The Revelation of the Holy Quran

​Sunday: 20/5/2026
Dhuʻl-Hijjah 3, 1447 AH

The Revelation of the Holy Quran into stages

WALT: To explain the two stages of the revelation of the Holy Quran

The Revelation of the Holy Quran

The holy Qur’an is the last of the Holy Books and
is God's greatest gift to humanity. The Quran was
revealed in two stages. There is wisdom and a
number of reasons for this, which we will explain, in
this lesson.

​Activity 1

What was the first and the last revelation from Allah?

​The first revelation from Allah to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was from Surah Al-‘Alaq:

“Read in the name of your Lord who created…”
(Surah Al-‘Alaq 96:1–5)

The last revelation
Ayah 281 of surat Al-baqarah
(And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allah. Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.)

Multiple Choice

The last Holy book of Allah is_________________

• Al_Injeel

• Al_Quran

• AT_tawrah

The Beginning of the Revelation

⚫

The Holy Quran was sent down in two stages

⚫

Stage One:

⚫

In this stage, the Quran was revealed from the Lauh al-Mahfuz,
the ‘well preserved tablet’, to the lowest of the heavens. In this
revelation all of the Quran was sent down at one time to a station
in the lowest heaven referred to as "Bayt al-'Izzah" (The House of
Honor or Power) in Lailat-ul-Qadr (the Night Of Decree).

⚫

بل هو قرآنٌ مجيد ، في لوحٍ محفوظ

⚫"Nay! This is a Glorious Quran, inscribed in a Preserved Tablet" [Quran

85:21-22]

⚫

Then it tells of the fact that it was sent down during a
specific night, in the verse (which means):

⚫

"By the Book that makes things clear; - We sent it down
during a Blessed Night: for We (ever) wish to warn
(against Evil). In the (Night) is made distinct every
affair of wisdom." [Quran 44:2-4]

⚫

And (which means):

⚫

•  1 - 5 } { بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ * وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ * لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ * تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ * سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّى مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ }         

⚫

"We have indeed sent down this during the Night of Power." [Quran
97:1].

⚫

These two verses indicate that the Quran was revealed in a single
blessed night in the month of Ramadan that is called the 'Night
of Power, or Decree'.

Multiple Choice

The Qur’an was sent down in ..............................

• One stage

• Two stages

• Three stages

Multiple Choice

The Holy Quran was revealed in Lailat-ul-Qadr in the month of..................

• Shawwal

• Muharram

• Safar

• Ramadan

Multiple Choice

How many verses in Surat Al_QADR

• 3 VERSE

• 4 VERSES

• 5 VERSES

• 6 VERSES

Multiple Choice

How many months is Laylatul Qadr better than?

• 1000 months

• 2000 months

• 3000 months

• 4000 months

Stages of Revelation

⚫

Stage Two:

⚫

This stage of revelation lasted for about 23
years in small stages which the Quran was sent
down to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)in response
to the development of events and in accordance
with the sequence needed to complete the
delivery of the Message.

⚫ "…that your heart (O Muhammad) may be

strengthened, We have rehearsed it to you in
slow, well-arranged stages, gradually." [Quran
25:32]

Stages of Revelation

⚫

Stages of Revelation

⚫

The Qur’an was sent down in two stages, first
stage was revealed as a whole and the second it
was revealed in portions.

⚫

1. From the Lauh al-Mahfuz, the ‘well preserved
tablet’, to the lowest of the heavens (Al-Bait
Al-’Izza) of the world, all together in
Lailat-ul-Qadr (the Night Of Decree).

⚫ 2. From the heavens to earth in stages

throughout the 23 years of Prophethood of
Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), starting
from the Lailat-ul-Qadr, through the angel Gabriel
(‘alaihi salaam).

Multiple Choice

The Quran was sent down over a period of___________

• 15 years.

• 22 years.

• 23 years.

• 25 years.

​Activity 2
Why the Holy Qur’an was Revealed in Stages do you think?

Reasons why the Qur’an was Revealed in Stages

⚫

The gracious Qur’an was sent down in stages over a
period of 23 years, and not as a complete book in
one single act of revelation. There are several
reason for this, and the following are the most
significant:

⚫

1.To strengthen the heart of Allah’s messenger
(P.B.U.H.) from time to time and whenever he
needed guidance.

⚫ "…that your heart (O Muhammad) may be

strengthened, We have rehearsed it to you in slow,
well-arranged stages, gradually."

Reasons why the Qur’an was
Revealed in Stages

⚫

2.To gradually implement the commands of Allah.

⚫

3.To make understanding, translation into action and
memorization of the revelation easier for the believers.

⚫

4.Responding to the enemies of Islam and disproving their claims.

⚫

5. During the life of the Prophet (s), chapters and verses of
the Quran were often revealed in cases such as: when an
incident had occurred, in response to a question that was asked,
or in cases when Muslims faced a problem or difficulty.

Multiple Choice

Where was the first revelation of the Quran received by the Prophet Muhammad?

• in the cave of Hira

• in the cave Thawr

• in Madinah

Multiple Choice

Who was the angel of revelation who brought the revelation to the prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?

• Israfil

• Ridwan

• Malik

• Jibreel

Multiple Select

Why the Qur’an was revealed in Stages?

• To gradually implement the commands of Allah.

• Because prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the last messenger

• To make understanding, translation into action, easier for the believers

Multiple Choice

The Quran was revealed in Lailat-ul-Qadr (the Night Of Decree).

• True

• False

All of the Holy books of
Allah except the Quran
were revealed all at Once

Multiple Choice

The first stage of al Quran was from the Lauh al-Mahfuz, the ‘well-preserved tablet’, to the lowest of the heavens

• True

• False

Facts of the lesson

⚫

The Holy Quran was sent down in two stages.

⚫

Stage One:

⚫

1. From the Lauh al-Mahfuz, the ‘well preserved
tablet’, to the lowest of the heavens (Al-Bait Al-’Izza)
of the world, all together in Lailat-ul-Qadr (the Night
Of Decree).

Stage Two

⚫

2. From the heavens to earth in stages throughout the
23 years of Prophethood of Muhammad (sallallaahu
‘alaihi wa sallam), starting from the Lailat-ul-Qadr,
through the angel Gabriel (‘alaihi salaam).

⚫

The Holy books of Allah revealed all at once except the
holy quran was sent down in two stages.

Multiple Choice

The Holy books of Allah revealed all at once except the  .................................was sent down in stages.

• holy Quran

• Injeel

• Tawrah

​Activity 3
 How does the story of the revelation of the Holy Quran relate to your own beliefs or faith?