Have you ever wondered why the Quran was revealed gradually, rather than all at once? After all, the scriptures before the Quran were revealed all at once. So why did the Prophet Muhammad have to wait 23 years to receive the complete Quran?
This question is not a new one. It has been debated since the time of the Prophet. Of course, there are reasons and wisdom that humans can learn behind the gradual revelation of the Quran. Even though the Prophet was a prophet, he was still a normal human being. Spiritually, the Prophet did have extraordinary abilities. However, physically, he was the same as other humans.
Reasons Why the Quran Was Revealed Gradually
The gradual revelation of the Quran was a form of Allah’s mercy to the Prophet Muhammad. This was so that he would not feel alone in his struggle to spread Islam. It was also so that his followers would not feel burdened by Allah’s laws. The Quran was revealed gradually to follow the rhythm of life, not just as a theory that fell from the sky.
The following are the reasons why the Qur’an was revealed gradually
1. To Strengthen the Heart of the Messenger of Allah
This is clearly stated in the Qur’an, specifically in Surah Al-Furqan verse 32.
“Those who disbelieve say, ‘Why was the Qur’an not revealed to him all at once?’ Thus, We strengthen your heart with it and recite it in a gradual manner.”
Imam As-Suyuthi, in his book Al-Itqan fi Ulumil Qur’an, explains that the revelation that came down gradually served as consistent moral support for the Prophet. Every time he faced severe challenges or rejection from the Quraish, Jibril came with new verses to strengthen the Prophet’s mental fortitude.
2. To Facilitate Memorization and Understanding
Arab society at that time was a society that did not read or write; they relied heavily on memorization. If the Qur’an had been revealed all at once in one thick book, it would have been very difficult for the Companions to memorize and understand its meaning in detail.
By being revealed gradually, the Companions could memorize a few verses, understand them, and immediately put them into practice before moving on to the next verse.
3. For the Gradual Application of Law
Allah SWT revealed the Quran gradually to change deeply rooted bad habits (such as drinking alcohol and usury). This is because He knew that social change could not happen instantly.
An example of this is the prohibition of alcoholic beverages (khamr). This was done in four stages, starting with information about its harmfulness, prohibiting prayer while intoxicated, to a strict prohibition against drinking it. The scholars also refer to this as a form of Allah’s mercy so that the people would not feel overwhelmed by the sudden change.
4. To Answer Questions and Events in Real-Time
Many verses of the Quran were revealed as Allah’s direct response to the questions of the Companions or the mockery of the disbelievers. Sheikh M. Ali Ash-Shabuni explains that this proves that the Quran always accompanies the movements of the people and provides immediate solutions to the problems that are occurring at that time.
For example, in the past, people thought that the universe was static. However, in the 20th century, Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe continues to expand and grow. This is exactly what Allah says in Surah Adz-Dzariyat verse 47.
“And We built the heavens with Our power, and indeed We are expanding it.”
The above verse was revealed at a time when telescope technology did not yet exist. The fact that the Quran uses the word “expanding” (musі’un) shows that the information transcends time and remains accurate even in the modern era of cosmology.
5. To Prove That the Quran is a Miracle and the Truth
Even though it was revealed over a period of approximately 23 years and under different conditions and circumstances (war, peace, sadness, happiness), the Quran still has linguistic consistency and there is not the slightest contradiction in meaning within it. This proves that it is not a human composition, but rather divine revelation.
The Wisdom of the Quran Being Revealed Gradually
Based on the above reasons, there are a number of wisdoms that are also related to the reasons why the Quran was revealed gradually. Among others:
- Strengthening the Hearts of the People
The Quran was revealed gradually not because access to it was limited, but to ensure that every piece of information that was revealed became part of people’s character and culture. It was not just a pile of knowledge that was not put into practice.
Especially in this age of fast and abundant information, society is suffering from the disease of knowing a lot but doing very little. Friends, surely there are many of us who often save tutorial videos or wise quotes on social media, but don’t actually do anything or change our lives?
Well, the wisdom behind the gradual revelation of the Quran is to strengthen our hearts to do something or change.
2. To make it easier for Muslims to memorize and understand the Quran
Through this event, Allah wants to teach humans to learn by doing. Understanding the Quran is not just knowing its meaning, but knowing how to use it.
Because the Quran was revealed in relation to real events, the Companions were able to immediately understand the context of the verses. For example, when the verse about the procedure for wudu was revealed, they did not just memorize the theory, but immediately practiced the movements together with the Prophet. The understanding gained from direct practice is much more memorable than just reading instructions in a book.
3. Adapting to the problems and social dynamics faced by the Prophet and his followers
The Quran was not revealed in a vacuum. It was revealed in the middle of the market, in the middle of the battlefield, in the midst of the cries of slaves, and in the midst of heated debates. If the Quran had been revealed all at once, it would have become a dead doctrine that people would have to study after the events had passed. Instead, by being revealed gradually, the Quran positioned itself as a real-time solution.
Imagine the difference between reading a book on How to Deal with Storms when the weather is sunny, and hearing direct guidance from an expert on the radio just as a storm is hitting your house. Direct guidance is far more valuable. For this reason, every time the Prophet Muhammad faced social or political deadlock, revelation came down as navigation. The Quran answered “today,” not just “later.”
Before closing this discussion, let us consider the account of Al-Bukhari from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) who said:
“The first verses revealed were about heaven and hell. Then, as people’s hearts became more convinced of the truth of Islam, verses about what is lawful and unlawful were revealed. If all that was revealed from the beginning were verses such as ‘Do not drink alcohol,’ then people would say, ‘We will never give up the habit of drinking alcohol.’ If the first verse revealed were ‘Do not commit adultery,’ then people would say, ‘We will never give up adultery.’”
The above hadith emphasizes that if strict rules prohibiting long-established habits such as drinking alcohol and committing adultery were given at the beginning when faith was not yet strong, then humans would naturally reject and rebel against them. The wisdom behind the Quran being revealed gradually is to ensure that the community has the mental readiness and strong spiritual foundation, so that obedience arises from conscious love, not merely coercion or threat.
Friends, that is why the Quran was revealed gradually, not all at once. May we all be among those who increase our good deeds and worship. Amen. (Dompet Dhuafa/RQA)
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