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
وَمَن كَانَ فِى هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أَعْمَىٰ فَهُوَ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَعْمَىٰ وَأَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا
And whoever is blind in this [life] will be blind in the Hereafter and more astray in way.
يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا۟ كُلَّ أُنَاسٍۭ بِإِمَـٰمِهِمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَـٰبَهُمْ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
[Mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand - those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed].
سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ عُلُوًّا كَبِيرًا
Exalted is He and high above what they say by great sublimity.
۞ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ قَادِرٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَهُمْ أَجَلًا لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ فَأَبَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِلَّا كُفُورًا
Do they not see that Allāh, who created the heavens and earth, is [the one] Able to create the likes of them? And He has appointed for them a term, about which there is no doubt. But the wrongdoers refuse except disbelief.