Analytical study of the causes of the descent of the Onenes

Abstract

This analytical study focuses on the classical work Asbāb al-Nuzūl by Imam Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Ahmad al-Wahidi (d. 468 AH), one of the earliest systematic compilations of the causes of Quranic revelation. The research explores the structure, methodology, sources, and scholarly impact of the text, while critically examining its reliability, narrational chains, and interpretive value in the field of tafsir (Quranic exegesis).The study investigates how al-Wahidi collected reports related to specific verses' historical and contextual backgrounds and how he distinguished between authentic and weak narrations. It also evaluates the jurisprudential, linguistic, and theological implications of these reports, and how understanding asbāb al-nuzūl contributes to the precise application and interpretation of the Qur’anic message.Furthermore, this paper analyzes criticisms raised by later scholars regarding al-Wahidi’s approach, such as overreliance on single chains, lack of critical hadith evaluation, and occasional interpretive limitations. The research concludes that while Asbāb al-Nuzūl remains a foundational and pioneering work, it must be studied alongside broader exegetical and hadith traditions for a more balanced understanding of Quranic revelation.