Question 6
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Examine the division of the Qur’ān.
Observation
This question demanded that the candidates examined the division of Qur’ān.Generally the candidates’ performed significantly well. The expected points were as follows:
The Qur’ān is a book comprising of 114 chapters (Suwar) Introduction.
- 92/93 of these chapters were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) before Hijrah.
- The remaining 21/22 chapters were revealed to him after Hijrah.
- The Qur’ān is divided into Makkan and Madinan chapters (Suwar).
- The Suwar (chapters) are also divided into verses (’Āyāt).
- Suwar are of different lengths.
- The longest chapter of the Qur’ān is Sūratul-Baqarahi.e. Qur’ān chapter 2.
- The shortest chapters are those with three verses (Kawthar and ‘Aṣr).
- Qur’ān contains six thousand, six hundred and sixty-six verses (6,666).
- The longest chapters are again sub-divided into sections (Rub‘andNisf)
- Each section of a chapter deals with a subject matter.
- The short chapters are not divided into sections.
- There are other divisions which have been devised for the purpose of recitation of the Qur’ān.
- Such divisions are; Manzīl, Juzʿu and ḥizb.
- The division of the Qur’ān into Juzʿu facilitates its complete reading in thirty days.
- At times, a chapter is made up of more than one juz’u while in case of short chapters a Juz’u comprises ofa number of chapters.
- Each Juz’u is also divided into Hizb.
- The Hizb division ensures complete reading in sixty days.
- The Manzīl facilitates complete reading of the whole Qur’ān in seven days.