6. Where was the Qur’an Revealed?
The Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the Arabian Peninsula, mainly in two cities:
1. Makkah
Most of the Qur’an was revealed in Makkah, where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ lived before migrating to Madinah.
The first revelation came in the Cave of Hira, near Makkah, around 610 CE. The first verses revealed were: “Read in the name of your Lord who created; He created man from a clinging substance.” — Qur’an 96:1–2
The revelations received during this period are generally called Makki revelations.
2. Madinah
In 622 CE, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ migrated from Makkah to Madinah. Revelation continued there for approximately 10 more years, until his death in 632 CE.
The revelations received after the migration are generally called Madani revelations.
In simple terms
The Qur’an was not revealed all at once or in one place. It was revealed gradually over approximately 23 years, primarily in Makkah and Madinah, with some revelations received during journeys and other locations.
According to the conventional Islamic chronology, revelation began around 610 CE and continued until Prophet Muḥammad's (pbuh) death in 632 CE.
The traditional division is:
Meccan period
Approximately 610–622 CE
Medinan period
Approximately 622–632 CE
Thus the Qur'an emerged through a process of approximately 22–23 years, rather than being delivered at one moment.
This has consequences for understanding its textual history.
Individual passages could be:
memorized,
recited publicly,
taught to companions,
written down,
incorporated into existing sūrahs,
and subsequently transmitted orally and in writing.
The historical Qur'an was therefore simultaneously:
recited text + memorized text + written text.
