The Order of the Verses and Surahs of the Qur’an

Question

On what basis is the order [of the surahs and verses] of the Holy Qur’an established? It is commonly known that the last [revealed] verse is [ar]ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ... (الآية)[/ar] “Today I have perfected for you...” (Surah al-Ma’ida, 5:3), while elsewhere [it is said to be] [ar]وَٱتَّقُوا۟ يَوْمًا تُرْجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ[/ar] “And fear a Day when you will be returned to Allah” (Surah al-Baqara, 2:281).

Answer

The present order [of the verses and surahs] is not the order of revelation. Whenever a verse or a surah was revealed, the noble Messenger ﷺ used to instruct: “Place this before such-and-such a verse or surah, or after it” — this determination was by explicit instruction [from the Prophet ﷺ himself].

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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