The Makkan and Madeenan Quran

As part of studying the revelation of the Quran, the Muslim
scholarshave categorised the Soorahs )chapters( of the Quran and their
verses according to the time or era of their revelation. This is the
subject that came to be known as the Makkan and Madeenan division, or
revelation, of the Quran. This division is logical since the Prophet,
Muhammadreceived revelation over twenty-three )23( years: thirteen
)13( of them hespent in Makkah and ten )10( in Madeenah.
The correct and well-established definition of Makkan and Madeenan
Quran is the one in which the Chapters and verses that were revealed
prior to the Hijrah or immigration of Prophet Muhammadfrom the city
ofMakkahto the city ofMadeenahare known as 'Makkan'. All other
Chapters and verses that were revealed after this time are termed
'Madeenan'.
The location of their revelation is not necessarily relevant to this
classification, such that there may be certain revelations that were
revealed in Makkah, but are classified as Madeenan because of the
period of their revelation. A good example of this is the Chapter of
An-Nasr )Divine Support(, number 110, which was revealed in Minaa
)outskirts of Makkah( yet it is classified as a Madeenan Chapter
because it was revealed while the Prophetwas living in Madeenah just
a few months before hepassed away.
The Makkan part of the Noble Quran deals mainly with beliefs like the
Creation as in the verse )which means(:"And a great number of towns
)their population( We destroyed )for their crimes(. Our torment came
upon them )suddenly( by night or while they were taking their midday
nap."]Quran 7:4[, the Oneness and Uniqueness of Allaah, the Most
Exalted, as in the verses )which mean(:"Say )O Muhammad(: 'He is
Allaah, )the( One.Allaah the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all
creatures need. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none
co-equal or comparable unto Him."]Quran 112[, prophethood, as in the
verse )which means(:"It is He )Allaah( who has sent among the
unlettered a Messenger )Muhammad( from themselves, reciting to them
His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book ]Quran[ and
wisdom ]i.e. the Sunnah or Prophet's sayings[ — although they were
before in clear error —."]Quran 62:2[, the revelation, as in the verse
)which means(:"Verily, We have sent it )this Quran( down in the night
of Al-Qadr )Decree(."]Quran 97:1[, angels, as stated in the verse
)which means(:"Whoever is an enemy to Allaah, His Angels, His
Messengers, Jibreel )Gabriel( and Meekaa'eel )Michael(, then verily,
Allaah is an enemy to the disbelievers."]Quran 2: 98[, and The Day of
Judgement as in verses )which mean(:"Then )on the Day of Judgement( as
for him whose balance )of good deeds( will be heavy. He will live a
pleasant life )inParadise(.But as for him whose balance )of good
deeds( will be light. He will have his home in a pit )Hell(. And what
will make you know what it is? )It is( a fiercely blazing Fire!"]Quran
101: 6-11[
General disobedience of man, and his punishment and reward are
frequent themes in the Makkan verses.
The creation and development of man in the mother's womb is taken to
be a wondrous thing.
Madeenan parts, on the other hand, are filled with laws, both
universal as well as worldly )marriage, divorce, heritage,
blood-money, other transactions, etc(. Special emphasis is laid on
justice and fairness. Social interaction and ethical rules have been
elaborated time and time again. Politics, worship and prayers are also
frequently discussed.
Next, is a list of the Makkan and Madeenan Chapters is provided for
easy reference. The list is based on the classification used by the
Mus-haf )Quran text book( we read today. For the sake of brevity, only
the Chapter numbers are provided:
Makkan Chapters:
6/7/10/11/12/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/23/25/26/27/28/29/30/31/32/
34/35/35/36/37/38/39/40/41/42/43/44/45/46/50/51/52/53/54/56/67/
68/69/70/71/72/73/74/75/77/78/79/80/81/82/83/84/85/86/87/88/89/
90/91/92/93/94/95/96/100/101/102/103/104/105/106/107/108/109/
111/112/113/114.
Madeenan Chapters:
2/3/4/5/8/9/13/22/24/33/47/48/49/55/57/58/59/60/61/62/63/64/65/
66/76/98/99/110.
Accordingly, the Makkan Chapters are 85 in number, and the Madeenan
are 28, the total of which is 113, where it should be 114. The reason
for missing a Chapter is the fact that we did not include the first
Chapter in the Mus-haf, which is Al-Faatihah, or the Opening Chapter.
This Chapter has been reported as having been revealed twice, one time
in Makkah and another in Madeenah. Therefore, it was not included in
either of them.
It should be pointed out that the only way for us to know whether a
Chapter is Makkan or Madeenan is through narration, and not by
Ijtihaad )the exertion of effort on the part of a qualified Islamic
scholar to deduce an Islamic law for an issue about which there is no
clear, specific text(. Thus, the only way to distinguish them is
through authentic narrations from the Companionsnarrated from the
Prophet.