The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 335
X - A Glance at the Makkan Life 335 up in the second volume of this book. However, in this brief note, we wish to state that the Holy Qur’ān, which is the holy book of us Muslims, and which we consider to be the word of God, sent down to the Holy Prophet sa from God was not revealed all at once. Rather, it was revealed gradually in parts, and there is much wisdom in this gradual revelation, the mention of which is not necessary here. Chapters which were revealed to the Holy Prophet sa prior to the migration are referred to as ‘Makkan Chapters’ and subsequent ones, ‘Medenite Chapters’. As the Holy Qur’ān was being revealed, the Holy Prophet sa would recite it to his companions. They would either memorize it, or prepare various written manuscripts of it, for which the Holy Prophet sa had appointed numerous scribes among his literate companions. As such, we see that in the Jāhiliyyah , when Ḥaḍrat ‘ Umar ra furiously entered his sister’s home, they possessed a written form of the Holy Qur’ān, part of which Khabbāb bin Al-Arat ra was reciting to the sister and brother-in-law of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra. Qur’ānic chapters have not been ordered in the Holy Qur’ān as per the sequence in which they were revealed. Rather, the Holy Prophet sa appointed their sequence himself under Divine command. As such, at the completion of one chapter, the Holy Prophet sa would instruct that place this chapter at the following place. Similarly, at the revelation of every verse, the Holy Prophet sa would say that place this verse in the following chapter at the following place. 1 The sequence that was established of Qur’ānic verses and chapters by the Holy Prophet sa as per divine understanding has been maintained thus far. Moreover, the beauty of this sequence cannot remain hidden from those who reflect and contemplate. Makkan Chapters Since the revelation of religious law commenced in Makkah, for this reason principle injunctions relevant to belief had sufficed. Moreover, since polytheists and idolaters primarily resided in Makkah, for this reason, a majority of the Makkan verses refute the concept of polytheism and idolatry, and argumentation on the existence of God and His Unity have been emphasized. Following this, the truthfulness of his prophetic dispensation, evidence of the 1 * Mishkātul-Maṣābiḥ, Kitābu Faḍā’ilil-Qur’ān, Bābu Ikhtilāfil-Qirā’āti wa Jam‘il-Qur’ān, Al-Faṣluth- Thālith, Ḥadīth No. 2222, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2003) * Fatḥul-Bārī Sharḥu Ṣaḥīḥil-Bukhārī, By Aḥmad bin ‘Alī bin Ḥajar ‘Asqalānī, Volume 9, pp. 26-27, Kitābu Faḍā’ilil-Qur’ān, Bābu Kātibin-Nabiyyi sa Sharḥu Ḥadīth 4990, Qadīmī Kutub Khānah, Ārām Bāgh, Karachi