Introduction
Many of us may be aware that the whole Quran was placed into prophet’s soul in 13 B.H (609 A.D) in a Night of Blessing (laylatin mubaarakatin) on the night of 27th Ramadan, and God has called it a Night of the Power (laylat al-qadr), and upon completion of the inspiration process the whole Quran was down on earth but in prophet’s soul or in his subconscious mind. Then the Gabriel helped the prophet release a few verses of the Quran at a time from his soul to his memory over the time period of 23 years to place the entire Quran into his memory so that he can read it to his contemporaries. While he memorized the verses just released into his mind and also to have them memorize by some of his associates. Thus, the entire Quran was memorized as it was released to him gradually.
Then the rest is the history that when the prophet died (632 A.D), he left the complete Quran written down with his own hand in the chronological order of revelation along with specific instructions as to where to place every verse and sura in the composition of the scripture. The divine instructions recorded by the prophet were designed to put the Quran together into its final format as we see it today.
However, what may not be known to many of us that the prophet received the Quran from God through two different divine communication methods while He uses three methods to communicate with humans so that they can receive knowledge from Him. The prophet received the Quran all at once on the night of 27th Ramadan in 13 B.H (609 A.D) through inspiration while he received it piece by piece over a period of time through revelation that can be better understood from the review of the verses aligned to each method.
Sending down of the Quran all at once through inspiration
There are 26 verses across 5 surahs in the Quran connected to the event of receiving the whole Quran once that are logically separated and mathematically confirmed as shown below:
Now let us just confirm inspiration to be the method of communication with respect to placing the whole Quran once into prophet’s soul from this set of verses of the Quran having details to understand when and how it occurred as well as to know the rite decreed for us related to this great event other than to follow it as guidance and source of religious teachings and laws:
- The journey of the prophet to the farthest place of worship indicates that inspiration occurred somewhere in the universe but not on the earth as reflected in the following verse:
[17:1] Glory to the One who took His servant (Muhammad) by night from the Sacred Masjid (of Mecca) to the farthest place of worship which we had blessed its surroundings that we may show him of our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearer, the Seer.
Note: God has used the plural first person in the verse followed by the singular third person, which indicates the involvement of angels, and Muhammad made the journey accompanying the angels. Hence, even our common sense indicates that his soul, the real person not his body was taken to the farthest place while the misconception around us that the prophet had made the journey riding on a horse-like animal is a fairy tale.
- Inspiration took place at the ultimate point, the place in the space beyond which there is no access of anyone landmarked by the Lote Tree and the Garden of Abode in the overwhelmed environment, while God, the Most Powerful Himself taught Muhammad the whole Quran when he was made so close to Him and he also saw great signs of Him therein as reflected in the following verses which are the core verses in the context of inspiration:
[53:4] It was not but inspiration (wahyun), what was inspired (yuuhaa).
[53:5] The Most Powerful (shadeedu al-quwaa) has taught him (allamahu) (Muhammad).
[53:6] Possessor of all power so He has established.
[53:7] And He has been in the Horizon of the High.
[53:8] Then He had approached that He has come down.
[53:9] So, He has been at a closer distance or nearer.
[53:10] Then He has inspired (fa-awhaa) into His servant (Muhammad) what (the whole Quran) He inspired (awhaa).
Note: The above 7 verses refer to God who inspired to His servant the whole Quran while 7 is a significant number as per God is concern.
[53:11] The mind has not erred what it has seen.
[53:12] Will you then be differed from him about what he sees?
[53:13] He (Muhammad) has seen him in another descent (nazlatan ukh’raa).
[53:14] Near a Lot Tree at the ultimate point (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 deviated nor has it gone wrong.
[53:18] Certainly, he has seen the great signs of his Lord.
Note: The above 8 verses talk about His servant who has been inspired including allegorical description of the place and environment where it took place, when the Lote Tree has been in full blossom near a Garden of the Refuge wherein once we all used to live before sending down to the earth.
Moreover, it is mention-worthy that the above 15 verses placed in Sura Al-Najm (The Star) are the core verses that deal with the inspiration of the Quran at the farthest place by the Most Powerful Himself. However, the first 3 verses (53:1-3) of this sura are often illogically associated with these core verses dealing with inspiration of the 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 followed by an oath of God referring to the falling star in the first verse. We may also reflect to the shift of the message in (53:4) to understand this while the prophet is still being referred to subsequent verses involving him to the event of inspiration.
- The Quran was inspired in a blessed night clarifying every matter of wisdom in it followed by an oath of God consisting of two statements: (a) the two Quranic initials, Ha. Meem and (b) the enlightening scripture:
[44:1] Ha. Meem.
[44:2] And the clarified scripture.
[44:3] Indeed, we have sent down it (Quran) in a Night of Blessing; indeed, we have been warners.
[44:4] In it (a Night of Blessing), every matter of wisdom is clarified.
