Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Asak,

Can you please tell me about the sequence of Surahs/verses in the Quran ? I am told the sequence of surahs and verses in the Quran is not the same as the sequence in which Quran was revealed ?  How was the present sequence of verses/surahs in the Quran today decided upon ? Who were the sahabas (ra) responsible or did the Prophet (p) want the Quran in this way ?

JazakAllah Khair,

Thanking you

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Answer:

How was the quran assembled

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran in Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verse 7:

It is Allah, Who sent down this Quran to you.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Ha Mim As Sajdaah verse 2:

This (Al-Quran) is a Revelation from the All-Compassionate, the Most-Merciful, Allah.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 1:

All praise is for Allah Alone, Who has sent down this Book (Al-Quran) to His Servant (Mohamed (saws)), and assigned nothing crooked to it.

Q-1: I am told the sequence of surahs and verses in the Quran is not the same as the sequence in which Quran was revealed ?

It is indeed absolutely true that the Glorious Quran was never (not then, not today, not ever!) compiled or supposed to be compiled in the sequence it was revealed!

Q-2: How was the present sequence of verses/surahs in the Quran today decided upon ?

Respected Brother in Islam, the Quran that we have in our midst today, is in the exact same format, and each Surah and each verse arranged in the exact same manner as commanded by Allah Subhanah and recited by the Messenger of Allah (saws). Whenever a verse or Surah of the Holy Quran was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (saws) would command that it be documented and gave precise instructions where exactly the verse and the Surah was to be placed. This process of arranging the Surahs and verses in their exact location was commanded by the Messenger of Allah (saws) under the precise guidance and Command of The Lord Most Majestic, Most High.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 75 Surah Qiyaamah verses 17-18:

(O Prophet) It is upto Us to have it (the Quran) collected and read! Therefore, when We are reciting it, listen to its recital carefully.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 15 Surah Al Hijr verse 9:

It is We (Allah), Who has sent down this Quran, and We will assuredly guard it (against corruption).

Q-3: Who were the sahabas (ra) responsible or did the Prophet (p) want the Quran in this way ?

It was neither the Noble Prophet (saws) nor his noble companions who wanted the Glorious Quran compiled in this manner, nor did the Prophet (saws) or his companions have any say or opinion in this matter in the absolute least!

The All-Knowing, All-Wise Lord Most Majestic Himself Willed, Pleased, and Commanded that His Glorious Message of the Quran be compiled in the manner which is available to us today! Every alphabet, every word, every phrase, every Aayah, every Surah is placed in sequence in the Glorious Quran exactly as Commanded and Guided by the Lord Most Majestic Himself!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 10 Surah Yunus Verse 15:

15 But when Our Clear Aayahs are rehearsed unto them, those who rest not their hope on their meeting with Us, say: "Bring us a Quran other than this or change this!" Say (unto them, O Prophet (saws)): "It is not for me of my own accord to change it! I follow naught but what is revealed unto me. if I were to disobey my Lord I should myself fear the Penalty of a Great Day (to come)."

Time and time again the Messenger of Allah (saws) recited the Glorious Quran in public in the prayers, and in the last year of his life he (saws) recited the Quran in full and twice to Hadrat Jibrael (a.s.) exactly verbatim and in the same format which is available amongst us today.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.819 Narrated by Aisha

Once Fatima came walking and her gait resembled the gait of the Prophet(saws) . The Prophet (saws) said, "Welcome, O my daughter!" Then he made her sit on his right or on his left side, and then he told her a secret, and she started weeping. I asked her, "Why are you weeping?" He again told her a secret and she started laughing. I said, "I never saw happiness so near to sadness as I saw today." I asked her what the Prophet (saws) had told her. She said, "I would never disclose the secret of Allah's Apostle (saws) ." When the Prophet (saws) died, I asked her about it. She replied: "The Prophet (saws) said, 'Every year Gabriel used to revise the Qur'an with me once only, but this year he has done so twice. I think this portends my death, and you will be the first of my family to follow me.' So I started weeping. Then he said. 'Don't you like to be the mistress of all the ladies of Paradise or the mistress of all the lady believers? So I laughed for that.' "

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.520 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Gabriel used to repeat the recitation of the Qur'an with the Prophet (saws) once a year, but he repeated it twice with him in the year he died.

The wisdom behind the revelation and then the compilation of the Glorious Quran in a different sequence than its chronological sequence of revelation was because when it was first revealed, it was revealed to one man (The Messenger of Allah (saws)), and his main audience were the disbelievers and polytheists of the Quraish. But when the revelations were complete, and an Islamic State had been formed in Medina with a multitude of believers; the Glorious Quran was to be a Book of Guidance for all of mankind, until the end of time! The All Knowing, All Wise Allah has chosen this form of arrangement as the best way for the guidance of all mankind!

Thus, my respected brother in Islam, rest absolutely assured that the Glorious Quran that we have in our midst today is neither compiled without the precise knowledge of Allah and His Messenger (saws), nor was it ever supposed to be arranged in the chronological sequence of revelation. Allah Subhanah Himself declares in His Glorious Quran that it is upto Him to reveal the Quran, upto Him to compile the Quran, and upto to Him to guard it against any corruption whatsoever.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 75 Surah Qiyaamah verses 17-18:

(O Prophet) It is upto Us to have it (the Quran) collected and read! Therefore, when We are reciting it, listen to its recital carefully.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 15 Surah Al Hijr verse 9:

It is We (Allah), Who has sent down this Quran, and We will assuredly guard it (against corruption).

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan