Before I discuss the revelation of the Qur'an, it is of primary importance to first talk about the man to whom it was revealed. This man was Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him (pbuh). He was born in the city of Mecca, in Arabian Peninsula, and according to Muslim historians, the date was April 20, 571 A.D. The name Muhammad (pbuh) means "Highly Praised". How appropriate the Name is !. Let's hear what some of the greatest philosophers and thinkers of the world said about Muhammad (pbuh).
One Michael H. Hart, apparently a historian, mathematician and astronomer published a book, in America, titled "The 100: A ranking of the most influential persons in History, New York, Hart Publishing Company Inc. 1978, p33. He conducted some extensive study on personalities like Ashoka,, Aristotle, Buddha, Confucius, Hitler, Plato, Zoroaster and many more. Mr. Hart ranked Muhammad (pbuh) as the Number One. He concluded and I quote:
"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level".
Thanks to the Almighty Allah, that this ranking came from a non-Muslim. Had we (Muslims) classified him to be the Number One, they would certainly have called us "insane".
Diwan Shand Sharma, a Hindu scholar, writes in his book "The Prophets of the East", Calcutta, 1935. Page 122:
"Muhammad was the soul of kindness, and his influence was left and never forgotten by those around him."
John William Draper, M.D., LLD., in his writing, "A history of the Intellectual Development of Europe", London 1875, wrote:
"Four years after the death of Justinian, A.D. 569, was born at Makkah, in Arabia the Man (Muhammad) Who, of all men exercised the Greatest Influence upon the human race...."
George Bernard Shaw in his writing under the title, "The Genuine Islam", Vol. 1, No 81936, wrote:
"I have studied him - the wonderful man - and in my opinion far from being an anti-crist, he must be called the savior of humanity.
Encyclopaedia Britannica , 11th Edition, states:
"Muhammad was the most successful of all religious personalities".
It was this man Muhammad (pbuh) whom Allah chose to be the His last Prophet and Messenger to all people. He was illiterate as such was unable to read or write. His parents died when he was a child and passed his childhood as a shepherd and when he grew up he would spend many hours in seclusion in the cave of Hira on a mountain near Mecca.
It is reported in Sahih of al Bukhari (the collection of the Traditions of the Prophet) that sometimes he would stay in the cave for hours and sometimes for days contemplating about the creation surrounding him. This was similar to what other prophets like Abraham, Moses and Jesus did. He continued this practice, until one night Allah sent His Angel Gabriel to him and asked him to read. Muhammad (pbuh) replied "I do not know how to read". The Angel forced him to read again, and Muhammad (pbuh) replied "I do not know how to read". The Angel forced and insisted him to read the third time and Muhammad replied "I do not know how to read' (or what shall I read?). The Angel replied: "Read in the name of your Lord who created ...". This is referred to (Surah 96 Verses 1-3) which was the first revelation.
"Proclaim! (or Read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher Who created. Created man out of a (mere) Leech-Like clot:; Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful." (96:1-3)
The first revelation was received after he completed 40 years of his life. This formed the basis of his Prophethood. After the first revelation, there was a couple of days before the second revelation when the Angel Gabriel descended again and revealed to Muhammad (PBUH)) the following verse:
"O thou wrapped up (in a mantle)!" (74:1)
From here on the revelation of Allah came regularly, until the whole Qur'anic revelation was completed, which took almost 23 years. Every word revealed to Muhammad (pbuh) through Angel Gabriel were Verbatim Words of Allah.
The revelation to Muhammad (pbuh) is not unique - Allah had revealed his message to humankind through his chosen prophets and messengers since the beginning of Man (Adam). Whenever He willed to guide a group of people He choose His messengers and revealed His message through them, as testified in the Qur'an:
"We have sent thee inspiration as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him; We sent inspiration to Abraham, Ishmail, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron and Solomon and to David We gave the Psalms." (4:163)
For 23 years (610 A.D to 632 A.D) Qur'anic messages were revealed in stages whenever the need arose to give guidance and the laws of right and wrong, good and evil.
"It is We (Allah) Who have sent down the Qur'an to thee (Muhammad) by stages." (76:23)
It is outside the scope of this book to describe, in detail, the methods used to preserve and collect the verses and finally to compile the Qur'an in a Book form. However, an overview is provided as a background for the curious mind.
