ASBABUN NUZUL

ASBAB AL NUZUL

Ali Ibni Ahmad Al Wahidi

The Great Tafsirs of the Holy Qur’an project (www.altafsir.com) of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for
Islamic Thought, Amman, Jordan (www.aalalbayt.org) is pleased to make available for the first time ever in
English translation one of the most significant works in the branch of the Qur’anic sciences (‘ulum al-Qur’an)
known as “asbab al-nuzul” — the occasions, reasons, and contexts for the Revelation of the Holy Qur’an.
The present work by ‘Ali ibn Ahmad al-Wahidi, (d. 468/1075) Asbab al-Nuzul is the earliest and best-known representative work of this genre. For most of the Qur’an, the exact occasions and contexts of Revelation were not preserved in the historical record. However, for those that have been, the original context of the revelation of a particular verse of the Qur’an will aid the reader in better understanding the historical context of the revelation and the issues that confronted the Prophet Muhammad and the nascent Muslim community.

Such issues as the relations between Muhammad and the Jews and Christians are highlighted herein. The
reader will also discover details about the relationship of Muhammad to various individuals such as from
among the Companions and Followers, groups and tribes such as the Aws and Khazraj, and also to the
Ummah which give insight into his prophetic mission, his personal qualities and attributes — such as his
exemplary humility and generosity, his relationship to his enemies, his conduct of war, how he dealt with
false allegations of infidelity against his favourite wife ‘A’ishah, to cite but a few examples. Muslims and non-Muslims are often not aware of the occasions of the revelation of the verses when they quote verses from the Qur’an. Thus, this leads to a situation whereby verses are quoted out of context, and misapplied in order to justify violent and inhuman acts in the name of Islam. It is often suggested by those who have little or no understanding of Qur’anic exegesis that what is required is a reinterpretation of the Qur’an to meet the demands of the 21st century. Rather, it is knowledge of the history of the Qur’an’s interpretation coupled with an understanding of contemporary social and political issues which contribute to a better-informed understanding. In other words, the most pressing need as with any religious tradition or scripture, is to understand the fundamental sources particular to that tradition. Asbab al-Nuzul along with other works that appear in the Great Tafsirs series will elucidate the meanings of the Qur’anic verses.