The Makkan and Madinan revelations in the Quran

The Quran was revealed in two major stages: the Makkan and Madinan revelations. The content and subject matter of the Quran in Makkah was different from that in Madinah. In Makkah, the Quran primarily addressed the non-Muslims, warning them of the consequences faced by previous nations that rejected their messengers. The mention of these destroyed nations was meant to remind the Quraysh, the elites of Makkah, that they were not the first to reject and face punishment. This repetition of stories aimed to awaken them to the fact that Allah had dealt with more powerful nations in the past.