Today I set out on a new venture: to approach the Qur’an in as near the order of revelation as is possible, with the limited information at my disposal.
Every mushaf and translation of my shelves is arranged not in chronological order, but roughly by length, from the longest surah to the shortest.
Over the years I have tried all sorts of approaches: reading from the front cover to the end; reading from the shortest back to the beginning; to delve in and out; to pick a theme; to open a page at random.
To read anew in chronological order is but my latest attempt to connect with the sacred. For now, this must mean the order based on the revelation of the first verses of each chapter: a semi-chronological reading, in any case nearer to events than any of my previous attempts.
Still seeking.
Last modified: 29 May 2020
