stages of its revelation, which is usually referred to by the
term"'Tanzeel' of the Quran", literally, the descent or the 'sending
down' of the Quran from the Heavens to the Earth. Some of theaspects
to be discussed in relationship to this would be the meaning of the
'Tanzeel' and whyit happened in stages, what was revealed first and
what was revealed last, and the significanceof understanding the
sequence inrevealing the different parts of the Quran, among others.
Certainly, the study of the 'Tanzeel' of the Quran is one of the most
important aspects of the Sciences of the Quran, because it is related
to the beginning of the last revelation, and to being certain of its
descent from Allaah, which is the foundation of believing in the Quran
as the Word of Allaah that came from Him, as well as in the
truthfulness of the Message of Prophet Muhammad .
The Meaning of 'Tanzeel'
Lexically, the term 'Tanzeel' is derived from the Arabic root
'Nuzool', which means the descent or the movement from a high place
down to a lower one. This is exactly what happened in the process of
revelation where the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) used tocome down from the
Heavens with a varying number of verses of the Quran to deliver to
ProphetMuhammad . The exact nature of this 'Nuzool' and how Jibreel
actually brought the Quranwith him are matters of the unseen, the
details of which Allaah chose not to clarify for us, perhaps because
they involve matters that may be very difficultfor humans to imagine
or grasp. What we should understand is that this 'Nuzool' happened in
a fashion that is befitting to the greatness and sacredness of the
Word of Allaah. Allaah Almighty Says about the Holy Quran (what
means): " (It is) a Quran which Wehave divided (into parts from time
to time), in order that thou (O Muhammad) might recite it to people at
intervals: We have revealed it by stages (in 23 years)." [Quran
17:106]
The Quran was revealed in two stages:
Stage One:
In this stage, the Quran was brought by Jibreel from the Preserved
Tablet (in the Seventh Heaven) down to the First Heaven(sky) and
placed in the 'Place of Power or Honor'. First, the Quran mentions the
Preserved Tablets in the verse (which means):
"Nay! This is a Glorious Quran, inscribed in a Preserved Tablet"
[Quran 85:21-22]
Then it tells of the fact that it was sent down during a specific
night, in the verse (which means):
"By the Book that makes things clear; - We sent it down during a
Blessed Night: for We (ever) wish to warn (against Evil). In the
(Night) is made distinct every affair of wisdom." [Quran 44:2-4]
And (which means):
"We have indeed sent down this during the Night of Power." [Quran 97:1].
These two verses indicate that the Quran was revealed in a single
blessed night in the monthof Ramadhaan that is called the 'Night of
Power, or Decree'.
Stage Two:
This stage of revelation lasted forabout 23 years in which the Quran
was sent down in response to the development of events and in
accordance with the sequence needed to complete the delivery of the
Message.
The Prophet after receiving revelation, would automatically memorize
the Quranic verses thatwere revealed to him and would recite them to
whomever was in his company, and order them (the Companions ) to write
them down immediately. The Messenger himself used to keep a copy of
the revealed portions in his house. The Quran, the last of Allaah's
Scriptures, is divided into 114 'Surahs' (Chapters) of unequal length.
It isthe first fundamental source of Islamic Sharee'ah (Islamic Law).
Allaah, Most High, Says (what means): "… A Quran which We have given
seriatim (separated out) in order that you may recite it to the people
at intervals and We have caused it to come down successively (by
stages)." [Quran 17:106]
But verse 6:7 observes (what means): "If We had sent unto you(O
Muhammad) a written (message) on parchment, so that they could touch
it with their hands, the unbelievers would have been sure to say:
"This is nothing but obvious magic."' [Quran 6:7]
Recording cynical speeches of theunbelievers, Almighty Allaah Says
(what means): " Why has the Quran not been vouchsafed to him
(Muhammad) in one single whole?" [Quran 25:32]
And the answer to that is the verse (which means): "…that yourheart (O
Muhammad) may be strengthened, We have rehearsedit to you in slow,
well-arranged stages, gradually. " [Quran 25:32]
There is no nation that has ever cared about, revered, and preserved
its Divine Scripture as the Muslim nation has cared about, revered and
preserved the Quran. Unlike the other Divine Scriptures, the Quran is
not kept in the hands of a particular groupor elite of the Muslims,
and for this reason, it is not subject to suspicion that it might have
beentampered with or altered. Rather,it has always been within the
reach of all Muslims. - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
http://translate.google.com/m/ ▓███▓ - -
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