Isylabus IGCSE unit 2

The Prophet before Prophethood

He was deeply disturbed by the society in Makkah.

They would engage in idol worship, injustice and moral corruption

Where did Prophet go to practise Tahannuth, and where is this place located?

He would travel to the Cave of Hira, located on a mountain near Makkah called Jabal al-Noor (Mountain of Light).

When and where did the first revelation occur, and how old was the Prophet at the time?

• Year: 610 CE

• Location: Cave of Hira, Jabal al-Noor, near Makkah

• Age of Prophet PBUH: 40 years old

Describe the sequence of events when Angel Jibrail first appeared to Prophet in the Cave of Hira.

1. Angel Jibrail appeared to Prophet in the cave.

2. Jibrail commanded himto "Read"

3. The Prophet replied that he was unlettered and did not know how to read.

4. Jibrail embraced him firmly and repeated the command.

5. This happened a total of three times.

6. After the third time, the first verses of the Qur'an were conveyed to him.

On which night did the first revelation occur, and why is this night significant?

The first revelation occurred on Lailatul-Qadr — the Night of Power.

It is considered the most blessed night of the year, and Allah SWT chose it to begin the revelation of His final message to humanity.

Which Surah was the first to be revealed to Prophet , and what was its central message?

Surah Al-Alaq.

Its opening verses conveyed that all knowledge and learning must be sought in the name of Allah

— the Creator who honoured human beings with the gift of knowledge through the pen.

What does the word "Qur'an" mean, and what is its Arabic root?

• Arabic root: Qara'a — meaning to read or to recite

• Meaning of Qur'an: "the recitation" — that which is read and recited aloud

This meaning is directly linked to the first command given to Prophet and it highlights the oral tradition of the Qur'an — revealed to be recited, memorised, and passed on through generations.

Over how many years was the Qur'an revealed?

The Qur'an was not revealed all at once.

It was sent down gradually, in stages, over approximately 23 years (610–632 CE).

Give four reasons why the Qur'an was revealed gradually rather than all at once.

1. To make it easier for Muslims to understand, memorise, and apply each teaching in daily life.

2. To respond to specific situations, questions, and events that arose in the early Muslim community.

3. To strengthen the faith and heart of Prophet Muhammad and his companions step by step.

4. To gradually guide the early Muslim community through major changes — from personal character to social laws.

What were the two phases of Qur'anic revelation, and how many Surahs were revealed in each?

Period	Location	Duration	Surahs Revealed
Early Prophethood	Makkah	~12.5 years	90–91 Surahs
Later Prophethood	Madinah	~10 years	23–24 Surahs
Total	—	~23 years	114 Surahs

When and where was the first revelation sent down, and when and where was the last?

• First Revelation: 27th of Ramadan, 610 CE — Cave of Hira, Makkah

• Last Revelation: 9th of Dhul Hijjah, 10th year after Hijrah (632 CE) — during the Farewell Pilgrimage

What was the message of the last verse of the Qur'an to be revealed?

The last verse was revealed during the Farewell Pilgrimage. In it, Allah declared that He had:

• Completed and perfected the religion of Islam

• Fulfilled His blessings upon the believers

• Chosen Islam as the complete and final way of life for all of humanity

This signalled that divine revelation was now whole and perfect, requiring no addition or alteration.

What was the role of Angel Jibrail AS in the revelation of the Qur'an?

• Jibrail is described as the greatest and most honoured of the angels of Allah.

• He carried the divine revelation from Allah to Prophet throughout the entire 23-year period.

• He appeared to the Prophet in different forms — sometimes in his true angelic form, and sometimes in the form of a man.

• The process of receiving revelation was described by the Prophet as intensely powerful and weighty.

• He continued bringing revelations right up until the completion of the Qur'an.

What are the Makkan Surahs and what themes do they generally focus on?

Makkan Surahs are the chapters of the Qur'an revealed while Prophet lived in Makkah — approximately 90–91 Surahs over around 12.5 years. They generally focused on:

• Building faith and belief in Allah SWT

• The reality of the Hereafter

• The moral character of the individual Muslim

• The oneness of God

• Strengthening faith

Their main aim was to build the spiritual foundation of the believers when they faced hardships and oppositions

What are the Madinan Surahs and what themes do they generally focus on?

