The actual discussion on the compilation of the Qur’ān shall be taken up in the second volume of this book. However, in this brief note, we wish to state that the Holy Qur’ān, which is the holy book of us Muslims, and which we consider to be the word of God, sent down to the Holy Prophetsa from God was not revealed all at once. Rather, it was revealed gradually in parts, and there is much wisdom in this gradual revelation, the mention of which is not necessary here. Chapters which were revealed to the Holy Prophetsa prior to the migration are referred to as ‘Makkan Chapters’ and subsequent ones, ‘Medenite Chapters’. As the Holy Qur’ān was being revealed, the Holy Prophetsa would recite it to his companions. They would either memorize it, or prepare various written manuscripts of it, for which the Holy Prophetsa had appointed numerous scribes among his literate companions. As such, we see that in the Jāhiliyyah, when Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra furiously entered his sister’s home, they possessed a written form of the Holy Qur’ān, part of which Khabbāb bin Al-Aratra was reciting to the sister and brother-in-law of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra.
Qur’ānic chapters have not been ordered in the Holy Qur’ān as per the sequence in which they were revealed. Rather, the Holy Prophetsa appointed their sequence himself under Divine command. As such, at the completion of one chapter, the Holy Prophetsa would instruct that place this chapter at the following place. Similarly, at the revelation of every verse, the Holy Prophetsa would say that place this verse in the following chapter at the following place.1 The sequence that was established of Qur’ānic verses and chapters by the Holy Prophetsa as per divine understanding has been maintained thus far. Moreover, the beauty of this sequence cannot remain hidden from those who reflect and contemplate.
1 * Mishkātul-Maṣābiḥ, Kitābu Faḍā’ilil-Qur’ān, Bābu Ikhtilāfil-Qirā’āti wa Jam‘il-Qur’ān, Al-Faṣluth-Thālith, Ḥadīth No. 2222, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2003)
* Fatḥul-Bārī Sharḥu Ṣaḥīḥil-Bukhārī, By Aḥmad bin ‘Alī bin Ḥajar ‘Asqalānī, Volume 9, pp. 26-27, Kitābu Faḍā’ilil-Qur’ān, Bābu Kātibin-Nabiyyisa Sharḥu Ḥadīth 4990, Qadīmī Kutub Khānah, Ārām Bāgh, Karachi