When Was the Quran Revealed? Ramadan, Laylat al-Qadr and the First Surah
In which month was the Quran revealed, what Laylat al-Qadr is, what the first revealed verses were, how the first surah in the mushaf differs, and how long the revelation lasted.
Last updated: 2026-10-03
According to Islamic tradition, the revelation of the Quran began in the month of Ramadan in about 610 CE, when the Prophet Muhammad was around forty years old, and continued for about twenty-three years until his death in 632 CE.
The month of revelation: Ramadan
The Quran itself names Ramadan as the month in which it was sent down, in 2:185 — the same passage that sets out the fast of Ramadan. This connection is why Muslims read and recite the Quran more than ever during Ramadan, often completing it during the month.
Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree
The short Surah Al-Qadr (97) describes the Quran being sent down on Laylat al-Qadr, “the Night of Decree” or “the Night of Power”, which it calls better than a thousand months. Here is its opening verse from the verified text:
إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ فِي لَيۡلَةِ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ ١ Surah Ad-Dukhan (44) also speaks of a blessed night of revelation (44:3). Most scholars hold that Laylat al-Qadr falls in the last ten nights of Ramadan, most often sought on the odd-numbered nights.
The first verses revealed
The Prophet used to retreat to the cave of Hira on a mountain near Mecca. According to the well-known account, the angel Gabriel came to him there with the command to read, or recite. Those first verses are the opening of Surah Al-'Alaq (96):
ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ١ خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ ٢ ٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ ٣ ٱلَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِٱلۡقَلَمِ ٤ عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ ٥ This is why Al-Alaq is often called the first surah revealed, even though only its first five verses came at that time; the rest followed later.
First revealed vs. first in the mushaf
The Quran is not arranged in the order of revelation. The first surah in every copy is Surah Al-Fatihah (1), a short prayer recited in every unit of the daily prayers. Al-Alaq is the 96th surah in the mushaf. The order of the surahs is, according to Muslim belief, the order the Prophet taught.
Revealed in stages, not all at once
A common explanation among scholars is that the Quran was sent down in its entirety to the lowest heaven on Laylat al-Qadr, and then revealed to the Prophet in parts over twenty-three years, often in response to events and questions of the time. Revelation in stages made it easier to memorise and apply.
The last verses revealed
Scholars report different views about the very last verse revealed; 2:281 is among the most cited. Surah An-Nasr (110) is often described as one of the last complete surahs.
In Indonesia and Malaysia the anniversary of the first revelation is commemorated as Nuzul al-Quran on 17 Ramadan, following one of the historical opinions about its date.
Frequently asked questions
- In which month was the Quran revealed?
- Ramadan. The Quran names Ramadan as the month in which it was sent down (Al-Baqarah 2:185).
- What was the first surah revealed?
- The first five verses of Surah Al-Alaq (96), revealed in the cave of Hira around 610 CE. The first surah in the order of the mushaf is Al-Fatihah.
- How long did the revelation of the Quran take?
- About twenty-three years, from around 610 CE to the Prophet's death in 632 CE.
This article explains common understanding and history for general readers; it is not a religious ruling. For questions of practice, consult a qualified scholar. See the disclaimer.
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