I n t r o d u c t i o n he would have otherwise suffered at the hands of his people. (2) It provided a means for addressing problems as they arose via an ongoing connection to Allah. (3) It allowed for the development of an Islamic nation through gradual legislation, thus minimizing difficult adjustments for the first generation of Muslims by not forcing them to make abrupt changes in their lives. This was particularly important during the early days of the Islamic state. (4) This gradualism is but one of the many aspects of the miraculous nature of the Qurâ€&#x;an. There are parts, such as the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah (chapter 2), which were revealed in the beginning of the years in the city of Madinah, whereas the last Qur‘anic verse revealed, some 10 years later, is also in that same chapter. For this to have occurred and the Qurâ€&#x;an still be void of confusion, discrepancy and incoherence, while still containing delightful wisdom and secrets, is further proof that this book was not the effort of any man and that it could not be produced even if all of humankind united to contribute to its production.
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