Question:
It is a common knowledge that the first verse of the Quran to be revealed to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH is Iqra’ from surah al-‘Alaq. What is the last verse of the Quran that is revealed?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Islamic scholars have differing opinions as to which verse of the Quran was revealed last to the Prophet PBUH, and every opinion is based on the narrations of the companions of the Prophet PBUH. However, none of these narrations is marfu’(elevated; authentically reported from the Prophet PBUH), which means they are not narrations that reached straight from the Prophet PBUH. (Refer Manahil al-‘Irfan fi Ulum al-Qur’an 1/96-97)
The following are the opinions of scholars:
- Verse 278, Surah al-Baqarah (verse regarding usury/interest)
Allah SWT states:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
“O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers.”
From Ibn ‘Abbas RA:
آخِرُ آيَةٍ نَزَلَتْ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم آيَةُ الرِّبَا
“The last Verse (in the Qur'an) revealed to the Prophet PBUH was the Verse dealing with usury (i.e. Riba).”
Sahih al-Bukhari (4544)
- Verse 281, Surah al-Baqarah
Allah SWT states:
وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا تُرْجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى اللَّـهِ ۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
“And fear a Day when you will be returned to Allah. Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned, and they will not be treated unjustly.”
According to Imam al-Alusi, there are numerous narrations from Ibn ‘Abbas that states that this is the last verse that was revealed. (Refer Tafsir Ruh al-Ma’ani 3/54). This is also the opinion of Said Ibn Jubair RA, and he states that the Prophet PBUH lived for 9 nights after this verse is revealed before the Prophet PBUH passed away. (Refer Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim 2/554)
- Verse 282, Surah al-Baqarah
Allah SWT states:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَدَايَنتُم بِدَيْنٍ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَاكْتُبُوهُ ۚ وَلْيَكْتُب بَّيْنَكُمْ كَاتِبٌ بِالْعَدْلِ
“O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. And let a scribe write [it] between you in justice.”
When Imam al-Suyuthi comments on these three opinions above, he explains that they are not contradicting each other, for all of them are revealed together, the same as it was arranged in the mushaf of the Quran. (Refer Al-Itqan fi Ulum al-Qur’an 1/83). Whereas according to Syeikh Muhammad Ra’fat Sa’id, the verse 281 is the last verse revealed among these three verses. (Refer Tarikh Nuzul al-Qur’an 1/52)
- Verse 176, Surah al-Nisa’
Allah SWT states:
سْتَفْتُونَكَ قُلِ اللَّـهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِي الْكَلَالَةِ ۚ إِنِ امْرُؤٌ هَلَكَ لَيْسَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَلَهُ أُخْتٌ فَلَهَا نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ ۚ وَهُوَ يَرِثُهَا إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهَا وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَتَا اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُمَا الثُّلُثَانِ مِمَّا تَرَكَ ۚ وَإِن كَانُوا إِخْوَةً رِّجَالًا وَنِسَاءً فَلِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۗ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ أَن تَضِلُّوا ۗ وَاللَّـهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“They request from you a [legal] ruling. Say, " Allah gives you a ruling concerning one having neither descendants nor ascendants [as heirs]." If a man dies, leaving no child but [only] a sister, she will have half of what he left. And he inherits from her if she [dies and] has no child. But if there are two sisters [or more], they will have two-thirds of what he left. If there are both brothers and sisters, the male will have the share of two females. Allah makes clear to you [His law], lest you go astray. And Allah is Knowing of all things.”
Narrated by Abu Ishaq:
سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ بْنَ عَازِبٍ، يَقُولُ آخِرُ آيَةٍ أُنْزِلَتْ آيَةُ الْكَلاَلَةِ وَآخِرُ سُورَةٍ أُنْزِلَتْ بَرَاءَةُ
“I heard al-Bara' b. 'Azib RA say: “The last verse revealed (in the Holy Quran) is that pertaining to Kalala.”
Sahih Muslim (1618)
Imam ‘Izz Ibn Abd Salam also holds this opinion, however, this opinion is rejected by Imam Ibn Hajar, for he states the Prophet PBUH was alive for the next 50 days after this verse is revealed. (Refer Fath al-Bari Syarh Sahih al-Bukhari 8/317)
- Verse 3, Surah al-Ma’idah
Allah SWT states:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلامَ دِيناً
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.”
According to Syeikh Muhammad Ra’fat Sa’id, this is not the last verse revealed, for it is revealed in ‘Arafah during Hajjatul Wida’ (The Farewell Hajj) on the 10th year of Hijrah, and the Prophet PBUH passed away 80 nights after it was revealed. And as we know, the Prophet PBUH passed away 9 nights after verse 281 Surah al-Baqarah was revealed.
Imam al-Alusi explains that this is the last verse revealed pertaining the rulings of permissibility and prohibition in Islam, and this is what is meant when they refer to it as the last verse revealed. (Refer Tafsir Ruh al-Ma’ani 6/60)
Ibnu Jarir al-Tobari states that the phrase ‘perfected your religion’ refers to hajj which was performed together with other disbelievers performing their worship around the Kaaba before, but that year the Muslims can perform their worship without the disbelievers anymore, thus, this is the perfection that Allah SWT has blessed the Muslims with. (Refer Tafsir al-Tobari 9/521-522)
- Verses 128-129, Surah al-Taubah
لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ حَسْبِيَ اللَّـهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ
“There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful. But if they turn away, [O Muhammad], say, "Sufficient for me is Allah; there is no deity except Him. On Him I have relied, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne."
This is the opinion of Ibn Jarir, Ibn Syaibah and Ibn Mardawaih from Ubai ibn Ka’ab. (Refer Tafsir al-Thabari 14/588 and Al-Durr al-Manthur 7/609). However, this opinion is rejected by Imam al-Zarqani, for he states that the athar by Ubai ibn Ka’ab meant that this verse is the last verse of surah al-Taubah and not the last verse revealed. (Refer Manahil al-‘Irfan1/99)
- Verse 110, Surah al-Kahfi
Allah SWT states:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا
“Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."
This is the opinion of Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan that is narrated by Imam Ibnu Kathir; However, Ibn Kathir states that the athar may mean that it is the last verse revealed which is not abrogated. (Refer Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim 5/110)
- Surah al-Nasr
Allah SWT states:
إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ
“When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest,”
This verse is the last verse revealed that hinted the passing away of the Prophet PBUH, and it is understood by the companions of the Prophet PBUH. Another opinion regarding this verse states that this is the last verse revealed to the Prophet PBUH as a whole surah, and this opinion is strengthened by an athar by Ibn Abbas RA. (Refer Manahil al-‘Irfan 1/100)
Conclusion
Imam Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani states that the most accurate opinion is the second stated above, which is verse 281, surah Al-Baqarah. (Refer Fath al-Bari 8/317). We are inclined towards this opinion too, for every tafsir that we refer to states that this is the last verse revealed. This opinion is also the only opinion that is not rejected or denied by other verses in other scholars’ narrations.
To end, we would like to cite the words of Imam Abu Bakar al-Baqillani regarding this issue:
“Knowing the last verse revealed is not an obligation in religion, nor is it commanded by the Prophet PBUH. The Prophet PBUH did not find any benefit for Muslims to know about this.
The companions’ opinions regarding the last verse revealed are just based on their knowledge. It may be that a verse is revealed while the companion is with the Prophet PBUH, however, he would not know if there is another verse after that, that was revealed while he wasn’t with the Prophet PBUH.” (Refer Al-Intisar lil Qur’an 1/245-246)
Wallahua’lam.