Essence of the Holy Qur’an — Page 152
152 Chapter 97 Al-Qadr 6 (Revealed before Hijrah) Date of Revelation and Context Some Commentators of the Qur’ a n think that this S u rah was revealed at Medina. This, however, is a mistaken view, being against all historical data. It is definitely a Meccan S u rah and belongs to the very early years of the Call. Such eminent and respected authorities as Ibn ‘Abb a s, Ibn Zubair and ‘ A ’ishah subscribe to this view. Noldeke places it after Chapter 93, which was one of the earliest Chapters to have been revealed at Mecca. The preceding S u rah had opened with the Divine command to the Holy Prophet to recite the Qur’ a n and preach and proclaim its Message to the world. The present S u rah deals with the high status, dignity and excellence of the Qur’ a n itself which is declared in the opening verse to have been revealed in Lailatul-Qadr , i. e. the Night of Decree (or Dignity). This Night of Decree or Destiny has been described elsewhere in the Qur’ a n, as the "Blessed Night" (44:4). The S u rah has only five little verses, excluding the Bismill a h and yet its meaning and contents are of very deep spiritual significance.