The Reasons for Revelation of The Quran By Abu al-Hasan Ali al-Wahidi an-Neesaboori

When you read the Qur'an and encounter a verse that begins with "They ask you about..." or "They say..." or "Say..." — you are reading a verse that was revealed in direct response to a real question, a real event, or a real challenge that arose in the community of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). These circumstances of revelation are called Asbab al-Nuzul — the reasons for revelation — and understanding them is one of the most important tools for understanding the meaning and application of the Qur'an correctly.

The Reasons for Revelation of the Qur'an by Abu al-Hasan Ali al-Wahidi an-Neesaboori is the earliest and most important classical work dedicated entirely to this subject — a foundational reference that has been relied upon by tafsir scholars for a thousand years. Al-Wahidi compiled and transmitted the narrations that establish the context in which specific verses were revealed, giving the reader direct access to the historical events that shaped the Qur'an's revelation.

What This Book Covers

Why Knowing the Reasons for Revelation Matters

A verse whose context of revelation is known is far less susceptible to misapplication than one read in isolation. Many of the misinterpretations of the Qur'an that have caused harm in Islamic history arose from ignoring the reasons for revelation — applying general-sounding verses without knowing that they were revealed about a specific situation, or restricting universal commands by a context that actually broadens them. Al-Wahidi's work protects the reader from both errors.

Covering Every Major Surah

The work progresses through the Qur'an from Surah al-Baqarah to Surah al-Nas, providing the authenticated narrations about the reasons for revelation wherever they are established. Not every verse has a reported reason for revelation, and al-Wahidi is meticulous in distinguishing between verses that do and those that do not — a critical distinction the reader needs to make correct use of this science.

A Foundation for Tafsir Study

Al-Wahidi's work is cited in virtually every major tafsir — it is what Ibn Kathir, As-Sa'di, and other classical commentators drew upon when establishing the historical context of specific verses. Reading this book alongside a major tafsir gives the student of knowledge the full picture: what the verse says and the occasion on which Allah chose to reveal it.

About the Author

Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Ahmad al-Wahidi an-Neesaboori (d. 468 AH) was one of the foremost scholars of tafsir of his generation, recognized throughout the Islamic world for his mastery of Quranic sciences. Published by International Islamic Publishing House (IIPH).

Who This Book Is For

Students of tafsir who want to study the Qur'an with the depth that context provides. Anyone who has read a tafsir and wanted to understand why specific verses were revealed. And every Muslim who wants to protect themselves from the errors that arise from reading the Qur'an without its historical and revelatory context — this book is the classical Islamic answer to that need.