The Quran was revealed over 23 years, starting in 609 CE, when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received the first verses in the Cave of Hira, Makkah. Delivered in Arabic, the Quran’s verses addressed real-life events, offering guidance for both the Prophet and his followers.
The Quran wasn’t revealed in chronological order but organized based on divine wisdom. With its initial focus on the Arabs, its messages have since spread globally, shaping Islam’s evolution from a call to belief in Makkah to state-building in Madinah, with significant revelations occurring during the month of Ramadan, especially on Laylatul Qadr.
To properly read and understand the Nobel Quran, you need to understand the nature of its revelation.
Understanding how the Quran was revealed will clear any confusion while reading it. It will also help you understand and appreciate the relation between the Quran and Sunnah (Prophetic Tradition). You will see how the Quran and Sunnah are intertwined and often inseparable.
So, let’s start and answer a few simple and easy question that helps understanding Quranic revelation.
Table of Contents
What is Quran Revelation?
The Quranic revelation refers to how the Quran was revealed to the prophet peace be upon him and how the prophet taught it to his companions.
The Quran is Allah’s words, sent down with angel Gabrial to be delivered to prophet Muhammed peace be upon him, who then revealed it to the whole world.
When prophet Muhammed peace be upon him received revelation, it had a physical impact on him. This was observed by many around him. Among these signs were that the prophet becomes very heavy, that if he is riding on a camel the camel wouldn’t bear it and sit down. His face would turn red and sweat a lot, have a heavy breath and he wouldn’t be able to communicate with others while the revelation was coming down. People around him would also often hear a voice described as the sound of bees or the ringing of bells
The revelation of the Quran not only proves that it isn’t prophet Muhammad’s words, but also that the literal words of God are very different from the words of men.
How was the Quran revealed?
The Quran was revealed in separate segments depending on the events that were happening.
Allah says: “And a Qur’an which We have separated [by segments] that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period. And We have sent it down progressively.” Al-Israa
The Quran often comments, replies, or clarifies events that happened with the prophet during the time of revelation and allows contemporary Muslims as well as the later generation to contemplate its wisdom in light of these real-life events that were happening.
What order was the Quran revealed in?
The Quran wasn’t ordered chronologically by the order of its revelation.
The Quran is ordered based on the instructions of the prophet Muhammed peace be upon him. Both the actual order of revelation and the chronological order hold nuance effect on understanding the meanings.
The Surahs of the Quran can be read out of order and still be very informative and clear, because of the nature of how the Quran was revealed.
This makes it easy to repeatedly read the Quran and still find it relevant.
Why was the Quran revealed in Arabic?
Allah (God Almighty) chose the Arabic language to both convey His message and show the miraculous nature of the word of God in the Quran.
There are many reasons why the Quran is in Arabic
You can read our article on that subject for more details.
Although the Quran is for all of humanity, the first to receive it were the Arabs. The Quran had to be in Arabic so those who initially received it could understand it, recognize its miraculous nature, believe and follow it, and then share it with the world.
If the first generation to interact with the Quran couldn’t understand it, it would be a waste, and Allah is full of wisdom.
People can learn Arabic and Quran from all over the world today.
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Learn the Quran with native Arabic speakers today on Riwaq Al-Quran
In modern days, you can easily learn Arabic and Quran from the comfort of your home. All you need is discipline and dedication.
When was the Quran revealed?
The Quran was revealed over 23 years, which is the time from the prophet’s, peace be upon him, first encounter with the angel Gabrial until his death.
In that period revelation would come to the prophet by ayat (Verses) or entier Surah (Chapter), and it was often related to an incident or a matter that the prophet or Muslims faced.
What year was the Quran revealed?
The Quranic revelation started in the year 609 C.E.
By Arabian/ Islamic Callender, the revelation started 1458 years ago.
The Grigorian calendar and Arabian calendar are different that’s why they don’t directly add up. The Grigorian calendar is based on the sun cycle, but the Arabian/ Islamic calendar is based on the moon cycle.
How long ago was the Quran revealed?
The Quranic revelation ended around 1435 years ago, by the Islamic calendar. That’s when the prophet, peace be upon him, died in the year 10 A.H.
In the Gregorian calendar that’s the year 632 C.E.
How old was the prophet when the Quran was revealed to him?
Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him was 40 years old when he started receiving the first Quranic revelation. He died by the age of 63 and the time in between was all time of active revelation of the Quran.
The age of 40 is often considered to be the peak of mental and physical maturity. Many scholars say that prophets generally started receiving revelation by the age of 40.
How many years did it take for the Quran to be revealed?
The Quran was revealed over 23 years period.
3 years were known as the secret Dawah (sharing messages with close relatives), 10 years of openly sharing Islam in Makkah, and 10 years after migration to Madinah.
