Meccan and Medinan (makki wa-madani) classification of the Quran

المكي والمدني من القرآن

The classification of surahs as Meccan or Medinan. Sha'rawi presents two criteria: time, so that whatever was revealed after the hijra is Medinan even if in Mecca; and place, so that what was revealed in Mecca is Meccan and what in Medina is Medinan. He holds that scholars did not disagree about the surahs themselves, only about the angle of view. He says Meccan surahs focus on creed and the Hereafter, Medinan ones on rulings, society and the hypocrites, and that hypocrisy did not appear in Mecca because the persecuted cannot pretend ¹ ² ³. This is Sha'rawi's reading and is attributed to him.

Summary

Sha'rawi presents two criteria for classing surahs: time, so that whatever was revealed after the hijra is Medinan even if in Mecca, and place, so that what came down in Mecca is Meccan and what came down in Medina is Medinan. He holds that the disagreement concerns the angle of view, not the verses. ¹ ²

Features of the surahs

Sha'rawi says the Meccan surahs focus on creed, Paradise and Hell, and the Medinan ones on rulings, society, dealings and guarding against the hypocrites. ² ³

Hypocrisy in Medina

Sha'rawi holds that hypocrisy did not appear in Mecca because the persecuted do not pretend, and appeared in Medina once the Islamic state grew strong. ³

Author's view

This is Sha'rawi's reading and is attributed to him. The scan gives no Quranic-sciences classification of the Meccan and Medinan surahs, and none has been checked.

Opinions on the question

The question: By what criterion are surahs classed as Meccan or Medinan, and what marks each class?

First opinion · Sunni tradition (the museum's frame)Main reference

Two criteria, no disagreement about the surahs themselves

Sha'rawi says those who took time as the measure called everything revealed after the hijra Medinan, and those who took place as the measure classed by where it came down; the disagreement is about the angle, not the verses {cite:tafsir-sharawi-khawatir-scan p.98} {cite:tafsir-sharawi-khawatir-scan p.99}.

Held by: Muhammad Mutawalli al-Sha'rawi

More opinions (2)

Academic viewSecondary opinion

Not checked in this batch

The pages give no Quranic-sciences account of the lists or rules for Meccan and Medinan surahs; these must be checked before citing.

Other viewOther opinion

No other view presented

The view given in these pages is Sha'rawi's.