THEMATIC TAFSEER:
A PRODUCT OF DIVISION OF THE QUR’AAN
(INTO MAKKAN AND MADEENAN)
Researched by
AbuuHaashim M. A. BOLAJI
RAMADAAN, 1440AH
(MAY, 2019)
INTRODUCTION
The Qur’aan as one of the wahy[1] of Allaah should not be approached except in the manner so wish by whom it is originated. Allaah – the Revealer of the Qur’aan did reveal along with this book of His al-Hikmah[2] for the proper approach towards it. Muhammad ﷺ upon whom these two revelations descended was the first Explainer of the Qur’aan. This he ﷺ did with al-Hikmah which was revealed along with the Qur’aan. He ﷺ took charge of the first exemplary practical model to see that the Qur’an retains its originality in text and context. Thus, the resultant division of the Qur’aan into Makkan and Madeenan is, without mincing words, in consonance with al-Hikmah considered revealed along with the Qur’aan.[3]
THE TWO DIVISIONS: MAKKAN SOORAHS AND MADEENAN SOORAHS
The division of the Qur’aan was never an attempt to disregard a part of it from its other part. Thus, the division takes no notice of the principle of equitability as the Soorahs were not equally or evenly divided. This, in other words, affirms the fact that the Qur’aan is just one as the thin line between the divison of the Soorahs becomes easily permeable especially during the tafseer[4] of the Qur’aan for correct comprehension of the intents of Allaah on the Qur’aanic verses and the Sunnah of His Messenger - Muhammad ﷺ.
The wisdom behind the division is to aid the reasons for which the Qur’aan was revealed. Besides, the division is aimed at simplifying the codification of the book and placing its subject matters in the right contexts of place, time and situation.
Yet, many a Soorah could not be said to be purely Makkan nor purely Madeenan; a number of Makkan Soorahs have some Madeenan verses inserted into them following the Prophet ﷺ’s directions and same has also been noted in relations to Makkan Soorahs.[5]
PECULIARITIES OF EACH DIVISION
The Makkan Soorahs
These represent the conglomeration of Qur’aanic revelations that the Prophet ﷺ received before the Hijrah. They are characterised with at least one, if not all of the following features:
1. Tawheed (The Oneness of Allaah);
2. Salaah (Formal Prayer);
3. Al-Ghayb (The Unseen);
4. Allaah’s Existence;
5. Challenges (against those who opposed the Qur’aan on providing the equivalence of the Qur’aan, its Soorah or its verses);
6. The People of Old;
7. Eemaan and
8. Short Verses (Poetic /Rhythmic).[6]
The Madeenan Soorahs
These signify the collection of Qur’aanic wahy that descended upon Muhammad ﷺ after his ﷺHijrah[7] even after the conquest of Makkah till his ﷺ death. The following itemisation are factual about them:
1. Ahkaam wa Hudood (Laws);
2. Aal al-Kitaab (The People of the Book);
3. Al-Munaafiqoon (The Hypocrite);
4. Jihaad;
5. Long and Detailed Verses and
6. Order of the Soorahs.[8]
THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE DIVISION
The following are some of the explicit researched reasons for the division of the Qur’aan into Makkan and Madeenan Soorahs and Verses:
1. Fiqh (Islamic Law):
Appropriate codification and application of various laws of Islaam necessitated taking an historic step backward to ascertain at which point in time they were revealed. There are issues of Naskh (abrogation) which if a religious scholar or even an ordinary conscious Muslim is oblivion of, errors become abound in his religious verdicts. Concrete instances are considered in the forbiddiance of intoxicants which was in stages;[9] the issue on permissibility of entering houses uninhabited;[10] and so on.
2. Da‘wah (Propagating/Preaching the Deen of Allaah):
With clarity on the orderliness of the revelation of the Qur’aan, the choice of methods to apply in specific time, situation and for various people based on their nature would be easily come by. The situations in Makkah warrant that its people should be approached using brevity of expressions as seen in the Soorahs and verses revealed there. This is a pointer to the manner of addressing people who are given to short or low attention span when their audience is sought.
However, the injunctions revealed in Madeenah took to harshness in terms of reaching out to the enemies of Allaah and His Messenger – Muhammad ﷺ. That was because their actions at having the Prophet exiled or killed were not of an apologetic folk. Rather it spoke of a prone belligerent people. Thus, understanding this fact would not cause a new revert to Islaam to go into extreme in expressing his views and in doing da’wah to members of his household.[11]
3. Seerah:
There is no doubt about the fact that the Qur’aan is an embodiment of historical facts about the life of Muhammad ﷺ. Consequently, the knowledge of the distinction in the order of the Qur’aanic revelation is undoubtedly helpful in having a convincing leap into his ﷺbiography.
