Islamic Studies · Lesson 1

Revelation, compilation, standardisation, Makkan and Madinan suwar, al-Fatihah and tajwid

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: 1 Revelation of the Glorious Qur’an (Cave Hira; reaction to the first revelation; modes Q.42:51; piecemeal Q.17:106, 25:32); 1b Preservation (recording, compilation, standardisation; Makkan and Madinan suwar; role of the Companions); 1c Importance; 1d Divine authenticity (Q.4:82, 41:42, 39:27, 17:88, 75:16-19, 15:9); 3 Introduction to Tajwid; 4a al-Fatihah

WAEC: WAEC/NECO Part 2 Qur’an 1(a) Revelation, 1(b) Preservation, 1(c) Importance; 1(d) prescribed suwar: al-Fatihah, al-‘Alaq 1-5, al-Qadr

NECO: WAEC/NECO Part 2 Qur’an 1(a) Revelation, 1(b) Preservation, 1(c) Importance; 1(d) prescribed suwar: al-Fatihah, al-‘Alaq 1-5, al-Qadr

What you will learn

Define the Qur’an and state its names and structure.
Explain the Prophet’s visits to Cave Hira and their purpose.
Narrate the first revelation and the Prophet’s reaction, and state its importance.
Distinguish the modes of revelation with evidence from Q.42:51 and Bukhari 2.
Give reasons for piecemeal revelation, citing Q.17:106 and 25:32.
Describe how the Qur’an was recorded, compiled under Abu Bakr and standardised under ‘Uthman.
Evaluate the role of the Companions in preserving the Qur’an.
Distinguish Makkan and Madinan suwar.
Evaluate the importance, authenticity, uniqueness and preservation of the Qur’an.
Read, translate and draw lessons from al-Fatihah, al-‘Alaq 1–5 and al-Qadr, and explain basic tajwid rules.

Key points

Qur’an: speech of Allah to Muhammad (SAW) via Jibril, in Arabic; 114 suwar, 6,236 ayat (Kufan count), 30 ajza’.
Names: al-Kitab, al-Furqan, adh-Dhikr, at-Tanzil, al-Huda, an-Nur.
Hira on Jabal an-Nur: worship, reflection, preparation; revelation began with true dreams (Bukhari 3).
First revelation: Ramadan, Laylatul-Qadr, c. 610 CE, age about 40; Q.96:1–5; “Iqra’” three times.
Reaction: fear, “Zammiluni”, Khadijah’s comfort, Waraqah, fatrah; then Q.74:1–5.
Modes (Q.42:51): inspiration, behind a veil, via an angel; bell and human form (Bukhari 2).
Piecemeal (Q.17:106, 25:32): strengthen the Prophet, memorise, practise, gradual law, answer events.
Lifetime: huffaz and scribes (Zayd ibn Thabit); annual review with Jibril, twice in the final year (Bukhari 4998).
Abu Bakr: Yamamah; ‘Umar’s idea; Zayd collects suhuf; kept by Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, Hafsah (Bukhari 4986).
‘Uthman: Hudhayfah; committee of four; Quraysh dialect; copies sent, others burnt (Bukhari 4987).
Later: dots and vowel marks to aid non-Arab readers; text unchanged.
Makkan 86 (faith, short) vs Madinan 28 (law, long); time-based definition uses the Hijrah.
Authenticity: 4:82, 41:42; challenge: 17:88, 11:13, 2:23; preservation: 15:9; examples: 39:27.
Tajwid: Q.73:4; ta‘awwudh Q.16:98; izhar, idgham, iqlab, ikhfa’; qalqalah letters ق ط ب ج د.
Al-Fatihah: Umm al-Kitab, seven ayat, recited in every rak‘ah; lessons on praise, worship and guidance.

Start here: What the Qur’an is

The Glorious Qur’an is the speech of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) through the angel Jibril (Gabriel), in Arabic, over about twenty-three years. Muslims recite it in salat, memorise it, and use it as the first source of belief, worship, law and morals. The word Qur’an comes from the Arabic root qara’a, meaning to read or recite, so it means “the recitation” or “that which is read”. This fits the very first command revealed: Iqra’, “Recite!” (Q.96:1).

