Have you ever wondered how the Quran we read today reached us? The Noble Quran was not revealed all at once; rather, it has a fascinating story that began in a small cave on a blessed night during the holy month of Ramadan. From that moment, its revelation continued over several years, accompanying the life of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and the Muslims at every stage.
Throughout this article, we will take you on a journey through time to learn how the Quran was revealed, and why Allah chose its revelation to be gradual rather than all at once.
The First Revelation
On one of the odd nights of Ramadan in the year 610 AD, while the Prophet was worshipping alone in Hira Cave (a small cave located on Mount Noor near Makkah), Archangel Gabriel (peace be upon him) descended to him with the first verses of the Quran. He said to him: “Read,” and recited the first verse of Surah Al-Alaq: Read in the name of your Lord who created, ” اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الذي خَلَقَ”.
And that was the beginning of the greatest book known to mankind, which would guide people from darkness into light.
How Long Did the Quran Take to Be Revealed?
As we mentioned previously, the Holy Quran was not revealed all at once; its revelation took approximately 23 years.
It began from the first moment of revelation in the Cave of Hira when our master Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was 40 years old, and continued until his passing at the age of 63.
The purpose of revealing it in stages was to strengthen the Prophet’s heart, answer the Muslims’ questions, and guide them in facing the challenges they encountered in Makkah and Madinah. This made the Quran a living constitution that interacted with events day by day.
The Role of the Companions in Preserving the Quran
The Companions of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) played a major role in collecting and writing the Quran, starting with the companion Zaid ibn Thabit, who is considered the first to write the Quran.
Passing through our master Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, who ordered the collection of the Quran into a single book, in response to the advice of our master Umar ibn al-Khattab after the martyrdom of a large number of Quran memorizers.
Leading up to our master Uthman ibn Affan, who unified the Quranic text into what is known as the Uthmani script (Al-Rasm Al-Uthmani).
Why the Quran Is Distinguished from Other Divine Books?
There are many characteristics that distinguish the Quran from other divine books; the most prominent are as follows:
- First: It is the only Divine Book that Allah has taken upon Himself to protect from distortion, to be a proof for mankind until the Day of Resurrection.
- Second: The Quran was revealed in Classical Arabic, and it is considered a linguistic and scientific miracle whose impact never ends.
- Third: The Quran is distinguished by being a universal and comprehensive message, not limited to a specific time, place, or people; rather, it is a constitution suitable for all humanity, guiding to that which is most upright in the affairs of this world and the Hereafter.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have learned the story of the Quran’s revelation and its preservation until it reached us today, more than 1,416 years later. We always advise being diligent in reading the Quran, as it holds great virtue in this world and the Hereafter.
