This verse is a continuation of the previous verses that relate to the story of (To’ma bin Ubayraq) who stole the shield and the Prophet (saws) judged between him and the Jew with justice, and he was adamant on this ruling. This is evidence of the great status of our master, the Prophet (saws), and his infallibility by the grace and generosity of Allah (swt), for he is guided by revelation in every step and every matter.

(… لَهَمَّت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُضِلُّوكَ …) (…a group of them would have determined to mislead you.…): They tried to embellish falsehood and obfuscate the truth, but Allah’s grace and mercy prevented them from doing so.

(… وَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ …) (…And Allah has revealed to you the Book and wisdom…): The greatest bounty of Allah (swt) over His Messenger is the revelation of the Holy Qur’an, which is a guide to mankind, and it is the clear light and the cure for what is in the hearts:

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا

(And We send down of the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.) (Al-Israa: 82)

(… وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُن تَعْلَمُ …) (…and has taught you that which you did not know…): When the angel Jibril descended to the Prophet (saws) in the cave he recited to him:

 اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ % الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ % عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

(Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous – % Who taught by the pen – % Taught man that which he knew not.) (Al-‘Alaq: 3-5)

The beginning of religion is knowledge, and there is no place for ignorance among the Muslim believers, and the cornerstone of accountability is the mind. Therefore, the argument, the proof, and the rational proof were always the way that the Prophet (saws) used in his call to Allah (swt). He (saws) did not use violence, force, sword, terrorism, or blasphemy. At the very beginning of his (saws) call to Allah (swt), he ascended Safa mountain and said:

“Oh Sabah! ” All the Quraish gathered round him and said, “What is the matter?” He said: “Look, if I told you that an enemy is going to attack you in the morning or in the evening, would you not believe me?” They said, “Yes, we will believe you.” He said: “I am a warner to you in face of a terrible punishment.”[1]

He (saws) offered them the matter in a logic way. So, the greatest bounty of Allah (swt) is the revelation of the book to His Messenger and the knowledge it contains. When the angel Jibril asks the Prophet (saws) to read, the Prophet’s (saws) normal reply was: “I cannot read” because when a person may either read something written in front of him or something he has memorized and the angel Jibril repeated his question to the Prophet (saws) to read, however, Allah (swt) poured the knowledge in the heart of the Prophet (saws) so he consequently taught all the humanity. This is the great favour which was already mentioned. Allah (swt) not only has revealed to him (saws) the Book but also the (wisdom) which is reflected in the Sunnah, Hadiths and every act and command of the Prophet(saws).

(… وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُن تَعْلَمُ …) (…and has taught you that which you did not know …): The Prophet (saws) was unlettered, so every knowledge he has whether the Qur’an or the Sunnah was from Allah (swt):

 إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ % عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ

(It is not but a revelation revealed, % Taught to him by one intense in strength) (An-Najm: 4-5)

( وَكَانَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًا … ) (…And ever has the favor of Allah upon you been great): Some may say that there is a repetition in this verse because it started with speaking about the favour of Allah (swt) and ends with it but each one has its significance. (وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ) at the beginning of the verse refers to the favour that Allah (swt) prevented the Prophet (saws) from lying about him and condemning the innocent. The second at the end of the verse is Allah’s favour that He revealed to His Messenger the Book and wisdom and taught him what he did not know.  

When Allah (swt) has not revealed the Qur’an to the Prophet (saws) all at once, because He (swt) wanted events to happen then rulings to be revealed:

 وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ الْقُرْآنُ جُمْلَةً وَاحِدَةً ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ ۖ وَرَتَّلْنَاهُ تَرْتِيلًا

(And those who disbelieve say, “Why was the Qur’an not revealed to him all at once?” Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly.) (Al-Furqan: 32)

The Holy Qur’an was revealed according to what was happening, so when the Qur’an was revealed after an event, it had been more beneficial for the rulings to be entrenched in the minds. The rulings cannot be comprehended if they were sent down all at once.

[1] Sahih Muslim: The Book of Faith, Hadith No. 208.