Covers the last 10 years of the Prophet’s life. 622-632 CE

They generally focused on:

• Laws and regulations

• social responsibilities

• building an Islamic community and state

• These Surahs focused on guiding the non Muslims to Islam

In what two ways did Allah describe the Qur'an's relationship to previous scriptures?

1. Confirm — the original truths taught by all earlier prophets , such as belief in one Allah and righteous conduct.

2. Correct — the changes and distortions that had crept into previous scriptures over the centuries.

The Qur'an serves as the final, preserved, and complete guidance for all of humanity until the Day of Judgement.

How did gradual revelation help in the preservation of the Qur'an during the Prophet's lifetime?

Because the Qur'an was revealed in parts, the companions were able to memorise, understand, and practise each section as it was revealed.

Many companions became Huffaz during the Prophet's lifetime.

This gradual process ensured the Qur'an was preserved in both the hearts and the writing of the early Muslim community.

What did the Prophet say when Jibriel asked him to read the Quran?

"I replied, 'I do not know how to read'. The Angel caught me forcefully and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, 'I do not know how to read'. Then he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, 'I do not know how to read (or, what shallI read?)'. Then he caught me for the third time, pressed me hard and then released me and said:

'Read! In the name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists). Created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen. He has taught man that which he knew not." (Surah-Al-Alaq, Verses: 1-5)

Khadijah's Moral Support to the Prophet

Upon receiving revelation the Prophet ran to his house and said to Khadijah ‘Cover me! Cover me!"

She covered him till he overcame his fear.

He told her everything that had happened and said: "I fear something may happen to me."

She replied "Never! by Allah, He will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor arnd the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones.’

Who was Waraqah?

Waraqah bin Naufal bin Asad was an old blind Christain priest who was Khadija’s cousin

What did Waraqah say?

"O my cousin! Listen to the story of your nephew.”

Waraqah asked, "O my nephew!What have you seen?"

Prophet Muhammad described whatever he had seen.

Waraqah said, "This is the same being who keeps the secrets (Jibraeel) and whom Allah had sent to Prophet Musa.

I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out."

Prophet Muhammad asked, "Will they drive me out?"

Waraqah replied, "Anyone who came with something similar to what you have brought, was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly.

He died a few days later

Modes of Revelations

As the ringing of a bell; and it was hardest on the Prophet.

The Angel appeared before Prophet Muhammad in the form of a man

The Angel appeared before the Prophetin his original form

Condition of the Prophet at the Time of Revelation

Ayesha narrated: “I saw revelation coming down upon him in the severest cold and when that condition was over, perspiration ran down his forehead." (Sahih Bukhari)

One day, Zaid bin Thabit, was sitting in such a position that his leg was under the leg of the Holy Prophet. Just then a revelation came, and at that moment he felt as if his leg would crush under the weight of the Holy Prophet'sleg as it suddenly felt extremely heavy.

The Verses of the Qur'an were written down on:

1. Pieces of Leather

2. Wooden Boards

3. Flat Stones

4. Shoulder blades and ribs of camels and goats

5. Pieces of Papyrus

6. Palm Leaves

Who was selected the 1st Caliph after the Prophet passed away?

Abu Bakr

Battle of Yamamah

During his time, the enemies of Islam tried to harm the Muslims.

Hence in a battle known as the battle of Yamamah, many Muslims who were Huffaz of the Qur'an, were martyred.

• This raised the alarming possibility that if Huffaz continued to be lost in future wars, large portions of the Qur'an could be lost forever from memory

What was the state of the Qur'an at the time of the Prophet's passing?

Although the Qur'an was fully preserved — both in memory and in writing — it had not been collected into a single bound book.

• Written verses were spread across different materials held by different people

• This scattered state would soon become a serious concern for the Muslim community

How many people had memorised the entire Qur'an during the Prophet's PBUH lifetime, and what was the gender breakdown?

• 37 were men

• 4 were women

What proposal did Umar make to Abu Bakr after the Battle of Yamamah?

