Observation

This appeared the most difficult question to many of the candidates. The question technically tested the candidates’ knowledge of the arrangement of the Qur’ān, going by its major places of revelation, i.e. Makkah and Madinah. As some of the candidates got the question right, many were giving differences between Makkan and Madinah suwar. What the question demanded from the candidates was to explain vividly why the arrangement of the suwar is not in chronological order. For instance, the first verses of Qur’ān 96 were revealed in Makkah while the rest came to the Prophet later in Makkah. So, the piece-meal nature of the revelation does not allow for its chronological arrangement. Indeed Makkan suwar at times intermingle with the rest of Madinan suwar.

For example, chapter one which is Suratul-F ātihah was a Makkan surah. This chapter was followed by chapters two, three and four that are purely Madinan suwar. Generally on this question, candidates` performance was just fair.