CHAPTER No: 02

The History and Importance of the Holy Quran

Lecture: 01.
1). Book of guidance.
2). It contains revelations received by Prophet during the period of 23 years (from 610 to 633
AD).
3). It is collection of messages (of guidance) for entire humanity.
4). It is final revelation of Allah to man , in other words it is last testament.
5). It discussed enormous range of topics such as:
* It tells us about God , His attributes.
* Man’s position in universe, man’s aim in the life or life hereafter.
* The next life is described in detail.
* History of previous nations and their prophets.
* Man event from the life of Prophet
6). Laws and regulations on everyday subjects are described such as:
* Family life * Business dealing * The Laws * War and peace * Women’s rights * Hygiene
* Government and Democracy.
7). It also challenges to those who disagreed with it to produce proof of their views.
8). Divisions of the Holy Quran ( Authoritative divisions).
9). Divisions and their order are termed as “ Tawfiqi” (divinely inspired).
10). Meaning of Quran (literal and religious).
11). The divine names of the Holy Quran.

Lecture:02. The Makki and Madani Revelations

1). Definition of Makki and Madani Surahs.
2). Duration of revelation of Makki and Madani Surahs.
3). Salient features ( peculiarities) of Makki and Madani surahs.
4). Revelations between 610 and 632 A.D.
* Different modes of revelations of the holy Quran.

1- On the heart of holy prophet.

2- Through Jibraeel.
3- In the dreams of holy prophet.
5). Definition of the word “ Nuzul” ( literal meaning of “Nuzul”).
* Hadith of (Bukhari sharif) reported by Hazrat Aisha about the different modes of the
revelation of the holy Quran.
* Surah Shura verse 51 mentions the different modes of the revelation of the Holy Quran.

Lecture:03. Tafseer
1) Definition of Tafseer.

2) The Holy prophet was the first explainer of Quranic meanings.

 Two verses support the above ststement such as:
(1). (16:44). (2). (3:164)
3) Names of Mufasireen of 1st periof ( ‫) قرون اولی‬
COMPANIONS: Abdullah bin Abbas, Hazrat Ali, Abdullah bin Masood,
Abae bin Kaab,

AFTER COMPANIONS: Hazrat Mujahid, hazrat Saeed bin jubair, hazrat

Akrama, hazrat Taoos, hazrat Ata bin abi Rabah, hazrat Saeed bin Al-
Musayyeb, Muhammad bin Seerin,etc.

Last Mufassireen‫ متاخرین‬:Tafseer ibn Kaseer, Tafseer Kabeer, Tafseer Abi

Saood, Tafseer Al Qurtubi, Roohul Maani, Bayanul Quraan etc.

4) Different aspects of Tafseer ( salient features).

 Tafseer of holy Quran consists of explaining the difficult words and phrases.
 It affirms the purpose of revelation.
 It discuss on abrogating ( Naasikh) and abrogated (Mansookh).
 Numbers of mansookh verses are 19 , according to Allama Jalaluddin Suyuti.
five verses are abrogated in the sight of Shah Waliullah Muhaddis Dahlivi.
1) 180 Al-Baqarah 2) 65 Al-Anfal 3) 66 Al-Anfal 4) 51 Al-Ahzab 5) 12 Mujadalah.

 Verses with clear meaning (Mohkam), verses resembling meaning ( Mutashaabeh)

 Unique feature of the holy Quran, examples, oaths and events quoted by the
Quran.
 Commands relating to the compulsory, obligatory, permissible and forbidden
things.
 Fundamental beliefs
 Inherent(‫ ) ذاتی‬meaning of mystical(‫ ) صوفیانہ‬or philosophical expressions.
 Objections raised by the non-believers, and so on.

Lecture:04. Preservation of holy Quran

( Compilation of the Quran during the lifetime of the holy
prophet ‫) صلی ہللا علیہ وسلم‬.
1). The holy prophet ‫ صلی ہللا علیہ وسلم‬learnt every revelation by heart.
 He used to recite Quran in the presence of angel Jibraeel and hazrat Zaid bin Sabit.
2). He appointed a group of forty(40) scribes (writers).
Some names of scribes(writers) are given :
 Hazrat Abu Bakr
 Hazrat Umar
 Hazrat Usman
 Hazrat Ali
 Hazrat Ubai bin Kaab
 Hazrat Abdullah bin Abi Sarah
 Hazrat Zubair bin Awwam
 Hazrat Khalid bin Saeed bin Al-Aas
 Hazrat Aban bin Saeed bin Al-Aas
 Hazrat Hanzala bin Al-Rabee
 Hazrat Muaiqib bin Abi Fatima
 Hazrat Abdullah bin Arqam Azahri
 Hazrat Sharhabeel bin Hasanah
 Hazrat Abdullah bin Rawaha
 Hazrat Aamir bin Fahairah
  Hazrat Amar bin Al-Aas
 Hazrat Sabit bin Qais bin Shammas
 Hazrat Mughairah bin Sha’aba
 Hazrat Khalid bin Walid
 Hazrat Muaawiyah bin Abi Sufyan
 Hazrat Zaid bin Saabit

3). Revelation were written down on:

 Stone tablets
 Wood parchments
 Leather pieces
 Branches of trees ( leaves of trees).
 Camel’s shoulder bones
 And loose sheets
4). Holy Prophet took three measures for the preservation of the Quran:
 Recitation before himself or under the supervision of competent teachers
 Preservation by way of memorization
 Preservation in written form through the scribes

5). Arrangement of Quran.

 Prophet did not arrange it according to its order of revelation( in chronological order)
 It was arranged as per definite plan under divine guidance

Lecture:05. Compilation of holy Quran during the caliphate

of Hazrat Abu Bakr.
 Suggestion of compilation was given by Hazrat Umar
 Battle of Yamama was main cause of compilation of holy Quran
 Hazrat Zaid bin Sabit was assigned as a chief of commission for compilation of Quran
by caliph Hazrat Abu Bakr.
 The terms of reference were as follow:
 Lecture:05. Compilation of holy Quran during the
caliphate of Hazrat Usman Ghani.
(01) Some changes took place among the non-Arabic speaking people such as
Syrian and Iraqi.
 Syrian people used to recite the pronunciation of Uba-e- bin Kaab.
 And people of Iraq used to recite the pronunciation(Qiraat) Abdullah bin Masood.

(02) Hazrat Huzaifa bin Yaman reported to the caliph about the changes in the
recitation.
(03) Hazrat Usman ordered for the comparison between the master copy and the
other scriptures.
(04) Hazrat Zaid bin Sabit ( Ansari) was again appointed for making copies of holy
Quran along with others members included :

1-Hazrat Saeed bin Al-as (Quraishi) ,

2-Hazrat Abdurehman bin Harith (Quraishi ).

3-And Hazrat Abdullah bin Zubair (Quraishi).

(05) Hazrat Usman got four official copies ( according to some seven copies were
prepared)
 Copies were distributed in :
 Makkah , Syria , Yemen , Bahrain , Basrah , Kufa , Madinah.

(06) Other individual copies were burnt by the caliph and followed the official
copy.