The Dating of Surat Yasin with Respect to the Order of Revelation and Contextual Analysis
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Tarih
2020
Yazarlar
Dergi Başlığı
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Cilt Başlığı
Yayıncı
Cumhuriyet Univ, Fac Theology
Erişim Hakkı
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Özet
Comprehending the messages of Qur'an in terms of the relationship between occasions (sira) and revelation has a profound influence on determining the contextual purpose and shades of meanings. Establishing such relationship necessitates dating suras and verses. Although there are some oral transmissions (riwaya) that verses 12, 45, 47 and 77 were revealed in Madinah, and some weak transmissions date this sura as Medinan, this sura is unanimously regarded as Meccan. Like many Meccan verses, not only the order of revelation and causality of verses but also the content of the script do not provide concrete evidence about whether the whole sura was sent down at once or revealed piece by piece or the date of the revelation. In this regard, in studies carried out on the dating of Surat Yasin, the dating of this sura is established on the basis of the dates of the suras coming before or after Yasin since they apparently have more definite datings. In recent studies done on the nuzul order, Surat Yasin is dated on the basis of a time frame before the emigration to Abyssinia (615-616) in terms of Surat Maryam and Taha, or Muhammeds return from Taif and his Ascension (Isra') (620) in terms of Surat al-Jinn. The dating of the sura covers a time span of 4 to 5 years and points out two discrete occasions of revelation. With this reason, there is a need for further studies to be carried out on dating Qur'anic suras, especially within the specific context of Surat Yasin. Traditional Islamic studies dispute the chronological order of the sura, offering various chronological orderings for the sura: 31, 36, 37, 39, 40 and 41. In the first part of this study, such variations and their causes are tentatively established and determining the precise chronology and listing of the sura was attempted. Based on the analysis of the variations in the disputed ordering of the sura, it has been found to be caused by five different reasons. When such discrepancies are accounted for and conflicts are resolved, the conclusion was reached that in almost all riwayas, surat Yasin can be dated as the 41st chapter (sura). In the second part of the study, on the basis of the discourse analysis of the sura, new arguments to date the chronology of the sura were put forward. These are; a- Because of their obstinacy, unbelievers will not heed the warnings directed at them (36/11), b- The speeches of unbelievers should not grieve Prophet Muhammad (36/76), c- The use of the word Rahman the Most Gracious (36/11, 15, 23, 52), d- In return for conveying the message of Allah, prophets do not ask people for any wage (36/21), e- Regarding Qur'an as book of poetry and calling Muhammad a poet (36/69), f- The possibility of recreation and reviving bones (36/78). Such arguments presented in a f usually refer to events happening in Mecca and in particular the second part or the end of Meccan period, yet there is no exact date. g- Based on the phrase al-Fulq al-Mashhun, the fact that surat Yasin should be dated after the emigration to Abyssinia (615-616) presents strong evidence that it was revealed after surat Maryam, though this is still not enough to give an exact date. h- In surat Yasin, in phenomenon of (a man coming from the farthest part of the City) (36/20), two names (Hazrat Abu Bakr and el-Haris b. Abi Hala) and two dates (month of Dhu al-Qi'dah/April 5 May 4, 615 and three days after Shawwal 15/February 27, 617) are mentioned in Sira for the purpose of consolation and encouragement. In the third part of the study, in the chronological ordering of surat Yasin, information regarding the dating of suras coming before and after Yasin are evaluated based on their similarity with Yasin in terms of discourse and diction. In nuzul orderings, when riwayas regarding dating surat al-Qamar, Sad and al-Jinn coming before Maryam and Taha are analysed, events happening during 7th or 10th year after emigration were observed. In addition, there were close connections between the discourse and diction of Yasin with those of Havamim suras. This brings to the mind the possibility that some suras might be listed in the wrong place because of the vagueness of the piecemeal character of the Qur'anic revelation and its effects on riwayas. Based upon the findings and inferences in the first three sections of this study, surat Yasin was determined to be the 41st chapter (sura) of Qur'an. The dating of surat Yasin presented some difficulties especially while trying to date it according to the interrupted revelation order approach, and considering it together with Surat Maryam and Taha. However, listing surat Yasin on the basis of uninterrupted revelation order along with Surat al-Jinn, the previous sura and Hamim suras is found to be a more coherent strategy since it gives priority to the succession of two suras.
Açıklama
Anahtar Kelimeler
Tafsir, Revelation order, Dating Qur'anic revelation, Sira, Yasin
Kaynak
Cumhuriyet Ilahiyat Dergisi-Cumhuriyet Theology Journal
WoS Q Değeri
N/A
Scopus Q Değeri
Q3
Cilt
24
Sayı
3
