Are the opinions regarding the revelation of the Qur’an — whether in a single night or over many years in Mecca and Medina — contradictory? Is one of them correct and the other wrong, or are both of them wrong?

The issue of the revelation of the Quran has two aspects: one agreed upon and one disagreed upon.

The agreed-upon aspect: The Quran was not revealed to the Prophet, peace be upon him, all at once. Rather, it was revealed in parts, according to events and circumstances, to strengthen the Prophet’s heart, and for people to ponder it at their leisure. Quranic verses confirm this, such as the Almighty’s saying: (And those who disbelieve say, “Why has the Quran not been sent down to him all at once?” Thus, that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have recited it with a distinct recitation.) Al-Furqan/32, and His saying: (And [it is] a Quran which We have separated [into parts] that you may recite it to the people over a prolonged period. And We have sent it down progressively.) Al-Isra/106.

The disagreed-upon aspect: The first and original revelation of the Quran, whether it was revealed all at once to the lowest heaven on the Night of Decree, and then revealed in parts to the Messenger, peace be upon him (the view of the majority), or whether its revelation began on the Night of Decree and then it was revealed in parts thereafter (the view of Ash-Sha'bi). The first revelation does not have a major impact on the practical revelation of the Quran, but it was said that it was to magnify its matter and show its status.

Gabriel, peace be upon him, heard the Quran directly from the Lord of Might, and then conveyed it to the Prophet, peace be upon him. So the Prophet heard it with his ear and understood it with his heart. This does not contradict the fact that it was written in the Preserved Tablet, because Allah wrote it before He sent it down.