Quran Garden

Session 324

Chapter 3

Verses 3 & 4

 

He has revealed the Book to you with the truth, confirming what was there before it. And He sent down the Torah and the Gospel earlier as a guide for people.  And He has sent down the criterion. Those who deny God’s revelations will suffer severe torment: God is almighty and capable of retribution. (Chapter 3, Verses 3 & 4)

In the previous verse, Allah laid the foundation of His lordship: ‘God - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Ever-Watchful.’  And as long as Allah is the only Creator, it is logical that He is the One who looks after the affairs of all creation.  He says:

He placed firmly embedded mountains on it, towering over it, and blessed it and measured out its nourishment in it, laid out for those who seek it – all in four days. (41:10)

God did not only give us the sustenance for material life, He also gave us the values ??needed to make life fair and enjoyable.  Materialism without values ??makes life intractable, violent and miserable for most.  Thus, the heavenly revelations are most necessary and valuable.  God says:

He has revealed the Book to you with truth, confirming what was there before it. And He sent down the Torah and the Gospel (Chapter 3, Verse 3)

 When something is sent down to you for the Most High, you should not look at it as a burden or an obstacle because they are from the creator of the universe.  Thus, following God’s teachings in submission should make you proud.  It does not demean you; rather it elevates you to a higher level. 

Let’s take a few moments to look at the Arabic origin of the words ‘revealed’ and ‘sent down.’  They are translated from one of three Arabic origins: Nazal, Nazzal, Anzal -انزل, نزّل, and نزل-.  Each carries a distinct meaning from the others.  We’ll take them one by one. 

Whenever the word Anzal انزل is used in the Quran, you will find it referring to Allah. God says:

Truly We sent it down on the Night of Power. (97:01)

In the following verse, the word Nazal نزل is used referring to the Archangel Gabriel.  God says:

The Trustworthy Spirit brought it down (26:193)

Lastly, the word Nazzal نزّل  is used for the rest of the angles.  God says:

on that night the angels and the Spirit descend again and again with their Lord’s permission on every task (97:04)

So the use of the verb Anzal انزل in the Quran is exclusive to God, while Nazal نزل is used for Gabriel, and Nazzal نزّل is used for the angels.  The Arabic language is a vast language with intricate details and precise meanings hidden within its words, and often within specific letters in these words.  The difference between the uses of the words Anzal, Nazal, and Nazzal gives us clues about the revelation of the Noble Quran and the heavenly books that preceded it, namely the Torah and the Gospel. 

This brings us back to the verse.  When it comes to the Torah and Bible, God exclusively uses the verb Anzal, ‘And He sent down the Torah and the Gospel.’  The use of the verb ‘Anzal أنزل’ means that both, the Torah and the Bible, were revealed to our beloved prophets Moses and Jesus respectively as two whole books. 

When it comes to the Nobel Quran, God uses two verbs: Anzal –the same verb used for the Torah and Bible- and then the verb Nazal-.  God says:

It is with the truth that We have sent it down, and it is with the truth that it was revealed. We have not sent you but as a bearer of glad tidings and to warn.  (17:105)

We understand that God Almighty revealed the Quran from the preserved slate to the lowest heaven all at once as a single complete book.  He says using the verb Anzal: ‘And He has sent down the criterion.’  Later on, the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad a few verses –and occasionally entire chapters- at a time according to what was appropriate for the circumstances. 

So, to those who question: how do you say that Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan, while you also say that it was revealed little by little over the twenty-three years of Muhammad’s Prophethood?  We answer that our knowledge of the nuances of the Arabic language clarifies things for us.  Allah revealed the entire Quran from His knowledge and sent it down to the lowest heaven in the month of Ramadan. From that moment on, the Quran started its mission in this world in gradual revelations spanning the life of our beloved Muhammad.  These gradual revelations were based on the circumstances facing the new faith.  A few verses specifying a religious ruling would come down at the time when it was needed.  Had the Quran been sent all at once, the rulings and religious teachings might have existed while there was neither need nor hunger for them.  But when a teaching is revealed at the time of need, it becomes established and appreciated.

Let’s clarify this point with an example.  Say that you decided to put together a first aid kit and small medicine cabinet for your family.  You would go and buy all the medicines and supplies necessary to manage common home emergencies and illnesses.  You would buy many medicines that you do not need today and then organize them in the cabinet.  But when one of your family members gets a cold or falls down, you would go to the medicine cabinet and grab only the appropriate medicine.  In this case, the emergency is effectively addressed with the proper medicine. 

Similarly, when Allah wanted to address a problem facing the Prophet and his companions, He did not order the Quran to be sent form the preserved slate, rather the Quran was already on hand in the lowest heaven.  God would order the Archangel Gabriel to come down to the Prophet with the revelation of the verses that properly addressed the situation.

As for those who still question why the Quran was not revealed altogether at once? God answers: 

The faithless say, ‘Why has not the Quran been sent down to him all at once?’ So it is, that We may strengthen your heart with it, and We have recited it little by little. (25:32)

Allah revealed the Quran a little at a time to strengthen the heart of the Prophet and the believers.  Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced tremendous challenges from day one of his call to faith.  Whenever a tough challenge presented itself, a portion of the Quran -appropriate for that challenge- was revealed to support the Prophet and those standing by him.  Each revelation illuminated the path ahead of the Prophet and made him feel tranquil.  This also gave the believers time to understand, implement and appreciate each and every new ruling and heavenly teaching.  

Let’s clarify this point with another example.  Suppose that your child wanted new toys; would you bring him everything all at once? Or would you rather bring him a new toy one day and then another when he does well in school and so on? When you spread your gifts over time and occasions, your kid feels happiness and appreciation for every new toy.  Each new gift has its own charm and creates a lasting memory.

            Prophet Muhammad was often challenged by the non-believers, the Jews, and the Christians.  And each time, Allah answered them with clear revelation.  Had the Quran been sent down all at once, these rebuttals would have lost some of their impacts.  God says: 

The faithless say, ‘Why has not the Quran been sent down to him all at once?’ So it is, that We may strengthen your heart with it, and We have recited it little by little. Every time they come to you with a difficult point, We bring you the truth and the best of explanations. (25:32, 33)