Observation

This question demanded that the candidates examined the division of Qur’ān.Generally the candidates’ performed significantly well. The expected points were as follows:

The Qur’ān is a book comprising of 114 chapters (Suwar) Introduction.

1. 92/93 of these chapters were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) before Hijrah.
2. The remaining 21/22 chapters were revealed to him after Hijrah.
3. The Qur’ān is divided into Makkan and Madinan chapters (Suwar).
4. The Suwar (chapters) are also divided into verses (’Āyāt).
5. Suwar are of different lengths.
6. The longest chapter of the Qur’ān is Sūratul-Baqarahi.e. Qur’ān chapter 2.
7. The shortest chapters are those with three verses (Kawthar and ‘Aṣr).
8. Qur’ān contains six thousand, six hundred and sixty-six verses (6,666).
9. The longest chapters are again sub-divided into sections (Rub‘andNisf)
10. Each section of a chapter deals with a subject matter.
11. The short chapters are not divided into sections.
12. There are other divisions which have been devised for the purpose of recitation of the Qur’ān.
13. Such divisions are; Manzīl, Juzʿu and ḥizb.
14. The division of the Qur’ān into Juzʿu facilitates its complete reading in thirty days.
15. At times, a chapter is made up of more than one juz’u while in case of short chapters a Juz’u comprises ofa number of chapters.
16. Each Juz’u is also divided into Hizb.
17. The Hizb division ensures complete reading in sixty days.
18. The Manzīl facilitates complete reading of the whole Qur’ān in seven days.