وَقُرْءَانًا فَرَقْنَـٰهُ لِتَقْرَأَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ مُكْثٍ وَنَزَّلْنَـٰهُ تَنزِيلًا 106
Translations
And [it is] a Qur’ān which We have separated [by intervals] that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period. And We have sent it down progressively.
Transliteration
Wa Qur'anan faraqnahu litaqra'ahu 'ala an-nasi 'ala muktin wa nazzalnahu tanzilan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that Allah revealed the Qur'an in stages (gradually) so that the Prophet Muhammad could recite it to the people at a measured pace, allowing them to understand, memorize, and reflect upon its teachings. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that this gradual revelation (tanzil) was a mercy from Allah, as an immediate revelation of the entire Qur'an would have been overwhelming for both the Prophet and his followers. The word 'mukth' (at leisure/with intervals) indicates the deliberate spacing of revelation over 23 years.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Isra (a Meccan chapter) and addresses one of the central themes of the surah—the miraculous nature of the Qur'an and its revelation. The context responds to the disbelievers' objections about why the Qur'an was not revealed all at once, as Allah explains the wisdom behind gradual revelation for pedagogical and spiritual benefit.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4981): The Prophet said, 'The Qur'an was revealed gradually so that the Prophet could preserve and memorize it.' Additionally, Tirmidhi reports that Jibril would review the Qur'an with the Prophet once yearly, and in his final year, twice—demonstrating the careful, paced transmission of revelation.
Themes
Key Lesson
The gradual nature of the Qur'an's revelation teaches us that meaningful learning and spiritual growth require time, patience, and deliberate reflection rather than rushing through sacred knowledge. This principle applies to our modern engagement with the Qur'an—we should prioritize depth of understanding over speed of reading.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَىٰ عُنُقِكَ وَلَا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ ٱلْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًا مَّحْسُورًا
And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.
۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا
And your Lord has decreed that you worship not except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.
أَوْ تُسْقِطَ ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَمَا زَعَمْتَ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا أَوْ تَأْتِىَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ قَبِيلًا
Or you make the heaven fall upon us in fragments as you have claimed or you bring Allāh and the angels before [us]
قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَكَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كَرَّمْتَ عَلَىَّ لَئِنْ أَخَّرْتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَأَحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
[Iblees] said, "Do You see this one whom You have honored above me? If You delay me [i.e., my death] until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely destroy his descendants, except for a few."