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TUTORIAL 2

1. Discuss the rationale of Al Quran being a primary source in Islamic law.

2. Discuss the rational of Al Quran being revealed gradually.

1. The Quran is the original and one of the primary sources of Islamic Law. Almost all the
rules of socio-economic, political and moral life of an individual are derived from it. Besides, it contains
many commandments, injunctions, prescriptions, and other rules and regulations for the behavior and
relations between individuals and groups. It should however, be noted that Quran is not a book of law.
It is a book of guidance for mankind. It is the first source of Islamic Law but it does not contain a detail
corpus of legislation. Although some actions are specifically defined in it, which need no interpretation
or translation, however, the Quran has drawn in general large boundaries of Islamic Law within which
all human actions can be confined. It offers to the Muslims a frame of reference within which they can
build up the whole body of laws in accordance with their peculiar conditions and circumstances. Its
prescription about such matters as trade and commerce, marriage and divorce, inheritance, penal
laws, polygamy, emancipation of women and slaves, charity, zakat, kheraj, jizya and the like are
guides for every contingency of life and society. All sources of Islamic law must be in essential
agreement with the Quran, the most fundamental source of Islamic knowledge. When the Quran itself
does not speak directly or in detail about certain subject, Muslims only then have to refer alternative
sources of Islamic Law.
2.

Al Qur’an (The Qur’an), was not revealed all at once to the messenger of Allah -
Shallallaahu’alayh wa Sallam (may blessings and peace be upon him), but gradually
revealed, soorah to soorah, verses to verses, according to the event occurred at
that time. So, what was the wisdom beyond it? Wisdoms, or purposes of such
revelation were:
To strengthen the heart of Prophet Muhammad -may blessings and peace be upon
him-. Allah decreed: “And those who disbelieve say, “Why was the Qur’an not
revealed to him all at once?” Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart.
And We have spaced it distinctly (recited it with distinct recitation).” (Al
Furqaan/The Criterian: 32)
According to Abu Syamah, the verse explained that Allah did not revealed the
Qur’an all at once in purpose, unlike the previous book of Him descended upon
previous messengers. If so, then what was His purpose, and secret behind it? It was
to strengthen the heart of Prophet Muhammad -may blessings and peace be upon
him- . Because by the gradual revelation, which was appropriating the event,
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condition, and situation occurred at that time, it will be strongly recorded in mind
and heart, and leave a deeper impression for one who received it (Muhammad).
The coming of the angel to him will also be more frequently, thus psychologically
renew his spirits in carrying out the teaching he was obliged to. He (Muhammad -
may blessings and peace be upon him-) must be very happy by the visits, which
was hard to expressed. And because of this, the best moment in the month of
Ramadan, is due to his reunion with the angel Gabriel.
2. To challenge the disbelievers who refused to believe in Qur’an, since they thought
that it was curious for a Holy Book to be revealed gradually. Hence, Allah challenged
them to create just a single soorah that comparable to it. In fact, the weren’t able to
create even a single soorah that comparable to Qur’an, moreover a whole book of it.
3. To make it easier to be understood and memorized. It was true that, by the
gradual revelation of the Qur’an, mankind was easier to memorize it, and to
understand it’s meaning, particularly for illiterate people as the Arabs at that time.
The gradual pattern of revelation was surely help them in memorizing and
understanding it’s meaning. And once the verses of Qur’an revealed, they was
directly memorized, understood, and practiced by the companions in their daily life.
That is why, Umar Ibn Khattab once said,
“Learn the Qur’an five verses to five verses. Because (angel) Gabriel used to bring
down the Qur’an to the Prophet -may blessings and peace be upon him-, five verses
to five verses.” (Collected by Baihaqi)
4. To make the muslims enthusiast in receiving the teaching of Qur’an, and to make
them zealous in practicing it. By gradual revelation, muslims at that time were
always expecting it, and missing the time of revelation of The verses. Particularly at
the time they most need of it, such as the verses told about the false accusations
from the hypocrites to the mother of the believers, Aisha, and verses explained
about li’an.
5. To accompany to events happened among muslims at that time, and to gradually
establish the rulings for specific matters. The Qur’an started to be revealed
gradually: from the most important matters, followed by the lower priorities in
urgency. Since the most essential matter in Islam is faith, then the first thing
prioritized to be explained and revealed through Qur’an were about the faith in Allah,
His angels, His books, His messengers, the Hour, the resurrection, and the heaven
and the hellfire. Those were supported by rational arguments (daleel) aimed to
vanish the beliefs of paganism which were deeply trusted by the disbelievers, to be
replaced by the seeds of righteous faith in Islam.
After the Islamic beliefs grew and rooted strongly inside their hearts, that was the
time Allah sent down the verses urged them to perform noble deeds, and prevented
them from doing evil and wicked actions, to extinct the evildoings and damages to
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their roots. Also the verses explained about the legal and illegal in foods, beverages,
properties, honors, blood/murders, etc. Thus, the Qur’an was revealed properly
according to the events surrounded muslims life, along with their long and historical
strives to establish the religion of Allah on His earth. And the verses were endlessly
supporting and motivating them through their struggles.