Islamic Studies note for SS II
Topic: Studies on Qur’an
Sub topic: Revelation, first revealed verses, second revealed verses, modes of revelation, and preservation of the holy Qur’an.
What is revelation?
Literally: revelation means communication.
Technically: revelation means communication between Allah and His messengers, directly or indirectly.
First revealed verses (Alaq 1-5)
بسم لله الر حمن الر حيم
اقرا با سم ربل الذي خلق (١) قلق الا نسان من علق (٢) اقرا وربل الا كرم (٣) الذي علم بالقلم (٤) علم النسا ن مالم يعلم (٥)
Transliteration
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahiim
- Iqra’ bismi rabbikal ladhi khalaq
- Khalaqal insana min ‘alaqin
- Iqra’ warabbukal akram
- Alladhi allama bilqalam
- Allamal insana ma lam ya’lam
Translation - Read in the name of your Lord who created.
- He created man from a clot of blood
- Read and your Lord is the most Generous
- Who taught by the pen
- He taught man what he did not know
Prophet’s reaction to the first revelation - He rushed to hi wife, Khadija at home.
- He narrated his ordeal to her.
- Khadija consoled and assured him that nothing bad will to him.
- She covered/ wrapped him up with cloth and took very good care of him
- She even narrated the development to her cousin Waraqa Ibn Nawfal.
- Waraqa informed her that Muhammad had been appointed as a Messenger of Allah.
Lessons from the first revelation - It teaches tauhid.
- Importance of knowledge to mankind.
- It teaches the science of human creation.
- It signifies the appointment of Muhammad (SAW) as a prophet of Allah
- It shows that Allah is the most Glorious.
- It shows the importance of pen
- It shows that teaching can lead to knowledge.
Fatrah: this refers to the gap between first and second revealed verses.
Second revealed verses
بسما الله الرحمن الرحيم
يا بها المد ثر (١) قم فا نذ ر (٢) وربك فكبر (٣) وثيا بك فطهر (٤) ورجز فا هجر (٥) - O you who are clothed
- Arise and warn.
- And your Lord do magnify
- And purify your garment/clothes
- And turn away from idols
Last revealed verse
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
واتقوا يوما ترجعون فيه الى الله’ ثم توفى كل نفس ما كسبت وهم لا يظلمون
And guard yourselves against a day in which you shall be returned to Allah, then every soul shall be paid back in full what it has earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly
Modes of revelation - Inspiration: it’s suggestion thrown into the heart of a man, or it a divine inspiration
- Behind veil
- By sending Messenger
Preservation of the holy Qur’an
انا نحن نز لنا الذ كر وانا له لحافظون
Inna nahnu nazzalnadh dhikhra wa Inna lahu laha fizun
‘ Surely, We have sent down the reminder and Surely We will protect it’.
The preservation of the holy Qur’an took two stages e.g. - During the life time of the prophet Muhammad (SAW)
- After the demise of the prophet Muhammad (SAW)
- Memorisation by the prophet Muhammad (SAW): the prophet I. I. committed all the revelations into his memory/heart and Jibril ensured that they were perfectly memorised.
Ii. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) will thereafter teach the companions, who will later memorised it.
III. The memorised text of the Qur’an were always recited in prayers and public places.
IV. Some read from their from their private written records
Materials used for recording Qur’an during the lifetime of the prophet Muhammad (SAW) - Parchment
- Scapular
- Palm leaves stalk
- Ink
- Pen
Compilation of the Qur’an
Reasons behind the compilation of the Qur’an - Many memorisers martyred in the battle of Yamamah (633 CE)
- Umar ibn Khattab feared possible extinction of the Qur’an if urgent measures were not taken.
- He therefore advised Khalifah Abubakar to compile Qur’an into a single volume.
- Abubakar was convinced, he instructed Zayd ibn Thabit the prophet Chief secretary to carry out the assignment.
- After the compilation a copy was kept with Abubakar, and later passed to Umar Ibn Khattab the second Khalifah.
Standardisation of the Qur’an
Reasons behind the standardisation - There were noticed variation in the mode of reading the Qur’an in provinces or the empires particularly in Syri
DANGI BAGUDU 