An Analysis of the approach of the Commentators of the Two Islamic Sects to the Occasion of Revelation of the Initial Verses of Surah Ma’arij

Different views have been expressed by commentators about the occasion of the revelation of the initial verses of Surah Ma’arij. Citing a narration, some consider the occasion of revelation to be related to the appointment of Imam Ali (as) to the Imamate on the day of Ghadir, and others, considering the Meccan nature of Surah Al-Ma’arij, object to this idea and suggest some other occasions of revelation. The present paper aims to examine the views of commentators in this regard, analyzing their approach to the occasion of the revelation of these verses and its relationship with the Meccan or Medinan nature of the surah. The findings of the research show that the most acceptable narration about the occasion of the revelation of these verses is the narration that considers it related to the events of Ghadir. There are several justifications for the connection between this occasion of revelation and the Meccan nature of the surah: First, the common point of all the occasions of revelation is that these verses are related to verse 32 of Surah Anfal which is a Medinan surah. Second, it is possible that this occasion of revelation is one of the examples of the verse. This interpretation is obtained according to the meaning of the occasion of revelation and its difference with the cause of revelation, because in terms of definition, the occasions of revelation is not necessarily an event after which the verse was revealed. Third, the verse has been re-revealed and this has happened in cases where a verse or surah was revealed once in Mecca and the second time for another reason in Medina. There is also the possibility of recitation of these verses by the Prophet or Gabriel at the time of the occurrence of that event. Therefore, this occasion of revelation for Surah is the most correct occasion of revelation and does not contradict the Meccan nature of Surah.