It was revealed here in the sense of 'sent down' and nothing else, like the news meaning 'informed', otherwise it would be rejected. This is also among their objections and suggestions that indicate their deviation from the truth and their distance from following it. They said: Why was it not sent down to him all at once, at one time, as the three books were sent down? Why was it sent down in parts? The speakers are: Quraysh. It was said: the Jews. This is superfluous speech and disputation without any benefit, because the matter of the miracle and the argumentation with it does not differ whether it was sent down all at once or in parts. And His saying 'Thus' is an answer to them, meaning: 'Thus it was sent down in parts.' The wisdom in it is that we strengthen your heart by its division so that you may comprehend and memorize it, for the learner's heart is strengthened to retain knowledge bit by bit, and part after part. If it were thrown upon him all at once, he would be overwhelmed and would struggle with memorizing it. The Messenger, blessings and peace be upon him, was in a different situation than Moses, David, and Jesus, peace be upon them, as he was illiterate, unable to read or write, while they were readers and writers. Thus, he had no choice but to learn and memorize, so it was sent down gradually over twenty years. It was said: over twenty-three years. Also, it was sent down according to events and in response to the questions of inquirers, and because some of it is abrogated and some of it abrogates, and this can only be achieved with what was sent down in parts. If you say: In that case, it should be an indication of something that preceded it, and what preceded it is its being sent down all at once, how then do you interpret it as 'Thus We sent it down in parts'? I say: Because their saying:

If it were not that it was revealed to him in parts: its meaning is: Did I not reveal it in one go? The evidence for the invalidity of this objection is that they were unable to bring forth a single verse from its verses. They challenged with a single chapter from the smallest of the chapters, thus revealing their inability and recording it against themselves when they resorted to hostility and fled to fighting. Then they said: Why was it not revealed all at once, as if they were capable of its parts so that they could be capable of its entirety? And 'We have revealed it' is connected to the action it pertains to as if it said: Thus, we divided it and revealed it. The meaning of its recitation is that it was ordained verse by verse, with a pause after each pause. It may also mean: And we commanded the recitation of it to be in a measured manner, as in His saying: 'And recite the Qur'an in a measured tone' meaning read it with deliberation and calmness. From this is the narration of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, regarding the description of his recitation, blessings and peace be upon him: 'Not like your rapid recitation; if the listener wanted to count its letters, he could count them.' [Reported by Al-Bukhari, from the narration of Urwah. He said: 'Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, sat by the chamber of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, and said: The Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, would narrate the hadith as if he was counting it for the listener to memorize it.' And in Muslim: 'He did not narrate the hadith like your rapid narration.' And Al-Tirmidhi and Al-Nasa'i added: 'But he would speak with clear words that those who sat with him could memorize.'] And its origin is: the measured recitation in the teeth: which is to separate them. It is said: A tooth is 'ratl' and 'murtal', and it is likened to the light of the daisy in its separation. It is said that it was revealed while being divided over a long period, which is twenty years, and it was not divided over a short period. And they do not come to you with a strange question from their false inquiries - as if it were a parable in its invalidity - except that we come to you with the true answer that cannot be avoided and with what is better in meaning, and a result of their question. And since the interpretation is the uncovering of what the words indicate, they placed in place of its meaning and said: The interpretation of this speech is such and such, as it was said: Its meaning is this and that. Or they do not come to you with a strange state and description saying: Why is this your description and state, such as: that a king should be sent with you, or that a treasure should be given to you, or that you should have a garden, or that the Qur'an should be revealed to you all at once, except that we give you from the states what is right for you in our wisdom and will to be given, and what is better in uncovering what you were sent for and indicating its truth. This means: That its revelation in parts and their challenge to bring forth some of those parts whenever something of it was revealed: entered into the miraculous and illuminated the proof more than if it had been revealed all at once, and it was said to them: Bring forth something like this book in its eloquence with the distance between its ends. It is as if it was said to them: What drives you to these inquiries is that you mislead its path and belittle its place and status. If you were to look with the eye of fairness while you are among those dragged on their faces to Hell, you would know that your place is worse than his place and your path is more misguided than his path. In His way is His saying: 'Shall I inform you of a worse state than that, as a recompense with Allah? Whom Allah has cursed and upon whom He has become angry...' The verse may also mean: the honor and status, and it may refer to the abode and dwelling, as in His saying: 'Which of the two groups is better in position and more beautiful in assembly?' And the description of the path as misguided is from the figurative attribution. And from the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him: People will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection in three groups: a third on mounts, a third on their faces, and a third on their feet, moving swiftly.