Concept of Revelation

Question 1

What are types of revelation without an intermediary?

Answer 1

1. Dreams 2. Speak directly with God

Question 2

What are types of revelation with an intermediary?

Answer 2

1. Angel Gabriel 2. Ringing of the bell

Question 3

What are inspirations of revelation?

Answer 3

1. Dreams 2. Angel would whisper in ear 3. Angel Gabriel would come in the form of a man 4. Ringing of bell 5. Seeing angle in original form 6. Speak to God directly

Question 4

What was the way the Quran was revealed?

Answer 4

1. Ringing of bell 2. Seeing angel in original form 3. Through God

Question 5

What is gradual revelation?

Answer 5

Revelation starting on the Night of Decree during Ramadan: Sent down to the lowest heaven to Gabriel than Muhammad over 23 years

Question 6

What are the reasons for knowing when/where the verses were revealed?

Answer 6

1. Which verse comes first 2. Context

Question 7

Mecca vs. Medina Verses?

Answer 7

1. Before migration: Mecca/ after migration: Medina 2. Location: In Mecca: Mecca verse/ In Medina: Medina verse 3. Address of verse: meant for Quraysh tribe: Mecca verse/ meant for skeptics: Medina

Question 8

What are the themes of the Mecca verses?

Answer 8

1. Pillars of Faith 2. Call to monotheism 3. Call to morality 4. Stories of previous nations

Question 9

What are the themes of the Medina verses?

Answer 9

1. Rituals 2. Laws 3. Jews, Christians, hyrpocrite verses `

Question 10

What were the causes of revelation?

Answer 10

1. Verses without particular reasons or incident 2. Response to question or incident

Question 11

How to determine which narration is reason or cause for revelation?

Answer 11

1. Take the stronger or more authentic one 2. Take the clear one or combine them 3. No difference- verse was reveled more than once for different situations

Question 12

What are the different types of verses?

Answer 12

1. clear/ambigious 2. general/ specific 3. absolute/ qualified 4. abrogating/ abrogated

Question 13

What are clear verses vs ambiguous verses?

Answer 13

1. Clear: do not need further texts to interpret them (could be interpreted in more than one way) 2. Ambiguous: need other texts to interpret them (could be interpreted in more than one way); ambiguous verses must be interpreted in light of clear verses

Question 14

What are general and specific verses?

Answer 14

1. General: applies to all members of a particular sect 2. Specific: limited number of things– excludes particulars from the general text

Question 15

What are three types of general texts?

Answer 15

1. Unspecified 2. General in wording but specific in meaning 3. General texts that have been specified by another text or verses later in the Quran

Question 16

What are absolute and qualified texts?

Answer 16

1. Absolute: free from certain attribute (anyone or anything) 2. Qualified: will add an attribute to an absolute verse and limits will be set based on a set perimeter that needs to be fulfilled

Question 17

What are abrogating and abrogated texts?

Answer 17

Abrogation: when a later verse comes and cancel a former text

Question 18

What are the conditions of abrogation?

Answer 18

1. Rulings in question must contradict one another 2. abrogating verse must be reveled after the abrogated verse 3. Abrogating and abrogated texts must be in the Quran and Hadeeth

Question 19

What is being abrogated?

Answer 19

1. Ruling still there but text is not 2. Both are lifted 3. text is still there but ruling is not

Question 20

What are the benefits of abrogation?

Answer 20

1. Gradual change: not quitting something cold turkey