Period of Revelation
Whether it is a Makki or a Madani revelation is disputed. Abu Hayyan in Al-Bahr al-Muhti has made the claim that the majority of scholars regard it as a Madani Sura. All bin Ahmad al-Wahidi in his commentary says that this is the first Sura to be sent down in Madinah. Contrary to this
Al Mawardi says that occording to the majority of scholars it is a Makki revelation
and the same view has Imam Suyuti expressed in Al-Itqan. Ibn Mardayah has cited Ibn Abbas
lbn Az Zubair and Hadrat Aishah as saying that this Sura was revealed at Makkah. A study of the contents also shows that it should have been revealed at Makkah as we shall explain below.
Theme and Subject Matter
Its theme is to acquaint man with the value
worth and importance of the Quran. Its being placed just after Sura Al-Alaqin the arrangement of the Quran by itself explains that the Holy Book
the revelation of which began with the first five verses of Sura Al-Alaq. was sent down in a destiny making night. It is a glorious Book and its revelation for mankind is full of blessings. At the outset
Allah says: "We have sent it down." That is
it is not a composition of Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessing) himself
but We Ourself have revealed it. Then
it is said that "We sent it down in the Night of Destiny." Night of Destiny lies two meanings and both are implied here. First
that it is the night during which destinies are decided; or
in other words
it is not an ordinary night like the other nights
but a night in which destinies are made or marred. The revelation of this Book in this night is not merely the revelation of a book but an event which will change the destiny of not only the Quraish
or of Arabia
but of
the entire world. The same thing has been said in Sura Ad-Dukhanfor which please see Introduction to that Sura and E. N. 3 thereof. The other meaning is that this is
a night of unique honour
dignity and glory; so much so that it is better than a thousand months. Thus
the disbelievers of Makkah have been warned
as if to say: "You on account of your ignorance regard this Book
which Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) has presented
as a calamity for yourselves and complain that a disaster has befallen you
whereas the night in which it was decreed to be sent down was such a blessed night that a task was accomplished in it for the well being of mankind
which had never been accomplished even during a thousand months of history. This also has been said in verse 3 of Ad-Dukhanin another way
which we have explained in the introduction to that Sura. In conclusion
it has been stated that in this night the angels and Gabriel descend with every decree (which in verse 4 of Sura Ad- Dukhanhas been described as arm-hakim: wise decree) by the leave of their Lord
and it is all peace from evening till morning; that is
there is no interfercnce of evil in it
for all decrees of Allah are intended to promote good and not evil. So much so that even if a decision to destroy a nation is taken
it is taken for the sake of ultimate good
not evil.