, the blessed month. Allah Most High says, “Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night” 1. He also says, “Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Decree” 2. And He says, “The month of Ramadan in which the Quran was sent down” 3. These three verses indicate that the Noble Quran was sent down on a single night—a night described as blessed, namely the Night of Decree, which is one of the nights of the blessed month of Ramadan. Thereafter, it was revealed piecemeal in successive portions, one part following another. This has been narrated from Ibn Abbās—may Allah be pleased with him and his father—through several routes.

Al-Hākim narrated from Saīd ibn Jubayr, from Ibn Abbās, who said: “The Quran was sent down all at once to the lowest heaven and was apportioned into successive portions. Allah would send it down to His Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—one part after another” 4.

He also narrated from Ikrima, from Ibn Abbās, who said: “The Quran was sent down all at once to the lowest heaven on the Night of Decree. Thereafter, it was sent down over twenty years. He then recited: ‘They never bring you an argument without Our bringing you the truth and the best explanation’ 5, and ‘It is a Quran We have revealed in stages so that you may recite it to the people at intervals; We have sent it down progressively’ 6.”) 7.

Ibn Abī Hātim narrated from Ibn Abbās that Atiyya ibn al-Aswad asked him, saying: “A doubt arose in my heart concerning the words of Allah Most High: ‘The month of Ramadan in which was sent down