The Wisdom in respect to the Qur’aan being revealed in instalments
Allah Ta’Aalaa has explained the Hikmah (wisdom) for the revelation of the Qur’aan in instalments and not all at once in two Aayah:
a) The First Aayah:
And those who disbelieve say: "Why was the Qur'an not revealed to him all at once?" Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly (Al-Furqaan 32).
b) The Second Aayah:
And a Qur'an which We have divided (into parts), in order that you might recite it to men at intervals. And We have revealed it by stages (Al-Israa’ 106).
These two Aayah indicate that the Hikmah (wisdom) for the Qur’aan to have been revealed in parts and not all at once are:
1) To strengthen and consolidate the heart of the Messenger of Allah (saw) through the revelation of the Qur’aan in parts throughout the mission of Prophethood. He had been exposed to harm and denial from his people whilst he carried the Da’wah to them and so the Wahi that descended at different times was his greatest support and assistance making him feel that Allah Ta’Aalaa was always with him. That consecutive connection over periods or intervals strengthened his determination and helped him to bear what he faced in terms of hardship and obstacles and to continue the Da’wah.
2) The strengthening and consolidating of the heart is also by the meanings of the Aayaat represented in the Ahkaam that the Aayaat contain within them. As the incidents occurred the Qur’aan would be revealed to explain the Hukm of each incident. This therefore acted as an assistance to the Messenger (saw) in respect to understanding the Qur’aan and to consolidate this understanding within his ‘Fu’aad’ (heart/’Aql). That is because the word ‘Fu’aad’ indicates the meaning of heart (in the Arabic language) just as it also indicates Al-‘Aql (the mind).
3) The Arabs prior to Islaam used to believe in an Aqeedah that had become deeply rooted within them whilst they followed customs and traditions that they had inherited from previous generations. They had become rigid upon this Aqeedah and these customs and as such they were in need of time to become convinced of a new Aqeedah and new Deen. They were in need of a gradual approach in leaving that which they had believed in and become accustomed to. Therefore, Allah Ta’Aalaa revealed the Qur’aan in instalments to reach their ears, from one time to another, explaining the falsity of their belief so that they abandon it and explaining the Islamic Aqeedah so that they embrace it.
4) The Qur’aan was revealed to an illiterate people who could not read or write and Allah Ta’Aalaa intended for the Qur’aan to be memorized within the breasts. The Qur’aan was revealed in parts and segments to make it easy for the Nabi (saw) to recite it to them and to make it easy for them to memorise it and abide by the Ahkaam that were brought in it.