Note: Every matter of wisdom is clarified followed by an oath of God to give us assurance that whatever we need to believe and whatever we need to practice to be righteous to Him are included in the Quran with adequate clarifications making a boundary that there is no less or there is no more as per God is our concern. This event was a breakthrough, which is described in the first 4 verses of Surah Al-Dukhan (The Smoke) including an oath of God referring to (1) a set of Quranic initials: Ha. Meem and (2) the clarified scripture, while the Ha. Meem initials are repeated 7 times in the Quran, i.e., the seven surahs are prefixed with this set of initials.
- The event of inspiration of the Quran was completed involving the angels and the Gabriel as well in a single night calling the night to be a Night of the Power as well as making it better than a thousand months mentioning the night in every verse of the surah consisting of 5 verses:
[97:1] Indeed, we have sent down it (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 months.
[97:4] Descends the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) in it (a Night of the Power) by permission of their Lord with every command.
[97:5] Peace it (a Night of the Power) is until an advent of the dawn.
Note: The involvement of the angels has reflected in the surah, and the completion of inspiration before the dawn has confirmed that it was a night-long event, while the observance of the night to be an annual recurrent event found among the Muslim circle is not in the Quran except a man-made tradition.
- The month is specified but not the exact night and the year when the inspiration took place describing the Quran as guidance for the people, clear proofs of the guidance and the statute book decreeing fasting for us in the entire month accommodating every kind of situation to fulfill this obligation as well as to glorify God for what He has given us so that we may grateful to Him as reflected in the following verse:
[2:185] Ramadan which is a month, has been sent down in it the Quran as a guidance for the people, clear proofs of the guidance and the statute book. So whoever among you has witnessed the month, then he should fast in it, and whoever has been ill or on a journey then the prescribed number from other days. God wishes ease for you and He does not wish hardship for you, and that you may complete the prescribed number, and that you may glorify God through which He has guided you and that you may appreciate.
Note: The year of inspiration of the Quran can be known from the history, which is 13 B.H (609 A.D). The exact night was unknown to us for long but can be derived from the investigation of the very Surah al-Qadr, which has stated the completion of the inspiration process before the dawn highlighting the significance of the night. Now we know that the night was on the night of 27th of Ramadan, which has been obtained from a Night of the Power (laylat al-qadr) as it is spelled out in the surah as well as from its occurrences in it. But we should reflect to what is inspired to the prophet’s soul is our guidance and laws being statue book to uphold and is decreed fasting for us during the entire month of Ramadan to be grateful to God. If there would be any rite for us around the night other than fasting, He could not keep it hidden from us.
However, it is also noteworthy that staying in the masjid during the last 10 days of Ramadan is a man-made tradition not a rite from God given in the Quran. It may be relevant to mention that God has made it clear in 2:187 in the context of Ramadan fasting that any fasting person who stays in the masjid during Ramadan is not permitted to have sex during the nights of fasting, but it is permitted for those fasting men and women who are not staying in the masjids.
Sending down the Quran piece by piece through the Gabriel
There are 13 verses across 7 suras in the Quran connected to the event of receiving the Quran piece by piece gradually that are logically separated and mathematically confirmed as shown below:
Now let us confirm revelation to be the method of communication with respect to placing the Quran into prophet’s heart piece by piece gradually from this set of verses having details to understand passing of it by the angels and the Gabriel to the prophet to read the authentic Quran to the people:
- The Gabriel has brought down the Quran into prophet’s heart with permission of God confirming that which was before it, and is a guidance and good news for the believers as reflected in the following verse:
[2:97] Say, “Whoever has been enemy to Gabriel, then indeed, he has brought down it (Quran) into your heart by permission of God confirming that which was before of it, and a guidance and good news for the believers.”
- The angels and the Holy Spirit (the Gabriel) brought down the Quran from our Lord with the truth to pass it piece by piece to the prophet so as to read it to the people to warn them that there is no god except God, and as guidance and good news for the submitters as reflected in the following verses:
[16:2] He sends down the angels with the Spirit (Gabriel) of His command to whomever He wills from His servants that you shall warn that there is no god except I. So, you shall fear Me.
[16:102] Say: “The Holy Spirit (Gabriel) has brought down it (Quran) from your Lord with the truth that He can strengthen those who have believed, and as a guidance and good news for the submitters.”
[17:85] And they ask you (Muhammad) about the Spirit (Gabriel). Say, “The Spirit (Gabriel) is a matter of my Lord, and you have not been given of the knowledge except a little.”
- The gradual sending down of the Quran piece by piece to the prophet took over a period of time as reflected in the following verses:
[17:106] And a Quran that we have divided into parts that you may read it to the people over a period of time; and we have sent down it a gradual sending down.
[25:32] And said those who have disbelieved, “Why has not been sent down to him (Muhammad) the Quran all at once?” Thus that we can strengthen your heart with it, and we have recited it a gradual recitation.
