The circumstances of the revelation of the Koranic verses, of Jalâl-ud-Dîn As-Suyoutî

"The prestige of a science depends on its object of study. Yet the sciences of the hadith constitute the key to all Islamic knowledge. This is evident when it comes to Islamic law; as for exegesis, the authenticated words of the Prophet and his companions represent the most appropriate tool for understanding the word of God, hence the need to know them." Thus wrote Jalâl ad-Dîn as-Suyouti in his science of the foundations of the hadiths to underline the scope of the sunna, a capital instrument of Koranic exegesis. In this regard, the hadiths relating to the circumstances of the revelation of the Koran are of particular importance, because they enlighten us on the why and the how of a multitude of verses, even if the general scope of the Koranic discourse transcends space and the weather. These verses indeed apply to real problems. They therefore respond to a legislative need, not to hypothetical questions.

About the author: Jalâl-ud-Dîn As-Suyûtî

Jurisconsult, historian and man of letters among others, as-Souyouti is the typical example of the ulema of yesteryear: a veritable living encyclopedia, an authentic active faith. Rightly nicknamed the Child of the Library (Ibn al-Katib), this eminent scholar and prolific author "touched on almost all areas of knowledge of his time"