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There is a difference of opinion amongst the Shia and Ahl al-Sunnah schools of thought in regards to the exact date when the Prophet (ṣ) was commissioned with this divine duty. Shia scholars are of the opinion that the Bi‘thah of our Prophet (ṣ) took place on the 27th of the month of Rajab during the 40th year, also known as the ‘Year of the Elephant’ and this is something that has been agreed upon by all Shia scholars.[1]
The opinion of some Ahl al-Sunnah scholars is that the Bi‘thah took place during the month of Ramaḍān of the 40th year, which is known as the ‘Year of the Elephant’. Amongst these scholars, some are of the opinion that it took place on the 17th of this holy month, while others believe it was the 18th, and yet others believe it was the 24th. There is also a disagreement as to whether it took place by day or by night.[2] Contrary to this group, there are another group of scholars from the Ahl al-Sunnah who believe that the Bi‘thah took place on the 12th of the month of Rabī‘ al-Awwal, while others say that it was on the tenth of that month.[3]
It is commonly held amongst Sunni scholars that the Bi‘thah actually took place during the month of Ramaḍān and some ask the question as to why they hold this opinion. The reason behind this opinion is based on various issues which are controversial in nature. A large number of the Ahl al-Sunnah scholars believe that the Bi‘thah of the Prophet (ṣ) took place with the revelation of the Quran, and since the revelation of the Quran took place during the month of Ramaḍān, they therefore believe that the Bi‘thah happened in this same month. The Quran has mentioned the following in this regard: “The month of Ramadan is one in which the Qur’an was sent down as guidance to mankind…”[4]
Yet, when this idea is examined in detail, we realize that it is incorrect for several reasons. The first reason is that according to the scholars of Quranic commentary and grammar, the verses which use the term ‘Anzāl’[5] in the Quran use it in the sense of the complete revelation of the Quran and not that of a gradual revelation. Secondly, according to a large number of the Ahl al-Sunnah scholars, the complete revelation of the Quran took place in the ‘Bayt al-Ma‘mūr’ and it was then later gradually revealed to the Prophet (ṣ). Suyūṭī has mentioned this in his Durr al-Manthūr in regards to the 185th verse of Surah Baqarah. He has narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas who said: ‘The blessed night, which is the ‘Night of Destiny’ (Laylat al-Qadr) took place in the month of Ramaḍān and the Quran was revealed all at once on that night…at the ‘Bayt al-Ma‘mūr’; it was then gradually revealed in commanding something or forbidding something else, in showing what was allowed and what was forbidden, and in regards to the battles which took place for the Prophet (ṣ).’[6]
In another narration reported by Ḍaḥḥāk from Ibn ‘Abbās, it has been stated that ‘The Quran was revealed by God at once from the ‘Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ’ (the ‘protected tablet’ which has been mentioned in the Quran) to the ‘Honored Angels and Writers’… who then revealed it gradually, over a period of twenty nights to the Angel Gabriel, and then the Angel Gabriel gradually revealed the Quran over a period of twenty years to the Prophet (ṣ).[7]
The third point in this regard is that scholars of the Ahl al-Sunnah themselves have said that the revelation of the Quran was separate from the Bi‘thah of the Prophet (ṣ). The vast majority of the historians and narrators of tradition from the Ahl al-Sunnah are of the opinion that the Bi‘thah of the Prophet (ṣ) initially took place in the form of a dream while he was asleep. They have then narrated that after a period of time (some say it was a period of six months, others say three years, while others have even more varied opinions) the Quran was then revealed to the Prophet (ṣ) by Angel Gabriel while he was awake.[8] Suyūṭī has mentioned something similar in his book al-Itqān as well.[9]
In conclusion, according to what the scholars of the Ahl Sunnah themselves have said, we cannot say that the Bi‘thah of the Prophet (ṣ) was at the same time as the revelation of the Quran and the evidence shows that it was on the 27th of the holy month of Rajab.
The opinion of some Ahl al-Sunnah scholars is that the Bi‘thah took place during the month of Ramaḍān of the 40th year, which is known as the ‘Year of the Elephant’. Amongst these scholars, some are of the opinion that it took place on the 17th of this holy month, while others believe it was the 18th, and yet others believe it was the 24th. There is also a disagreement as to whether it took place by day or by night.[2] Contrary to this group, there are another group of scholars from the Ahl al-Sunnah who believe that the Bi‘thah took place on the 12th of the month of Rabī‘ al-Awwal, while others say that it was on the tenth of that month.[3]
It is commonly held amongst Sunni scholars that the Bi‘thah actually took place during the month of Ramaḍān and some ask the question as to why they hold this opinion. The reason behind this opinion is based on various issues which are controversial in nature. A large number of the Ahl al-Sunnah scholars believe that the Bi‘thah of the Prophet (ṣ) took place with the revelation of the Quran, and since the revelation of the Quran took place during the month of Ramaḍān, they therefore believe that the Bi‘thah happened in this same month. The Quran has mentioned the following in this regard: “The month of Ramadan is one in which the Qur’an was sent down as guidance to mankind…”[4]
Yet, when this idea is examined in detail, we realize that it is incorrect for several reasons. The first reason is that according to the scholars of Quranic commentary and grammar, the verses which use the term ‘Anzāl’[5] in the Quran use it in the sense of the complete revelation of the Quran and not that of a gradual revelation. Secondly, according to a large number of the Ahl al-Sunnah scholars, the complete revelation of the Quran took place in the ‘Bayt al-Ma‘mūr’ and it was then later gradually revealed to the Prophet (ṣ). Suyūṭī has mentioned this in his Durr al-Manthūr in regards to the 185th verse of Surah Baqarah. He has narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas who said: ‘The blessed night, which is the ‘Night of Destiny’ (Laylat al-Qadr) took place in the month of Ramaḍān and the Quran was revealed all at once on that night…at the ‘Bayt al-Ma‘mūr’; it was then gradually revealed in commanding something or forbidding something else, in showing what was allowed and what was forbidden, and in regards to the battles which took place for the Prophet (ṣ).’[6]
In another narration reported by Ḍaḥḥāk from Ibn ‘Abbās, it has been stated that ‘The Quran was revealed by God at once from the ‘Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ’ (the ‘protected tablet’ which has been mentioned in the Quran) to the ‘Honored Angels and Writers’… who then revealed it gradually, over a period of twenty nights to the Angel Gabriel, and then the Angel Gabriel gradually revealed the Quran over a period of twenty years to the Prophet (ṣ).[7]
The third point in this regard is that scholars of the Ahl al-Sunnah themselves have said that the revelation of the Quran was separate from the Bi‘thah of the Prophet (ṣ). The vast majority of the historians and narrators of tradition from the Ahl al-Sunnah are of the opinion that the Bi‘thah of the Prophet (ṣ) initially took place in the form of a dream while he was asleep. They have then narrated that after a period of time (some say it was a period of six months, others say three years, while others have even more varied opinions) the Quran was then revealed to the Prophet (ṣ) by Angel Gabriel while he was awake.[8] Suyūṭī has mentioned something similar in his book al-Itqān as well.[9]
In conclusion, according to what the scholars of the Ahl Sunnah themselves have said, we cannot say that the Bi‘thah of the Prophet (ṣ) was at the same time as the revelation of the Quran and the evidence shows that it was on the 27th of the holy month of Rajab.
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