CHAPTER 1
THE HOLY QUR’ĀN

How and when the Holy Qur’ān was revealed

The original source1 from which all principles and ordinances of Islām are drawn is the Holy Book called al-Qur’ān.2 The name Qur’ān is frequently mentioned in the book itself3 which also states to whom, how, why, when, and in what language, it was delivered. It was revealed to Muḥammad: “And (who) believe in that which has been revealed to Muḥammad — and it is the Truth from their Lord” (47:2). It was revealed in the month of Ramadzān on a certain night which thenceforward received the name of the Night of Majesty4 (Lailat al-Qadr): “The month of Ramadzān is that in which the Qur’ān was revealed” (2:185); “We revealed it on a blessed night” (44:3); “Surely We revealed it on the Night of Majesty” (97:1). It was revealed in Arabic language: “So We have made it easy in thy tongue that they may be mindful” (44:58); “Surely We have made it an Arabic Qur’ān that you may understand” (43:3). It was revealed in portions, every portion being written and committed to memory as soon as it was revealed, and the revelation was spread over twenty-three years of the Holy Prophet’s life, during which time he was occupied solely with the reformation of a benighted world: “And it is a Qur’ān which we made distinct, so that thou mayest read it to the people by slow degrees, and We have revealed it in portions” (17:106). It was not the Holy Prophet who spoke under influence of the Holy Spirit; it was a Divine Message brought by the angel Gabriel, 5 and delivered in words to the Holy Prophet who communicated it to mankind: “And surely this is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. The Faithful Spirit has brought it on thy heart that thou mayest be a warner, in plain Arabic language” (26:192 - 195); “Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel — for surely he revealed it to thy heart by Allāh’s command” (2:97); “The Holy Spirit has revealed it from thy Lord with the truth” (16:102).