A lot of events happened and the general setting of the era changed a lot year after year. This was a direct effect of the Quran and a key to understanding it.
Why was the Quran revealed over 23 years?
The Quran was revealed over 23 years to teach us to take our time to study every word of it.
The Quran could have been revealed all at once, but being revealed bit by bit, interacting with incidents happening and influencing its environment opens a unique door to understanding divine guidance from a practical point of view.
So the Quran isn’t just theoretical words but has a practical example in the period it was revealed.
Which mountain was the Quran revealed?
The first Ayat of the Quran were revealed in the cave of Hira on the mountain of light.
The (Mountain of Light) in Makkah has a cave called (Hira) where the prophet peace be upon him used to worship Allah in solitude. Being alone while worshiping Allah strengthens the bond between the worshipper and the Creator, the prophet knew this even before revelation and used to worship only Allah.
When Allah saw the dedication and good character of the prophet Muhammad, He chose him to be the last messenger for mankind. And Thus sending the holy spirit (Angel Gabriel) to start the revelation to the prophet.
The first ayat revealed were:
(إقرأ بأسم ربك الذي خلق، خلق الإنسان من علق، إقرأ وربك الأكرم، الذي علّم بالقلم، علّم الإنسان ما لم يعلم)
“Read in the name of your Lord who Created (1)
Who Created man from a clinging substance (2)Read and your Lord is the most generous (3)
He Who taught by the pen –(4)
Taught man what he didn’t know(5)” Suratu Al-Alaq
The prophet was shocked in the beginning as would anyone who would have such an extraordinary experience, but when he cooled down revelation became clear to him and his meetings with angel Gabriel would be normal to him.
The prophet didn’t go to the mountain of light anymore but rather worshipped Allah how Allah ordered him.
Where was the Quran revealed?
The Quran was revealed in multiple places. Primarily in the two cities of Makkah and Madinah where the prophet peace be upon him lived in the two major periods of his mission.
The prophet peace be upon him lived in Makkah for 13 years, where the foundations of Islamic faith and beliefs were being revealed. This period is where Islam is still just a message and calling, reminding of stories from old, debunking falsehoods of other beliefs, and calling people to the pure Islamic faith.
After migration to Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah (The enlightened city), Islam turned into a state. Although small but a state nonetheless. The city’s majority were Muslims, either from the original (Ansar) or the immigrants (Muhajirun). This period had a lot of major events and interactions between the Muslim state and others, as well as internal matters of Muslims.
That’s why revelations from Madinah time were more about rulings, regulations, and actions.
This general understanding doesn’t mean there were no rulings revealed in Makkah, or that there were no Ayat concerning beliefs in Madinah –Many of the interactions with Jews and Christians happened in Madinah, and strong Ayat were revealed about that, and basic Islamic rulings were revealed in Makkah so Muslims can truly worship Allah.
Understanding the incidents and timings behind the revelation of the Quranic Ayat gives a unique understanding of it.
In which month was the Quran revealed?
The Quran was revealed in the Month of Ramadan, The ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
The start of the Quranic revelation was in the month of Ramadan, especially in the night of the last ten nights known as (Laylatul Qadr)
Read more on laylatul Qadr on our Blog
How to learn the Quran?
You can learn the Quran today from any place you like in the world, with professional native teachers.
Read more about Riwaq Al Quran and see which course fits you best.
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Their experienced instructors use a structured curriculum to cover Tajweed, Tafsir, and Memorization, providing easy and effective access to learning the Quran.
The advanced online classes allow for seamless communication and interaction between students and teachers. Join Riwaq Al Quran for a deeper connection with the Quran.
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Conclusion:
The Quran’s revelation was a gradual process that unfolded over 23 years, beginning in 609 CE when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) first received guidance from the angel Gabriel. The revelations were delivered in segments, often responding to real-life situations, challenges, and incidents faced by the Prophet and his followers.
While the Quran was revealed in Arabic, a language that allowed for both understanding and showcasing the divine wisdom, its primary audience was initially the Arabs, with its messages eventually spreading worldwide. The Quran’s contents are not in chronological order but arranged as per the Prophet’s guidance, making it versatile and relevant even when read out of sequence.
The revelation began in the Cave of Hira, located on the Mountain of Light in Makkah, with the first verses urging the Prophet to “Read in the name of your Lord” from Surah Al-Alaq. Over the years, the Quran was revealed in Makkah and Madinah, corresponding to different phases of Islam’s evolution—from its early stage as a call to belief to its establishment as a state in Madinah.
The Quran was revealed during the month of Ramadan, particularly on Laylatul Qadr, a night considered to be of great spiritual significance. These contextual details are essential for understanding the Quran, as they offer insight into the challenges and teachings that shaped its divine message.
