Verse 5:3 (Al Maidah) and Verses 110:1-3 (An-Nasr)

[N. Truth Seeker]

 


"This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion al-Islam."  5:3 Al-Maidah.

"When Allah's succour and the triumph comes
And you see mankind entering the religion of Allah in troops,
Then hymn the praises of your Rab, and seek forgiveness of Him.  Indeed, He is ever ready to show mercy."  110:1-3 An Nasr.


AsSalam Alaykom.  As we know, the above Verses are among the final revelations of the Noble Quran. 
 
Between V.5:3 of Surah Al Maidah and Surah An Nasr, which one do you think is the latest revelation of the Noble Quran?

[Zainab_M]

Walaikum As-Salaam.  Only Allah knows the precise answer.  However, we can only analyze a bit and thus presume.  From what we know, both the above revelations were quite close to the beloved Prophet’s (pbuh) passing.  Verse 5:3 of Surah Al-Maidah according to various historical reports was recited by the Prophet (pbuh) during his final Hajj and while delivering the final sermon at Mount Arafah.  That indicates it must have been revealed slightly prior to the final pilgrimage.  From the contents of Verse 5:3 and the tone of finality expressed by The Almighty .. the likelihood is that it was revealed in Makkah shortly after the Prophet (pbuh) arrived for the final pilgrimage.   As for Surah An-Nasr, it is taken as a Medinah revelation, but actually almost everyone is convinced that it was revealed in Makkah during the final pilgrimage of the Prophet (pbuh), probably any time during his (pbuh) stay in Makkah in his final visit.  As we know, the Prophet (pbuh) passed away in Medinah soon after his final pilgrimage at Makkah.  Therefore, it is also possible that Surah An-Nasr may have been revealed in Medinah shortly after the Prophet’s (pbuh) arrival.  In this case obviously Surah An-Nasr would be the latest revelation, shortly prior to Verse 5:3 of Surah Al-Maidah which, quite likely, was revealed in Makkah (though rest of the Verses of Surah Al-Maidah are taken to be of Medinah revelation). But if Surah An-Nasr was revealed in Makkah during the Prophet’s (pbuh) final visit as was Verse 5:3, then it’s difficult to presume which one might have been revealed before the other.  Only Allah knows best.

It must also be remembered that the distance between Makkah and Medinah is approximately 270 miles.  In those days when travelling was done either by foot or on camel or horseback, 270 miles was quite a big distance and the journey would take nothing less than 2 weeks to complete.   

The significant point here is, Verse 5:3 and Surah An-Nasr are both among the final revelations of the Noble Quran.  The slight difference in the time of revelations is only known to The Almighty.  From our view point the accuracy of the timing is not a very relevant aspect either.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Wa'salam.   Good read.  Thanks sister and brother. 

Historian Ibn Hisham who takes Surah An-Nasr as the last or one of the last revelations mentions that this Surah is an announcement of the Prophet's (pbuh) "approaching death."   But I don't see Surah An-Nasr being indicative of the Prophet's passing.   Why does Ibn Hisham say that?

[N. Truth Seeker]

Thank you very much Sister Zainab.   I understand your elucidation, makes sense for sure.  Alhamdulilah.

@ Sister Ruhi, I think Ibn Hisham refers to the contents of Surah An Nasr that clearly hint at the end of the Prophet's (pbuh) mission when the final triumph arrived and the majority of people in Makkah came into the fold of Islam.  Since the Prophet (pbuh) did pass away shortly after the completion of his mission, thus Ibn Hisham apparently grasped Surah An Nasr accordingly .... and indirectly as the announcement of the Prophet's (pbuh) passing. 

[Ruhi_Rose]

Okay, yes I get it.  Thanks brother.