[2:97] Say, “Whoever has been enemy to Gabriel; then indeed, he has brought down it (Quran) into your (Muhammad) heart by God’s permission, confirming what was before of it, and a guidance and good news for the believers.”
[16:102] Say: “The Holy Spirit (Gabriel) has brought down it (Quran) from your (Muhammad) Lord with the truth that it can strengthen those who have believed, and a guidance and good news for the submitters.”
[17:106] And Quran we have divided it that you (Muhammad) can read it to the people over a period of time; and we have sent down it piece by piece.
[75:16] Do not move your tongue with it to hasten of it.
[75:17] Indeed, it is we who are to collect it and to recite it.
[75:18] So when we have recited it, then you (Muhammad) shall follow its recital.
[75:19] Then it is we who are to explain it.
[6:115] And your Lord’s Word has completed truth and justice. There is no modifier of His words, and He is the Hearer, the Knower.
[11:1] Alif.Laam.Reh. A scripture has been perfected its verses, then has been explained in detail from One who is Wise, Cognizant.
[18:2] Straight (the scripture) that it warns of a severe retribution from Him, and to give a good news to the believers who do the righteous works, that there is a good reward for them.
[6:114] Is there then other than God should I seek as a judge, while He has sent down to you the scripture is a detailed one? And those whom we have given them the scripture know that it is a sent down (munazzalun) from your Lord with the truth. So, do not be with the doubtful ones.
[7:52] And certainly, we had come to them with a scripture we explained it with knowledge of guidance and mercy for a people to believe.
[10:37] And it has not been this – the Quran that it could be produced by other than God, but it is a confirmation of that which was before of it, and a detailed explanation of the scripture. There is no doubt in it, from Lord of the worlds.
However, the event of revealing the whole Quran is mentioned in a number of surahs covering its different aspects. There is a short surah which has addressed the details of the process including its significance and completion while a part of some surahs covers other important aspects of the event as described below:
Surah al-Najm (The Star): Revelation Order 23 (Surah # 53)
God has confirmed us about where the prophet was taken to, what was given to him and what he saw there in the following verses of the Quran (4-18). It was the divine inspiration by the Most Powerful who revealed what was to be revealed to him. The prophet was as close to God so He made it. The whole environment was awesome at the ultimate point, located near the eternal Paradise where he saw great signs of God.
[53:4] It is not but an inspiration (what) is revealed.
[53:5] He has taught him (Muhammad) having might of the power.
[53:6] Possessor of all authority that He has established (Himself).
[53:7] And He has been in the Horizon, the High.
[53:8] Then He had approached, so He came down.
[53:9] So, He has been at a closer distance or nearer.
[53:10] Then He has inspired to His servant (Muhammad) what He has revealed.
[53:11] The heart has not erred what it had seen.
[53:12] Would you then differ from him (Muhammad) what he sees?
[53:13] And certainly, he has seen him in another descent (of God).
[53:14] Near a Lot Tree of the ultimate point (sid’rati al-muntahaa).
[53:15] Near of it is a Garden of the Refuge (jannatu al-mawaa).
[53:16] When it covers the Lote Tree what it should cover.
[53:17] The vision has not swerved, nor has it gone wrong.
[53:18] Certainly, he has seen of the great signs of his Lord.
Note: The verses 4-18 exclusively confirm that the divine inspiration took place at the ultimate point by God Himself. The distance between the earth and the ultimate point is billions of Light Years but this event has been made possible by bringing the soul of the prophet not the prophet physically close to Him mediated by the angels. It is also mention-worthy that God came down from the Horizon of the High 2nd time after He had spoken to Moses at Mount Sinai coming down to the earth (7:144).
It is also noteworthy that the following verses at the beginning of this sura are often illogically associated with the process of revealing the whole Quran while these verses clearly talk about the prophet who was neither astray nor was he misled nor does he speak out of his personal desire. In fact, it was an assurance from God for the contemporary people so that they can believe him and accept the message sent down to him as the very first verse is an oath of God referring to the shooting star being a visual fact for all generations of people though it is an occasional event but not as like as the dawn, night, the sun, the moon etc. that are mentioned in many statements of God’s oath. The climbing of souls to the highest level accompanied by angels is not an unusual event as it occurs every moment when our life is terminated on earth by the angel of death and we say, “We belong to God and to Him we are returning” (2:156) when someone dies.
