel) of the House of glory to the lower sky to the Messenger of Allah - peace and blessings be upon him - throughout his prophetic mission, which is expressed in his word: "and the faithful spirit descended with that on your heart, that you are the number of alarms" ", a very clear Arabic language." [S26/V193 and 194]

Wisdom justifying this descent is to emphasise the rank of the Koran and the Prophet who received it, by informing the inhabitants of seven heavens that this is the last book revealed to the seal of the prophets for the best nation in the descendant twice, once in full and once distributed, unlike the previous books that had been revealed in once.

Some have said that the descent to lower heaven is to better to stoke the languor of the Prophet - peace and blessings be upon him - just like what the poet said:

Languor is at its worst when the tents are closer (the beloved) tents

The authentic hadiths making the descents of the Quran

Various authentic traditions have explained the descents of the Koran. Al-Qurtubi has also reported the consensus of scientists regarding the descent of the Koran in once the Table kept to the House of glory to the lower sky as shown in the following narrations.

1 Al-Hakim, Al-Bayhaqi and others have reported according to Mansur, according to its ' id Ibn Jubayr that Ibn ' Abbas said: "the Qur'an descended at once to the lower sky, where it was distributed. Then, Allah it was down to his Messenger - peace and blessings be upon him – gradually."

2 Al-Haakim narrated via a chain of specified according to its ' id Ibn Jubayr that Ibn ' Abbas said: "the Koran was separated from the dhikr and was tabled in the House of glory to the lower sky, and then Jibril came down over the revelation to the Prophet -  "."

3 Ibn Mardawaih and Al-Bayhaqi narrated from Ibn ' Abbas that he was interviewed by ' Atiyyah Ibn Al-Aswad: "I am a little baffled by the word of high: «the month of Ramadan during which the Quran was descended [...] » and « we certainly sent down during the night of Al-Qadr. ", while the Quran was revealed as well during the month of Shawwal " Dhu Al-Qidah, Dhû Al-Hijjah, Muharram, Safar, and Rabi' "." Ibn ' Abbas replied: "he descended at once during the month of Ramadan during laylat al-qadr, then he came down by fragments over the months and days."

These narrations are authentic as recalls As-Suyuti.Although that they emanate from Ibn 'Abbas (mawqufah), their status is assimilated to that of narrations marfu' ah attributed to the Messenger of Allah- .

Category: Al-Quran