When Was the Qur'an Revealed: Lailatul Qadr Night or Nuzulul Qur'an?

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Every Ramadan, Muslims around the world commemorate two important moments: Nuzulul Qur’an on the 17th of Ramadan, and Lailatul Qadr during the last ten nights. However, questions about when the Qur’an was revealed often cause confusion because there are two terms often cited: the night of Lailatul Qadr and Nuzulul Qur’an. They are related but have different explanations in the history of the Qur’anic revelation.

Revelation of the Qur’an

The Qur’an itself asserts that Ramadan is the month in which revelation was sent down. Allah says:

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيْٓ اُنْزِلَ فِيْهِ الْقُرْاٰنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدٰى وَالْفُرْقَانِۚ فَمَ

Translation: The Month of Ramadan is (the month) in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind and explanations regarding that guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).

The verse confirms that the Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadan. Yet, in Surah Al-Qadr, it is stated more specifically that the revelation occurred on the Night of Decree. Allah says:

اِنَّآ اَنْزَلْنٰهُ فِيْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ ١

Translation: Indeed, We have sent it (the Qur’an) down on Lailatul Qadr.

Scholars explain that the Qur’an was revealed through two stages: first, it was revealed in a single whole (jumlatan wahidah). Second, it was revealed gradually (najman najman).

Allah deposited the Qur’an in its entirety in the preserved Tablet and gathered in the House of Glory (Bayt al-Izzah) before it was revealed to the Prophet on earth. Then the Angel Gabriel revealed the Qur’an to the Prophet on earth gradually and verse by verse, over varying periods according to the needs, during about twenty years (some say twenty-one years).

The First Revelation of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Meanwhile, Nuzulul Qur’an, observed by Muslims every 17 Ramadan, refers to the first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The event occurred when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was engaged in worship in the Cave of Hira when the angel Gabriel delivered the first revelation, the verses of Surah Al-’Alaq, verses 1–5, exactly on the 17th of Ramadan. The Prophet was then forty years old.

Allah commissioned His Messenger for the universe, to deliver humanity from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge.

اِقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ רَبِّكَ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَۚ ١خَلَقَ الْاِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍۚ ٢اِقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْاَكْرَمُۙ ٣الَّذِيْ عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِۙ ٤عَلَّمَ الْاِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْۗ ٥

Translation: Read in the name of your Lord who created! He created man from a clinging substance. Read! And your Lord is the most Generous—who taught by the pencil—taught man that which he knew not.

In tafsir studies, the revelation of the Qur’an occurred in two main phases.

Phase One: The Qur’an was revealed all at once from Lauh Mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet) to the heavenly realm on the Night of Decree (Lailatul Qadr).

Phase Two: The Qur’an was revealed gradually to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) over more than 22 years through the Angel Gabriel. This gradual method has a great wisdom, including allowing Islam’s teachings to be understood and applied gradually by society.

Several Qur’anic verses are often cited to illustrate the event.

QS Al-Baqarah, Verse 185: The Qur’an Was Revealed in the Month of Ramadan

One of the verses most often linked to Nuzulul Qur’an is QS Al-Baqarah 185. In this verse, the Qur’an is said to have been revealed in the month of Ramadan as guidance for mankind.

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيْٓ اُنْزِلَ فِيْهِ الْقُرْاٰنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِنٰتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدٰى وَالْفُرْقَانِۚ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُۗ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيْضًا اَوْ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ اَيَّامٍ اُخْرَۗ يُرِيْدُ اللّٰهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيْدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَۖ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللّٰهَ عَلٰى مَا هَدٰىكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُوْنَ ١٨٥

Translation: The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for the people and clear proofs of the guidance and the criterion. So whoever among you is present during the month should fast it; and whoever is sick or on a journey should fast a number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend hardship for you; and to complete the number and to glorify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful.

Verse Al-Qadr 1-3: Revelation on the Night of Decree

The event of the Qur’an’s revelation is also mentioned in Surah Al-Qadr. In the first three verses it states:

اِنَّآ اَنْزَلْنٰهُ فِيْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ ١

Translation: Indeed, We have sent it (the Qur’an) down on the Night of Decree.

This verse shows that the revelation of the Qur’an is connected to the Night of Decree, one of the noblest nights in Islam.

QS Al-Alaq 1-5: The First Revelation to the Prophet Muhammad

Meanwhile, the first revelation received by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is stated in Surah