Dating Sūrat al-Qadr with an Emphasis on the Sūra being Meccan or Medinan

Dating or determining the Revelation time of Sūras, although a new heading in Qur’anic researches, its underlying sciences such as the Revelation order, Revelation occasion, etc. have been under consideration since early Islam. The importance of determining whether the Sūras are Meccan or Medinan would cause correction of impression, distinction of the sound from the unsound, and prevention from inferring irrelevant meanings and referents from the Sūras of the Qur’an. There is disagreement concerning the place and time of the Revelation of a few Sūras, including Sūrat al-Qadr. By compiling and analyzing the reports on the Revelation order, Revelation occasion, study of the information of the Sūras revealed along with this Sūra, the approximate time and place of this Sūra can be achieved. As for Sūrat al-Qadr, a sound dating would prevent mingling of Revelation occasion with the application of the Sūra to several events. With a descriptive-analytical approach, this research is intended to prove Sūrat al-Qadr as Medinan in the fourth or fifth year of the Prophetic Mission (bi‘tha) before the Prophet’s (S.A.W.) migration.