ABSTRACT
Qur ) an as a cohesive and well-structured
text is mentioned many times in the
Qur ) an itself: ‘And thus do We explain
in various ways (nusarif) the verses
(ayat) so that they may say: ‘‘You have
studied’’ and that We may make it clear
to people who have knowledge’ (6.105).
Undoubtedly, the most explicit refer-
ences to the fragmented-cohesive man-
ner of compilation can be found in
17.106: ‘A Qur ) an which we have divi-
ded-into-parts (faraqnahu) so that you
might recite it to people, gradually. And
we have sent it down in stages.’ Muslim
scholars often cite a passage in the Bible
(Isaiah 28: 10-11) which they contend
foreshadows this piecemeal and verse-
by-verse manner of revelation: ‘For pre-
cept must be upon precept, precept
upon precept; line upon line, line upon
line; here a little, and there a little. For
with stammering lips and another ton-
gue will he speak to his people.’