Note: There is a hint in the verse, 25:32 that the Quran has been sent down all at once as well as gradual sending down of it, and the explicit proof comes from the sum of the relevant surah and verse number being a multiple of 19 (25 + 32 = 57 = 19X3).
[76:23] Indeed, we have sent down the Quran to you (Muhammad) a gradual sending down.
- From the historical view, the recitation of the two false verses called gharaniq verses by the prophet being inspired by the Satan and the immediate withdrawal of these two false verses with the interference of the Gabriel to read the authentic Quran to the people as reflected in the following verse:
[22:52] And we have not sent before you (Muhammad) any messenger nor a prophet, without having the devil interfere in his recitation. God then nullifies the devil interference as well as God perfects His revelations. And God is Knower, Wise.
Note: The early Islamic scholars reported this event while the present days Islamic scholar rejected it to be lies and fabrications invented by the enemies of Islam claiming the prophet to be infallible.
- An Arabic Quran is a revelation from the Lord of the universe, which was also mentioned in the scripture of the previous people, and the Honest Spirit (the Gabriel) came down with it into the heart of the prophet to serve him as a warner as reflected in the following verses:
[26:192] And indeed, it (Quran) is a revelation from Lord of the worlds.
[26:193] The Honest Spirit (Gabriel) came down with it (Quran).
[26:194] Into your (Muhammad) heart that you may be one of the warners.
[26:195] In a clear Arabic tongue.
[26:196] And it (Quran) is certainly, mentioned in the scriptures of the previous people.
Note: Since the Honest Spirit (Gabriel) brought the Quran down piece by piece from God and passed it to the prophet, both the Gabriel and the prophet are directly connected to read it to the people.
Conclusion
God uses three methods to communicate with humans through which they receive knowledge from Him. The prophet received the Quran through two different methods of divine communication with him. He received the whole Quran once through inspiration while he received the Quran piece by piece gradually over a period of time through revelation. There is a specific set of verses connected to each method, which clearly defines it.
26 verses across 5 suras in the Quran deal with the inspiration method describing its different aspects. The prophet was taken by night to the farthest place where the inspiration took place. He made the journey accompanying the angels, which indicates that his soul, the real person not his body was taken to the farthest place at the speed of million times faster than the speed of light to make it possible to reach there. Inspiration took place at the ultimate point (al-muntahaa) landmarked by the Lote Tree (al-sid’rat) and the Garden of Abode (jannatu al-mawaa). When he was made so close to God by moving Him down, the Most Powerful Himself taught him the whole Quran in the overwhelmed environment where he also saw the great signs of Him. In the night every matter of wisdom is clarified so that whatever we need to believe and whatever we need to practice to be righteous to Him are included in what was inspired to him. inspiration was completed before the dawn being a single night event calling the night to be the Night of Power (laylat al-qadr) as well as making it better than a thousand months for our attention. Then to glorify and be grateful to Him for what was inspired to him describing it as guidance for the people, clear proofs of the guidance and the statute book decreeing fasting for us in the entire month of Ramadan accommodating every kind of situation to fulfill this obligation.
13 verses across 7 suras in the Quran deal with the revelation method describing the mediation of the angels and the Gabriel to pass the Quran to the prophet piece by piece gradually to read to the people over a period of time. The Gabriel has brought the Quran down into prophet’s heart in accordance with God’s will confirming what was before it as guidance and good news for the believers. The angels and the Holy Spirit (the Gabriel) brought down the Quran from the Lord of the universe with truth to pass it piece by piece to the prophet so as to read it to the people to warn them that there is no other god beside God, which is guidance and good news for the submitters. From the historical perspective, the recitation of the two false verses called gharaniq verses by the prophet being inspired by the Satan and the immediate withdrawal of these two false verses with the interference of the Gabriel ensure to read the authentic Quran to the people. The Arabic Quran is a revelation from the Lord of the universe mentioned in the scripture of the previous people and the Honest Spirit (the Gabriel) came down with it into the heart of the prophet to serve as a warner.
Quran was inspired to the prophet’s soul in a special night through the divine method was different from the method through which it was revealed to his memory over a period of time and each method is perfectly aligned to each event. Such systematic approach not only increases our trust in God but also ensures the accuracy of the Quran that we have received through the prophet with divine assurance not to have any errors in it as our guidance to find right thing to do in right way.
But there are many misconceptions among us around the journey of the prophet to the farthest place, the observance of the night and what is given to the prophet when he was so close to God while the journey of the prophet riding on a horse-like animal, he negotiated with God to have 5 times daily Salat originally given us 50 times daily Salat, to observe Tarawih prayer in the month of Ramadan and to stay in the masjid in last 10 days of Ramadan to experience the Night of Power to earn extra rewards from Him are a few. This study may help those who trust God and the Quran to avoid such misconceptions as some of them seem like fairy tales while God has exactly told us what we need to do is study the Quran and follow it to be our guidance as well as to fast during the entire month of Ramadan to be grateful to Him being another way of developing our soul.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (7/27/2018).