AlhamduliLlahiwa bi-Hi nasta'een, to proceed.
Al-Qur’an is the Word of Allah Uncreated which was revealed to Nabiy Muhammad (sallaLlahu 'alayhi wa sallam) via Angel Jibreel, its recitation is worship and was transmitted by the largest number of narrators in every level [that is, it is tawatur].
It was revealed as a whole to Baytul `Izzah/Ma’muur on the 24th of Ramadhan {Musnad Ahmad, Lataaif Al- Ma`aarif 316, Al fath 2129, As-saheehah 4/104 no.1575). Angel Jibreel started revealing it upon him since that day in piecemeal for 23years. It is of pure Arabic (As-shafi` reviled whoever claimed there is a non Arabic word in Al-Qur’an (like As-Suyootee) as cited by Ahmad Shaakir (in Al-`Umdah) and can be read in seven dialects.
It was revealed in FIVE methods:
Via an Angel: That was Jibreel. He appeared to the Prophet in his original form twice, but most of the time he would come in the form of the most handsome companion i.e. Dihyah Al-Kalbee.
Behind the Veil: As Allah spoke to Musa (KaleemuLlahi).
Truthful Dream: it was said Suratul Kawthar was the only chapter revealed via this.
Like the Sound of a Bell: this was the severest. After that, it ceased because he understood what (the angel) said.
Via Intuition from Allah The Sublimest: It was blew into his heart (Saheeh Al-Bukhari 1/2, Tafseer As- Sama’anee 5/86, Tafseer Al Baghawee p. 1163 and Al Itqaan vol.1 pp.128 – 129).
By then it was written on any (pure) available materials like: date palm leaves, dried animal skin, tree bark, the shoulder blade of sheep or camel, flat stone and wood by the aid of:
Abdullahi bn Zaid Abee Sarh: He was the first person assigned by the Prophet (sallaLlahu 'alayhi wa sallam) in Makkah to write Al-Qur’an, but later apostatized, fortunately he came back to Islam in the year of Conquest of Makkah).
'Uthman bn Affaan
'Alee bn Abi Taalib
Ubay bn Ka’b: he was the first person chosen to write Al-Qur’an in Madeenah and one of the proficient reciters.
Zayd bn Thaabit: He was one of the youth who was proficient in reading (Al-Qur’an) and writing. Imam Baghawi said: ‘He witnessed the last recitation of the Prophet (sallaLlahu 'alayhi wa sallam) to Angel Jibreel’ (Al – Itqaan 1/142).
Muawiyyah bn Abee Sufyaan. {May Allah pleased with them all} (See Jamu ‘ Al – Qur’an Hifdhan wa Kitaaban pp.489-490).
Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar (in Al Fatih) increased their names by mentioning: Abu Bakr, Umar bn Khattaab, Zubayr bn Awwaam, Khalid and Abban, the sons of Sa’eed bn Al-As, Ibn Mas’ud, Abdullahi bn Arqam Az-Zuhr, AbduLlahi bn Rawahah, Sarheel bn Hasanah and among others.
Among these companions were those who wrote for themselves or wrote another thing beside Al-Qur’an, while the Prophet (sallaLlahu 'alayhi wa sallam) assigned the former six companions {see Jamu Al – Qur’an}.
No doubt, it was recorded in the heart of noble companions too, among them were who completed it in Prophet`s lifetime and after his demise. They were:
Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Alee, Mu'adh bn Jabal, Ubay bn ka’b, Aboo Ayub Al- Asaree, Aboo Darda, Aboo Musa Al-Asharee, AbduLlahi bn Abbas, Muadh Aboo Haleemah, AbduLlahi bn Umar, AbduLlahi bn Amr Al-As, AbduLlahi bn Zubayr, Salim Mawlah Abee Hudhayfah, Fudhaalah bn 'Ubayd, Ubaadah bn Saamit, Mu’jam bn Sariyah, Muslimah bn Mukhlid, Aboo Hurayrah Aboo Ruqayyah al-Taimeem, Talha Sa’d Abdullahi bn Sa’ib, Umm Salamah, Aisha bint Abee Bakr and Hafsah bint Umar.
Quranic chapters are of two types, viz:
(1) Makkah: These are the chapters which were revealed prior Hijrah (either at Taif or on journey) It's features are:
(a) Oneness of Allah.
(b) Description Of unseen.
(c) Method of offering salaah.
(d) The story of the people of the old.
(e) Short and catchy verses.
(f) Challenges.
(2) Madeenah: These are chapters which were revealed after hijrah (no matter the place)
It features are: (a) issues of the people of the book.
(b)Issue of the hypocrites.
(c) fighting against Kuffaar and Munaafiqoon.
(d) Answers to the questions.
Signs to identify Makkan suwar are;
1) All of the chapters that has SAJDAH except suratul Hajj.
2) All of the chapter that has the word “Kalla”.
3) All of the suwar that contain Yaa ayuha nnas without Ya ayyuha ladhina aamanu.
4) All of the chapters that contains the stories of Prophets or
mentioned the ancient nations the apart from the people of the book.
5) All of the chapters that contain the story of Shaytaan except Baqarah
.
6) All of the chapters that start with alphabets except Baqarah and Al-Imraan.
Signs to identify Medinan suwar;
1) All of the chapters that contain an obligations or punishment.
2) All of the chapters that mention the hypocrites apart from Ankabut.
3) All of the suwar that contain an argument with ahlul Kitaab.
Know these are the signs of proximity which narrations, meditation and foresight indicate (Al – Muqaddimah Al-Asaasiyah fi Uluumil Qur’an pp.59-60).
Ayah: it is a sign for the separation of the previous words from what follows.
Surah: I (Ahmad Shaakir) say it is likely to be the collection and the framing of verses.(Umdatut Tafseer vol.1 pp.47-48).
The last verse revealed was “And be afraid of the day when you shall be bought back to the collection Allah.”{Q2:281).So, Al-Qur’an contains 6,236 verses (only the increased two hundred is where scholars differ) and 114 chapters.(See Al Itqān and Umdah Tafseer).
Originally written on 27th day of Ramadan 1436 A.H