THEMATIC TAFSEER: A PRODUCT OF QUR’AANIC DIVISION
Theme according to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary is “the subject or main idea in a talk, piece of writing or work of art.” Consequently, the thematic tafseer which denotes systematic explanation of the themes of the Qur’aan cannot be taken in isolation without making recourse to the reasons behind its being divided into Makkan and Madeenan Soorahs. This, without doubt, is a concept upon which thematic tafseer of the Qur’aan is built.
The following are a number of Qur’aanic scenarios to buttress this fact:
On the calumny raised against Aa’eshah[12]
For proper codification and comprehension in the contexts of seerah, da’wah and Fiqh/Sharee’ah, the event could not have happened in other than Madeenah as the calumny against A’eesha (may Allaah be pleased with her) was a machination of the hypocrites – a feature of Madeenan Soorahs.
On the prophesy of doom for Abu Lahab[13]
The curse and condemnation of Abu Lahab and his wife to the fire of Hell will continue to be mentioned in the Qur’aan till eternity. Though he was given a complete ten year’s respite to disprove the curse, he eventually died as a Kaafir.
On the expulsion of some of the Jewish Settlements
To be logical, the fact of the expulsion of the Jews was historically a Madeenan affair as the verses revealed on such were reminiscent of the period after Hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ.
The challenge of providing a prototype of the Qur’aan
This speaks of a people that lack divine message to shape their doings and thus took everything other than theirs in opposition. It speaks of people giving to tribalism and chauvinism in relations to their own culture, tribal affiliation and history. People who considered their speech to be extra-ordinary and took pride in their oratory prowess which ultimately prompted them to challenge the divine speech revealed on their Man – Muhammad ﷺ – raised among them.
These were the Mushrikoon among the Makkans that denied the uniqueness of the Qur’aan and thus put to trial of challenge to provide the Qur’aan of theirs if they could.[14]
CONCLUSION
Saying that the features of Makkan and Madeenan Soorahs are the themes of the Qur’aan in its entirety is not misleading. In other words, the wisdom behind the divisional arrangement of the Qur’aan in terms of Makkan and Madeenan, is to strengthen thematic tafseer of the Qur’aan and thereby preserving its understanding as a divine, universal and eternal book for humanity in its right and proper context.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Shauqi A. K.. Atlas of the Qur'aan: Places. Nations. Landmarks. Darussalam Publishers. Courtesy of kalamullah.com. Riyadh: Saudi Arabia. 2003.
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[1] In Sharee‘ah, wahy is the practice through which Allaah’s speech is revealed to His prophets. At other time, wahy
represents the definite speech of Allaah which has been revealed to one of His prophets.
[2] This is the Sunnah of the Prophet (sal-la Allaahu ‘alayhi was-sal-laam) as we are informed in many places in the Qur’aan such as in Al-Ahzaab, 33:34. “And remember (O you the members of the Prophet's family, the Graces of your Lord), that which is recited in your houses of the Verses of Allâh and AlHikmah (i.e. Prophet's Sunnah legal ways, etc. so give your thanks to Allâh and glorify His Praises for this Qur'an and the Sunnah). Verily, Allâh is Ever Most Courteous, Well Acquainted with all things.”
[3] "Your companion (Muhammad SAW) has neither gone astray nor has erred. Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired." (An-Najm, 53:2-4).
[4] The explanation of the Noble Qur’aan following the principles highlighted by our pious predecessor. (Usool at-Tafseer).
[5] Abu Ameenah Bilal Philip, Usool at-Tafseer (Dar Al Fatah Printing, Publishing & Distribution Co., 1997), 214.
[6] For detail, check: Abu Ameenah Bilal Philip, Usool at-Tafseer. 205-210.
[7] The historic migration of the Prophet – Muhammad (sal-la Allaahu ‘alayhi was-sal-lam) – from Makkah to Madeenah in the year 622 CE.
[8] Abu Ameenah Bilal Philip, Usool at-Tafseer. 211- 214.
[9] Soorah al-Baqarah (2):219; Soorah an-Nisaa’ (4):43 and Soorah al-Maa’idah (5):90.
[10] As indicated in Soorah an-Noor (24): 27-29.
[11] Abu Ameenah Bilal Philip, Usool at-Tafseer.217.
[12] One of our mothers as Muslims as Allaah informed us in Al-Ahazaab, 31:6; that was because she was one of the wives of the Prophet (sal-la Allaahu ‘alayhi was-sal-lam).
[13] This is an incidence contained in the al-Masad, 111:1-5.
[14] Examples of such are in al-Baqarah, 2:23 and Yuunus,10:38.
