An Inquiry into the Dating of Surah Ra d (Makki or Madani)

Determining whether a surah is Makki or Madani is an effective way to understand the surah and to choose the most desirable interpretative traditions. There are many surahs considered Makki and a few ones considered Madani. On the other hand، there is another group of surahs which their dating can be disputable. Surah al-Ra’d should be put in this group. By analyzing the traditions related to revelation order، Makki and Madani، interpreters’ opinions about the place of the revelation and also the traditions related to the causes of revelation، one may understand that Ra’d is a Makki one. Furthermore، considering the criteria of Makki and Madani surahs and analyzing the structures and contents of the surah could accentuate that it is Makki. Having been Makki، the surah Ra’d would be more compatible with the virtue mentioned in the surah which says it has been revealed about Ali Ibn Abi-Talib.