[53:1] By the falling star.
[53:2] Your friend (Muhammad) was neither astray, nor was he misled.
[53:3] Nor does he speak out of desire.
Surah al-Qadr (The Power): Revelation Order 25 (Surah # 97)
God has described the awesomeness of the night including the completion of process of revealing Quran within the night. Thus, He has made the night better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend with all commands to complete the process before the dawn. However, the journey was mediated by the angels traveling at the speed of million times faster than the speed of light to complete the event in one night according to God’s leave.
[97:1] Indeed, we have sent down it (the Quran) in a Night of the Power.
[97:2] And do you know what a Night of the Power is?
[97:3] A Night of the Power is better than a thousand month.
[97:4] There descends the angels and the Spirit (the Gabriel) in it (Night of the Power), by permission of their Lord with every command.
[97:5] Peace it (Night of the Power) is until an advent of the dawn.
Note: This surah depicts the process of revealing the whole Quran indicating the significance of the night. The masculine object pronoun (hu) in 97:1 refers to the scripture while the female object pronoun (haa) in 97:4 and the feminine subject pronoun (hiya) in 97:5 refer to the blessed night. However, we are confused about the event to be a recurrent one for long because of the use of present tense in subsequent statements followed by the perfect tense in the first statement (97:1) as well as the misinterpretation of the statement in the verse (97:4). The completion of the process before the dawn indicates that the event took place between the night prayer and the dawn prayer so that the prophet did not miss any prayer, and we may also reflect on the importance of the Salat Prayer to establish it in a timely manner without missing it for developing our soul.
Surah Bani Israel (Children of Israel):Revelation Order 50 (Surah # 17)
The verse below confirms that the prophet was taken to the highest Heaven, billions of Light Years away to place the whole Quran into his soul.
[17:1] Glory to the One who took of His servant (Muhammad) by night from the Sacred Masjid (of Mecca) to the farthest place of prostration which we blessed its surroundings that we can show him of our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearer, the Seer.
Note: This is the only verse that has direct mention of the prophet’s journey specifying origination and destination. However, Muhammad, the soul, not the body was taken to the farthest place, i.e., the ultimate point (sid’rati al-muntahaa) traveling at the speed of million times faster than the speed of light to take him to the ultimate point as well as to bring him back to the earth. What he is to deliver had been taught as well as what he had learned from the surroundings strengthened his heart for successful delivery of the message given to him upon return to the earth. However, this might be a good lesson for us either to learn from our surroundings reflecting upon all the advancements and scientific discoveries that happen within God’s knowledge can help us to accept the truth from Him. We also find the teaching of learning from our surrounding in the verse (5:31).
Surah al-Dukhaan (The Smoke): Revelation Order 64 (Surah # 44)
The following verses not only confirm that the entire Quran was revealed in the blessed night but also every matter of wisdom is clarified in it what was released gradually over 23 years period to move it in pieces from the prophet’s soul to his heart (memory) to facilitate his memorization as well as to share it with the people around him.
[44:1] Ha. Meem.
[44:2] And the clarifying scripture.
[44:3] Indeed, we have sent down it (Quran) in a night of blessing, indeed, we have been warners.
[44:4] In it (the blessed night), every wise matter is clarified.
Note: This is a Ha. Meem initialed surah, and Ha.Meem and the clarifying scripture serve as an oath of God to affirm that it has been sent down in a night of blessing in which every matter of wisdom is clarified. The masculine object pronoun (hu) in 44:3 refers to the Quran while the female object pronoun (haa) in 44:4 refers to a night of blessing. This gender difference helps us to eliminate any confusion from our heart to avoid any misinterpretation between the Quran and a night of blessing. The above verses have confirmed the night to be a blessed one while the description of the night and the process have been detailed out in surah 97.
