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
أَفَأَمِنتُمْ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ ٱلْبَرِّ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُوا۟ لَكُمْ وَكِيلًا
Then do you feel secure that [instead] He will not cause a part of the land to swallow you or send against you a storm of stones? Then you would not find for yourselves an advocate.
وَرَبُّكَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَلَقَدْ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ زَبُورًا
And your Lord is most knowing of whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And We have made some of the prophets exceed others [in various ways], and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].
أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur’ān [i.e., recitation] of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.
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.