The Qur’an calls itself by several other names. Examiners often ask for three or four:

Al-Kitab, the Book (Q.2:2).
Al-Furqan, the Criterion that separates truth from falsehood (Q.25:1).
Adh-Dhikr, the Reminder (Q.15:9).
At-Tanzil, that which is sent down (Q.26:192).
Al-Huda, guidance, and an-Nur, light.

Structure. The Qur’an has 114 suwar (chapters; singular surah). Each surah is made up of ayat (verses; singular ayah, which also means “sign”). By the Kufan count used in the standard printed mushaf, there are 6,236 ayat. The longest surah is al-Baqarah (Q.2, 286 ayat). The shortest is al-Kawthar (Q.108, 3 ayat). For easy recitation the text is divided into 30 ajza’ (parts; singular juz’), each split into two ahzab, making 60. Every surah except at-Tawbah (Q.9) begins with the Basmalah: “In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.”

The order. The suwar are not arranged in the order they were revealed. The first revelation (al-‘Alaq) is surah 96, while al-Fatihah, which opens the book, was not the first to be revealed. Muslims hold that the arrangement of ayat within each surah was fixed by the Prophet (SAW) under the guidance of Jibril. Scholars differ on whether the order of the suwar was also fully fixed by him, or partly arranged by the Companions; both views are found in the classical books.

Language. The Qur’an was revealed in clear Arabic (Q.12:2). A translation into English, Hausa or Yoruba is valuable for understanding, but Muslims regard a translation as an explanation of the meaning, not the Qur’an itself. That is why salat is performed with the Arabic text.

Exam tip: When asked to “define the Qur’an”, give four elements: (1) speech of Allah, (2) revealed to Muhammad (SAW), (3) through Jibril, (4) in Arabic, recited in worship and transmitted by many people in every generation.

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Practice questions

1. The Prophet (SAW) received the first revelation in the Cave of

Hira
Thawr
Uhud
Quba

Show answer

A: Hira
On Jabal an-Nur near Makkah (Bukhari 3).

2. The first verses revealed were

Q.1:1–7 (al-Fatihah)
Q.112 (al-Ikhlas)
Q.2:255 (Ayat al-Kursi)
Q.96:1–5 (Suratul-‘Alaq)

Show answer

D: Q.96:1–5 (Suratul-‘Alaq)
“Read in the name of your Lord who created.”

3. The angel who brought the revelation was

Israfil
Malik
Jibril
Mika’il

Show answer

C: Jibril
He brought the revelation (Bukhari 3).

4. After the first revelation the Prophet (SAW) was comforted by his wife

Sawdah
Khadijah
‘A’ishah
Hafsah

Show answer

B: Khadijah
She took him to Waraqah ibn Nawfal (Bukhari 3).

5. Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who confirmed the revelation, was Khadijah’s

cousin
father
brother
uncle

Show answer

A: cousin
Bukhari 3: he was a Christian scholar.

Key words

Qur’an: “The recitation”: the speech of Allah revealed to Muhammad (SAW).
Surah (pl. suwar): A chapter of the Qur’an; there are 114.
Ayah (pl. ayat): A verse of the Qur’an; also “sign”.
Juz’ (pl. ajza’): One of 30 equal parts of the Qur’an.
Wahy: Revelation: Allah’s communication to His prophets.
Tahannuth: Devotional worship, as in the Prophet’s retreats in Hira.
Fatrah: The pause in revelation after the first revelation.
Munajjam: Revealed piecemeal, in portions.
Asbab an-nuzul: Occasions or circumstances of revelation.
Hafiz (pl. huffaz): One who has memorised the whole Qur’an.
Qurra’: Reciters; Companions who knew the Qur’an by heart.
Suhuf: Sheets; the collection made under Abu Bakr.

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