Surah al-Baqarah (The Heifer): Revelation Order 87 (Surah # 2)
The Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan as guidance for the people, the clear guidance, and the statute book. Fasting is decreed in the entire month to glorify God for guiding us and to express our appreciation through fulfilling our obligations to Him.
[2:185] Ramadan which is a month has been sent down in it the Quran as a guidance for mankind, clear proofs of the guidance, and the statute book; So whoever has witnessed among you the month, then he should fast in it. But whoever has been ill or on a journey, then the prescribed number in other days. God wishes for you ease and He does not wish for you hardship, and that you can complete the prescribed number; and that you may glorify God through which He has guided you, and that you may appreciate.
Note: This verse has confirmed that the fasting during the entire month of Ramadan is the only rite God has decreed for us in honor of a Night of the Power to purify our souls burning our evil and selfish desires, while we will study the Quran to know the guidance to follow it sent down in the month.
However, to some, this night is so elusive that they try to stay up all nights during the last ten days of Ramadan so as not to “miss out” any chances of experiencing it claiming that there is a reference about it in the following verse of the Quran. The night may be unknown to us but known to God and He does not order us anywhere in the Quran to stay in the masjid during the last days of Ramadan to experience this night. In fact, its origin is tradition as well as the misinterpretation of the verses that talk about the night including this verse that talks about the prohibition of sexual relation if someone stays in the masjid.
[2:187] Has been permitted for you the approach unto your wives at night of the fasting. They are garment for you and you are garment for them. God has been aware that you have done to deceive yourselves. So He has turned upon you and has given mercy upon you. So, now you shall have relation with them and shall seek what God has ordered for you. And you shall eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then, you shall complete the fast until the night. And you do not have relation with them while you are devotee in the masjid. That is of God’s limits that you do not approach them. Thus that God makes clear His revelations for the people that they may fear (God).
Note: It is assumed that there is a reference in the verse, 89:2 to stay in the masjid during the last ten days of Ramadan, is inappropriate. The ten nights as mentioned in the verse is a part of a profound oath (89:1-5) which could be a reference from the verse, (7:142) that completed Moses’s appointment with God by adding ten to the initial appointment of thirty nights being a significant historical event, is a good candidate to be an item to be included in the statement of God’s oath. However, we have the opportunity to earn extra credits considering Ramadan being a blessed month extending our time to study the Quran to know God’s teachings to be righteous.
Mathematical confirmation
We are blessed with the knowledge to mathematically confirm many of our given rites as well as the crucial events to remove any traces of doubt from our hearts, and God willing we have the same opportunity to apply that to confirm this one-night event either. There are 26 verses across 5 suras in the Quran that cover this awesome event. The total of the relevant sura numbers and verse numbers associated with the event is a multiple of 19, is a Quran’s code and common denominator => 589 (19x31) as detailed in the table below:
Note: There is also another verse that tells us that he saw him at the high horizon in 81:23, is not included in the calculation to be a separate event, which is an indirect proof that the messenger of covenant was taken to somewhere in the universe.
Conclusion
The Quran is honorable and so is the night in which it has been sent down being special just like a thousand months because of the completion of the process of sending down the Quran all at once, which took place on the 27th night of Ramadan in 13 B.H. Muhammad participated in the process driven by God involving Gabriel and the angels, while God Himself established in the Horizon of the High but came down 2nd time to place the entire Quran into his soul.
The different aspects of the event have been found in 26 across 5 surahs, and we are blessed to detect surahs and verses linked with the event. Thus, we have both logical and mathematical confirmation to confirm the event being a great event that God has called “The Power” while the night of the event that He has called “A Night of the Power” as well as “A Blessed Night”.
Thus, what is directly related to the event is God has decreed the fasting during the entire month of Ramadan and this is the only rite decreed by God in the Quran in honor of “Night of the Power” to purify our souls and express our appreciation for the light He had sent down to us. However, to earn extra rewards considering Ramadan a blessed month we may plan to intensify our remembrance of God and extend our time to study the Quran to understand God’s teachings and laws in it to follow to lead a righteous life. But evidences confirm that there is no extra salat prayer nor is there anything like staying up nights during the last ten days of Ramadan to experience a Night of the Power from God except introduced by tradition.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (3/11/2016)