Book 1 Critical Thinking and the Chronological Quran in the Life of Prophet Muhammad

Description

The Year 1 of the Revelation Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhul Qada, Dhul Hajja 13 BH/ ca. August 17 (?)-November 23, 610 CE The text of Book Year 1 begins with the first revelations. The first person to accept the prophethood of Muhammad was his wife, Khadija, followed by his family and household that included his daughters, as well as Ali ibn Abi Talib, Zayd ibn Haritha, later to be the adopted son of the Messenger, and Barakat whom the Messenger had freed at the time of his marriage to Khadija. The chronological order of the chapters of the Quran that follow throughout the series is based on the list accepted by al-Azhar University in Cairo and is considered to be the official order. It differs greatly from the chronological order developed by Western scholars over the centuries and is much more detailed. While the text of this book is referred to as The Year 1 of the Revelation 13 BH/610 CE, its history relates to the last four months of the Arabic calendar. The revelation begins sometime in the last ten odd nights of Ramadan (August 17, 19, 21, 23 or 25, 610 CE). It is not clear when the next revelation came, but according to some authorities, there was a three week lapse. If this was the case, the revelation, then, most probably continued through the Arabic months of Shawwal, Dhu al-Qida and Dhu al-Hijja. The first of Muharram is the new year, 12 BH/610-611 CE. The revelation begins with 96:1-96:5 and continues with signs 68:1-68:6, 73:1-73:4 and then 74:1-74:9. The fifth revealed is the Opening Chapter (1:1-1:7). It was revealed either before or after the angel Gabriel instructs the Prophet on how to perform the formal prayer (salat). The 6th Chapter listed is that of Chapter 111: The Rope of Palm Fibers in regard to Abu Lahab. He and his wife, Umm Jamil, the sister of Abu Sufyan, continuously opposed the prophetic mission of Prophet Muhammad. While only a few signs of the first four chapters revealed were revealed at the beginning of the revelation and the remainder at a later time, other than 73:20 that has been recorded to have been revealed one year later, the dates of the others are not clear. Therefore, they have been added as appendices to Book Year 1.