The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5)

The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 517

Introduction CHAPTER 97 AL-QADR (Revealed before Hijrah) Some commentators of the Quran think that this Surah was revealed at Medina. This, however, is a mistaken opinion, being against all historical data. Al-Qadr is definitely a Meccan Surah and belongs to the very early phase of the Call. Such eminent and respected authorities as Ibn 'Abbās, Ibn Zubair and ‘Ã'ishah subscribe to this view. Nöldeke places it after chapter 91, which was one of the earliest Surahs revealed at Mecca. The preceding Surah had opened with the Divine command to the Prophet to recite the Quran and preach and proclaim its Message to the world. The present Surah deals with the high status, dignity and excellence of the Quran, which is declared in the opening verse to have been revealed in "Lailatul-Qadr" i. e. the Night of Destiny, Decree or Dignity. This Night of Destiny or Decree, has been described, elsewhere in the Quran, as the Blessed Night (44:4). The Surah has only five little verses, excluding the Bisimillah and yet its meaning and content is of deep spiritual significance. 3413