Differences between Makkiyyah and Madaniyyah Revelation

Al-Quran is divided into two revelation which are the makki & the madani revelation. There are 3
scholars' opinions with regard to the meaning of Makiyyah and Madaniyyah which are:

-Place: Makiyyah is verse and surah that was revealed in Makkah and area around Makkah such as
Mina, Arafah and Hudaibiah either before or after hijrah. Madaniyyah is verses and surah that was
revealed in Madinah and the area around Madinah such as Badar and Uhud, either before or after
hijrah.

-Nature of Audience: Makiyyah is verses that is being directed for Makkah people and the
surrounding. While Madaniyyah verse is directed to Madinah people and the surrounding.

-Time: Makiyyah is verse or surah that is revealed before the migration of Prophet Muhammad
s.a.w. Madaniyyah is verse or surah that was revealed after the migration of Muhammad s.a.w to
Madinah.

Makkiyyah

- 13 years of revelation
- Consist of “sajadah” verse ( Surah Al-Alaq, Sajdah, Maryam, Al –Haj and etc)
- The verses are short
- The phrase use is “ o people”
- Most of the surah start with Hijaiyyah letter ( ‫ طسم‬, ‫ الم‬, ‫) الر‬
* Except for Al-Baqarah & Ali-Imran
- 82 surah

Characteristic of the verse:

- Emphasise on topic related to believe, aqidah and tauhid

- It was intended to get rid of the jahiliyyah culture
- It tells the stories of the prophets and earlier peoples that contained teaching and example .
- Encourages people to contemplate themselves and the universe to see the evidence of the
truth of the Quran to acknowledge the Almighty Allah and the Day of Judgment

Madaniyyah

- 10 years of revelation
- The verse is usually long
- The phrase use is “o believer”
- 20 surah

Characteristic of the verse/surah:

- Touches more on matter relating to a country because Madinah is in the virtue of creating a
government under Rasulullah SAW during that time
- Emphasised more on legal rules on various aspects of life and principles regulating the
political, legal, social and economic life ( eg: Riba in Al baqarah: 275-276)
- Explain in detail the law of Shari'ah ( Zina, Hudud etc)
- Detailed elaboration is given to the rules concerning Jihad

# there are 12 surah where there is clashing view among the scholars