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Chronological Order of the Qur'an (view source)
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{{QualityScore|Lead=3|Structure=3|Content=2|Language=4|References=3}}The [[Qur'an]] is not in chronological order, but arranged roughly longest [[surah]] (chapter) to the shortest. The table in this article provides the traditional chronological order as set out by medieval Islamic scholars, ostensibly reported from the Companion, Ibn 'Abbas, though such traditions date to the early 8th century CE according to Neal Robinson, which he says "would make them roughly contemporary with the early discussions about [[Naskh (Abrogation)|abrogation]] and the [[Sirat Rasul Allah|''sῑra-maghāzī'']] literature", leading him to suspect that they are merely the opinions of the scholars of the time rather than authentic oral traditions from Companions.<ref name="Robinson2003">Neal Robinson, "Discovering the Qurʼan: A Contemporary Approach to a Veiled Text", Georgetown University Press, 2003, pp. 62-74. ISBN 1589010248</ref> It is furthermore well known by Islamic scholars that the traditional reports of [[Asbab al-Nuzul (Revelational Circumstances of the Quran)|Asbab al-Nuzul (revelational circumstances of the Quran)]] are often contradictory, and are treated with considerable caution by academic scholars.<ref name="Robinson2003" /> | {{QualityScore|Lead=3|Structure=3|Content=2|Language=4|References=3}}The [[Qur'an]] is not in chronological order, but arranged roughly longest [[surah]] (chapter) to the shortest. The table in this article provides the traditional chronological order as set out by medieval Islamic scholars, ostensibly reported from the Companion, Ibn 'Abbas, though such traditions date to the early 8th century CE according to Neal Robinson, which he says "would make them roughly contemporary with the early discussions about [[Naskh (Abrogation)|abrogation]] and the [[Sirat Rasul Allah|''sῑra-maghāzī'']] literature", leading him to suspect that they are merely the opinions of the scholars of the time rather than authentic oral traditions from Companions.<ref name="Robinson2003">Neal Robinson, "Discovering the Qurʼan: A Contemporary Approach to a Veiled Text", Georgetown University Press, 2003, pp. 62-74. ISBN 1589010248</ref> It is furthermore well known by Islamic scholars that the traditional reports of [[Asbab al-Nuzul (Revelational Circumstances of the Quran)|Asbab al-Nuzul (revelational circumstances of the Quran)]] are often contradictory, and are treated with considerable caution by academic scholars.<ref name="Robinson2003" /> | ||
The chronological sequence of the Quran, including elements within individual surahs, is an active area of research for academic scholars. Surahs identified with the Meccan phase of Muhammad's career are sometimes further sub-divided into a number of periods. Theodor Nöldeke (d. 1930), whose sequence produced with his pupil Friedrich Schwally (d. 1919) differs slightly from the traditional chronological order, divided the Meccan surahs into early, middle, and late Meccan periods.<ref name="Robinson2003" /> An interesting example of more recent research is the work of Joseph Witztum to derive a relative chronology between certain surahs based on the differences | The chronological sequence of the Quran, including elements within individual surahs, is an active area of research for academic scholars. Surahs identified with the Meccan phase of Muhammad's career are sometimes further sub-divided into a number of periods. Theodor Nöldeke (d. 1930), whose sequence produced with his pupil Friedrich Schwally (d. 1919) differs slightly from the traditional chronological order, divided the Meccan surahs into early, middle, and late Meccan periods.<ref name="Robinson2003" /> Sometimes, internal evidence such as references to external events helps with the relative dating. An interesting example of more recent research is the work of Joseph Witztum to derive a relative chronology between certain surahs based on the differences between versions of the same repeated stories.<ref>See for example Joseph Witztum. “Thrice upon a Time: Abraham’s Guests and the Study of Intra-Quranic Parallels”. In Holger Zellentin (ed.), The Quran’s Reformation of Judaism and Christianity: Return to the Origins. London: Routledge, 2019, pp. 277–302.</ref> | ||
The traditional chronological order has been passed down in slightly varying versions. The version shown here is reported in a fifteenth century work by 'Abd al-Kafi<ref name="Robinson2003" />, and is commonly reproduced on websites today.<ref>https://tanzil.net/docs/revelation_order</ref><ref>http://www.qran.org/q-chrono.htm</ref> It is also the main source (along with the other slightly different versions) drawn upon for the very similar ordering included in the 1925 Standard Egyptian Quran.<ref name="Robinson2003" /> In the case of many of the Meccan surahs some specific verses are traditionally attributed to the Medinan phase. | The traditional chronological order has been passed down in slightly varying versions. The version shown here is reported in a fifteenth century work by 'Abd al-Kafi<ref name="Robinson2003" />, and is commonly reproduced on websites today.<ref>https://tanzil.net/docs/revelation_order</ref><ref>http://www.qran.org/q-chrono.htm</ref> It is also the main source (along with the other slightly different versions) drawn upon for the very similar ordering included in the 1925 Standard Egyptian Quran.<ref name="Robinson2003" /> In the case of many of the Meccan surahs some specific verses are traditionally attributed to the Medinan phase. | ||