How was Quran Revealed and Compiled
In what circumstances did Prophet Muhammad receive the knowledge of Quran?
It is known to every child of the Muslim community that Allah, who has given the knowledge of Quran, is considered the Khaalik (Master of the world) by the Muslim community. They consider him to be the (Kaadir) Almighty God. They also believe that the knowledge given by that Allah was brought in its entirety without any change by Angel Gabriel(Jibreel) and inserted into the soul of Prophet Muhammad. Then it was spoken from the mouth of Hazrat Muhammad.
Its writers wrote it down. Prophet Muhammad was an illiterate. It has also been mentioned in the process of delivery of the knowledge of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad that sometimes Jibreel would reveal knowledge by appearing before Prophet Muhammad. Sometimes, he imparted knowledge while remaining invisible. Sometimes, Allah Taala would directly put the knowledge in the soul of Prophet Muhammad.
Prophet Muhammad used to lie down with his face covered with a sheet, and then he would utter the knowledge of Quran. The writers wrote it down. In this way, the sacred knowledge of the Quran was obtained.
Process of Revelation of Quran to Prophet Muhammad
It is well known that the process of revelation of the Holy Quran was a very painful one for Prophet Muhammad.
Prophet Muhammad used to mediate in a cave of Hira. One day an angel named Gabriel appeared before Prophet Muhammad and asked him to read something. Prophet Muhammad replied that he was illiterate and did not know how to read. Angel Gabriel strangulated the throat of Prophet Muhammad and again asked him to read. Prophet Muhammad in fear asked what should I read. Then Gabriel said-
"Recite in the name of your Lord who creates. Who, created man from a clot! Recite for your Lord is most generous, who taught man by pen, taught man what he knew not."
Prophet Muhammad immediately remembered everything that angel Gabriel said. Angel Gabriel disappeared. Muhammad was trembling in fear and was terrified not knowing what had happened to him and whom he had met. As Muhammad was trying to contemplate while shivering in fear, suddenly a voice came which said, "Muhammad!". Prophet Muhammad saw that angel was standing in the form of a man. He said, "You are Allah's messenger and I am Gabriel."
Muhammad was extermely terrified and shivering. He could see Gabriel's face in all directions. He returned home to his wife Khadija and asked to be covered.
Wife Khadija tried to comfort Prophet Muhammad but he was fearing his death which he verbalised to Khadija.
This was the first traumatic experience Prophet Muhammad had during the revelation of Quran.
It took 23 years for the quran to be revealed.
How did Prophet Muhammad Get the Knowledge of the Quran"
How was the Quran Sharif i.e., Quran Majeed obtained? (The description present in Quran Sharif is present verbatim in the Quran Majeed).
Quran Majeed - Translator, Fateh Muhammad Khan Sahab Jalandhari, Publisher : Mahmood & Company, Marol Pipeline, Bombay - 59, Sole Agent, Farid Book Depot, Delhi – 6
It is written in the (Muqadma) Preface on pages 6-7 of the above-mentioned book : -
Circumstances Around the Revelation, Collection and Compilation of the Quran Majeed
Conclusion of the article written by the author in the Preface of the aforesaid book Quran Majeed on pages 6-7 :-
The Quran Majeed (Sharif) was completely written in 23 years. It started when Prophet Muhammad was 40 years old and continued for 23 years until his final age of 63 years. Sometimes one verse, sometimes half, sometimes two verses, sometimes 10 verses, and sometimes the entires Surats were revealed. This is called "Wahy" in the Shariat.
Scholars have written that different methods of “Wahy” (revelations) have been mentioned in the hadith.
1. When the angel used to bring "Wahy (revelation)", the bells used to ring. Prophet Muhammad used to feel as if he was about to die. This method used to be the most troublesome for Prophet Muhammad.
This is also written that after Prophet Muhammad’s prophethood (from the age of forty, after becoming a prophet) in the days of Ramadan, the entire Quran Majeed (Sharif) was revealed from Allah by the order of Allah (Lord) from the sky which we cannot see, that is, it was spoken by that Allah alone. After this, whenever and whatever order Jibreel received, he conveyed the Holy Kalam exactly like that to Prophet Muhammad without any changes.
2. Sometimes the angel used to convey some message into his heart.
3. The angel used to come in the form of a man and talk to him.
(Note- It is written in the biography of Prophet Muhammad ji that when Angel Jibreel brought the revelation the first time, he was visible in a human form. He strangled Muhammad ji and said, “Read it.” Prophet Muhammad ji described, “I felt as if he was strangling me and pressing my body. He did this twice and then again said for the third time, “Read it.” I felt that he would strangle me again; this time he would squeeze me harder, I said, “What should I read?” He taught me the first verse of the Quran, I memorised it. Then the angel went away; I was terrified. My heart was sinking. The whole body started trembling. After coming out of the cave, I thought, “Who was this?” Then the same angel became visible in the form of a man. He was visible wherever I saw. Up, down, right, left, in all directions. I came back home and lay down covering myself with a sheet. My whole body was drenched in sweat. “Khadija! I am afraid that I might die.” Then Prophet Muhammad ji narrated the entire incident to his wife Khadija. Then a person named 'Baraka' on hearing the entire incident from Prophet Muhammad ji said, “You will become a 'Prophet'. The same angel also used to come to Musa ji.” The above description proves that although the angel brought the revelation in the form of a man, Prophet Muhammad ji used to suffer a lot.}
4. Allah directly used to convey (Kalaam) message to Prophet Muhammad (Sallal) while he was awake. The meaning is that Brahm himself used to speak through an ethervoice.
5. Allah used to convey the (Kalaam) message in the dream.
6. The angel used to come in the dream and convey message (There is a dispute over this fifth and sixth type; the rest of the above-mentioned 4 methods of revelation of Quran Majeed (Sharif) are correct.) It is written on page 29 that sometimes "Wahy (revelation)" used to come by itself. The meaning is that just as a ghost possesses someone and speaks. Sometimes, Prophet Muhammad used to lie down and cover himself with a sheet, then he used to speak from inside the sheet.
It is clear from the article written in the Preface of the Holy Quran Majeed (Sharif) on pages 6-7 that the knowledge of the Quran has been given by the Allah, who stays behind the curtain. The Angel named Jibreel has only served as a messenger. The Giver of knowledge of the Quran describes the glory of the (Kaadir) Almighty Allah, the Creator of the universe, other than himself. He also tells about himself.
