Order of Revelation

Dating or arranging the surahs according to their order of revelation has long been considered, at least to the extent of identifying them as Meccan or Medinan. However, it has not received much attention in traditional Tafsir (exegesis). Today, descending (Tanzīlī) exegesis, relying on methods other than the customary reliance on narrations of the order of revelation, has attracted the attention of Quranic researchers to facilitate a better understanding of the Quran. Accordingly, the present study, using a descriptive-analytical method, aims to investigate the date of revelation of Surah al-Qalam, considered the second revealed surah according to narrations of the order of revelation.  This will be done by examining the surah's content and style, comparing it to the stages of Quranic revelation in terms of the arrangement of the Prophet's call, and referencing historical documents and the Prophet's biography (Sīrah). The findings indicated that this surah depicts an atmosphere of a period of revelation that is incompatible with the early period of the Prophet's mission and his cautious call, and its position as the second revealed surah. Therefore, considering the content analysis and stylistic features of the surah, as well as supporting historical evidence regarding the use of various methods by opponents to express their opposition and hostility towards the Prophet, and comparing these with the verses revealed in surahs al-Shuʻarāʼ and al-Aʻrāf onwards, and based on a comparison that shows historical similarities between surah al-Qalam and Surahs Yāsīn, al-Furqān, and al-Isrāʼ, it seems that the approximate date of revelation of this surah is during the second phase of the Prophet's mission, after the cautious call and after surahs al-Anʻām and al-Ṣāffāt, but very close to them

The present study aims to examine and analyze the Surahs al-Furqān and Fāṭir according to their order of revelation to determine how the order of revelation and the historical context affect the conceptual appropriateness of the Surahs. To this aim, a discourse analysis method with a descriptive-analytical approach was employed. After gathering information about Surahs al-Furqān and Fāṭir and understanding their historical contexts, we explored their conceptual units under the themes of: The Quran, Jihad, polytheists, disbelievers, and how these themes manifested during that time period. The results indicated that the order of revelation plays a significant role in uncovering the themes and content of Surahs al-Furqān and Fāṭir. It was discovered that, according to the order of revelation, the Quran's stance toward the polytheists of Quraysh and the Jews of Mecca in both Surahs, during the years 6 and 7 of the prophethood, was wise and pedagogical. However, in line with the social conditions of the polytheists and disbelievers in Mecca, there was an effort during a certain period, through the verses of Surah al-Furqān, to convey the guiding themes of the Quran with persuasive actions and soft language. The intensification of mockery from these groups in the subsequent revelation of Surah Fāṭir transformed the discourse of the Quran into declarative and harsh actions.