The Last Surah Revealed in the Holy Quran
It is important to note that there is no explicit text confirming which surah was the last to be revealed from the Holy Quran; rather, companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) inferred from the messages they received from him. Consequently, there is a difference of opinion regarding the identification of the final surah. The following outlines this divergence:
- Imam Muslim reported in his Sahih from Ubaidullah bin Abdullah, who quoted Ibn Abbas as saying: “Do you know, and Haroon asked: Do you know what the last surah to be revealed in its entirety is? I said: Yes, when the victory of Allah and the triumph comes.” Ibn Abbas affirmed that this surah, An-Nasr, signified the approaching end of the Prophet Muhammad’s life (peace be upon him).
- Al-Bara bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that the last surah revealed was Surah At-Tawbah, as narrated in Sahih Bukhari with his statement: “The last surah revealed was Bara’ah.”
- Jubair bin Nafair stated that Surah Al-Maidah was the last to be revealed, supported by a statement from Ummul Mu’minin Aisha, who remarked: “O Jubair, do you read Al-Maidah?” Upon confirmation, she said: “Indeed, it is the last surah revealed, so whatever you find lawful within it, take it as lawful, and what you find unlawful, make it unlawful.”
Reasons for the Discrepancy in Identifying the Last Revelation of the Quran
The disagreement among scholars regarding the last revelation in the Holy Quran stems from multiple factors. This includes mentions of what was last heard or transmitted from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) before his demise, as well as the recitations he performed last. Additionally, the differences arise from the nature of scholarly ijtihad (independent reasoning) rather than concrete evidence that expressly defines the last revelation, as no clear narration exists to definitively assert this. Furthermore, confusion may arise from the arrangement of the Quranic text—one may mistakenly assume that the last revelation is the one recorded last. The lack of a decisive text could also be a contributing factor, as pinpointing the last revelation requires clear proof. It is also essential to acknowledge that the variety of transmitted texts and the lack of consensus on a singular interpretation adds to the complexity of this issue.
The Last Ayah Revealed in the Quran
There are various opinions regarding the last ayah revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is reported that the last ayah pertains to Al-Kalala (the rules of inheritance) found in Surah An-Nisa. Imam Bukhari recorded from Al-Bara bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: “The last ayah to be revealed was: {They ask you for a ruling. Say: Allah gives you a ruling concerning Al-Kalala.}” Meanwhile, Abdullah ibn Abbas reported that the last ayah revealed was the ayah of riba in Surah Al-Baqarah, where Allah Almighty states: “O believers, fear Allah and give up what remains of riba if you are believers.” Bukhari also documented Ibn Abbas’s report that “the last ayah revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) was the ayah about riba.” This view was echoed by other companions, including Umar ibn Al-Khattab and Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri. Furthermore, Ibn Abbas mentioned that another last ayah was: “And fear a Day when you will be returned to Allah; then each soul will be compensated for what it earned and they will not be wronged.”
Ubayy bin Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him) suggested that the last verses revealed were from Surah At-Tawbah, specifically: “Indeed, there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves….” Additionally, he narrated an unusual account mentioning that the Prophet (peace be upon him) read for him two ayahs: “Indeed, there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves…” and concluded with “…He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne,” deeming this the last thing revealed from the Quran.
Furthermore, both Sa’id ibn Al-Musayyab and Ibn Shuhab asserted that the last revelation is the ayah of debt from Surah Al-Baqarah: “O believers! When you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down…” Ibn Mardwayh transmitted through Mujahid from Umm Salamah that the last ayah revealed was Allah’s statement: “And their Lord responded to them…” This indicates the inclusion of women in the Divine acknowledgement, emphasizing that the last ayah pertains to women, as recorded in Sahih Bukhari.
It is also vital to address a common misconception that the verse from Allah (glorified and exalted), “Today I have perfected your religion for you…” is considered the last ayah revealed in the Quran. Many have misunderstood that the perfection of religion aligns with the completion of Quranic revelation, a notion without basis among reputable scholars. This verse was revealed more than two months after the previous verses, just nine nights before the Prophet’s death (peace be upon him), as stated by Ibn Abi Hatim. The intended meaning of “perfecting the religion” in this verse refers to the acknowledgment and manifestation of completion, particularly during the significant event of the Muslims’ pilgrimage to Mecca, where they exclusively performed the pilgrimage without paganism. This interpretation has been endorsed by many scholars, including Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari and others, who argued that the verse signifies the completion of obligations and rulings with nothing new regarding permissibility or prohibition, apart from verses reiterating prior rulings. This illustrates the inaccuracy of claiming that the verse of perfecting the religion in Surah Al-Ma’idah is the last to be revealed from the Quran, a consensus recognized among experts in the field of Quranic sciences and affirmed by the majority of reputable commentators.
(Note: Al-Kalala refers to the deceased individual who lacks direct heirs. It concerns matters associated with inheritance.)