Umar approached Abu Bakr and proposed that all the written pieces of the Qur'an should be collected and compiled into one single book, before more Huffaz were lost in future battles.

• Abu Bakr initially hesitated, concerned about doing something the Prophet had not specifically instructed

• After deep reflection, he became convinced it was the right thing to do to protect the Qur'an and that Allah SWT would approve of this effort

Why and who was chosen to lead the compilation of the Qur'an under Abu Bakr?

Zaid bin Thabit was chosen because:

• He had been a personal scribe of the Prophet

• He had memorised the entire Qur'an

• He had been present during the final review of the Qur'an with the Angel Jibril

• He was known for his intelligence, trustworthiness, and careful nature

• 
  

"You are a wise young man and we do not suspect you of telling lies or of forgetfulness; and you used to write the Divine Inspiration for Allah's Apostle. Therefore, look for the (Verses of) the Qur'an and collect it in one manuscript." (Sahih Bukhari)

How did Zaid bin Thabit carry out the compilation of the Qur'an under Abu Bakr ?

• He collected written pieces of the Qur'an from all available sources

• He accepted a verse only if confirmed by at least two reliable witnesses who could testify they had heard it directly from the Prophet PBUH

• He cross-checked every verse with the memorised versions of the Huffaz

• The final manuscript was carefully checked and approved

• 75 companions helped

What happened to the compiled manuscript of the Qur'an after it was completed under Abu Bakr?

• It was first kept with Abu Bakr.

• After his death, it passed to Umar (the Second Caliph)

• After his martyrdom, it was entrusted to his daughter, the wife of the Prophet, Hafsah , for safekeeping

What new crisis arose during the caliphate of Uthman that threatened the unity of the Qur'an?

As the Islamic state expanded, Muslims from many different regions and tribes came together. The problem was:

• The Prophet had permitted different Arab tribes to recite the Qur'an in their own dialects out of mercy and ease

• Muslims from different regions were now reciting the Qur'an in slightly different ways and arguing that their version was correct

• Huzaifah Al-Yaman witnessed these serious disagreements during military campaigns and reported the situation to Uthman

• He warned that Muslims could end up in serious dispute over the Book of Allah SWT — just as Jews and Christians had differed over their scriptures

What did Uthman do to ensure Standardisation of the Quran

Step 1 — Retrieve the original compiled copy: He requested the original manuscript from Hafsah who willingly handed it over.

Uthman sent a message to Hafsah saying: "Send us the manuscript of the Qur'an that was prepared during Abu Bakr's time so that we may compile the Qur'anic material in perfect copies and then return the manuscript to you."

Step 2 — Form a committee: He appointed a team of senior companions

Step 3 — Choose the Quraish dialect: All new copies were to be written in the dialect of the Quraish — the tribe and dialect of the Prophet and the original language of revelation.

Step 4 — Distribute copies to all provinces: Several identical copies were made and sent to all major Muslim provinces and cities.

Step 5 — Destroy non-standard copies: All other written copies that differed from the standard version were ordered to be burned, to prevent future confusion.

Step 6 — Return the original manuscript: The original compiled copy was returned to Hafsah

What title was Uthman given?

Jami-ul-Quran is an Arabic title meaning "The One Who United the Qur'an."

What are the seven key attributes of Allah SWT mentioned in the Qur'an?

Attribute	Meaning
Rabbul Alameen	Cherisher and Sustainer of all worlds
Omnipotent	All-Powerful — nothing is beyond His ability
Omniscient	All-Knowing — past, present, future, hidden, and visible
Omnipresent	Present everywhere at all times
Eternal	No beginning and no end
Absolute	Not limited by time, place, or any constraint
The Law Giver	Has set laws governing the entire universe

Who were the prominent scribes of the Qur'an during the Prophet's PBUH lifetime?

Among them more than one hundred and fifty Huffaz are prominently mentioned in the traditions.

Abu Bakr,

Umar,

Uthman,

Ali,

Muawiyah

Abdullah bin Zubair

Ubayy bin Ka'ab

Khalid bin Waleed and other Companions