Ahmad and in al-Tabarānī’s al-Mujam al-Kabīr, it is narrated from Wāthila ibn al-Asqa that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “The Scriptures of Abraham were sent down on the first night of Ramadan; the Torah was sent down after six nights of Ramadan had passed; the Gospel after thirteen nights of Ramadan had passed; and Allah sent down the Quran after twenty-four nights of Ramadan had passed”1.

Al-Haythamī said: “Its chain includes Imrān ibn Dāwūd al-Qattān. Yahyā declared him weak, whereas Ibn Hibbān deemed him trustworthy. Ahmad said, ‘I hope that his hadiths are acceptable.’ The remaining narrators are trustworthy”2.

There is also a supporting report from Jābir—may Allah be pleased with him—recorded by Abū Yalā in his Musnad3, with wording similar to the preceding hadith. Its chain includes Sufyān ibn Wakī, who is weak.

Another supporting report is narrated by Ibn Asākir in his History through Alī ibn Abī Talha, from Ibn Abbās. Its chain is disconnected, for Alī did not meet Ibn Abbās—may Allah be pleased with them both.

If this hadith is authentic, it indicates that Ramadan was the month in which the divine scriptures were sent down to the messengers—peace be upon them.

However, each of those scriptures was sent down all at once to the prophet to whom it was revealed. As for the Noble Quran, because of its surpassing honor and immense excellence, it was sent down all at once to Bayt al-Izza (the House of Might) in the lowest heaven. This occurred on the Night of Decree in the month of Ramadan