Why is the order of the Holy Qur’an different from the order of revelation?

The Holy Qur’an was revealed as each situation required. It was arranged according to its lasting value for all people and all times. Both orders come from God, and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) himself passed the final one on to the scribes.

The Holy Qur’an came over many years. Again and again, questions and situations arose that needed an answer straight away. These did not come in the order that would be best for a book meant for all times. So there are two orders. One follows the occasion, the other follows lasting value.

An example makes this clear. In Mecca, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) lived among people who worshipped idols. Had the revelation started there by addressing Jews and Christians, his listeners would have said it had nothing to do with them. So the first revelations spoke of the Oneness of God and against idol worship. Only later, when Jews and Christians lived nearby, were they addressed directly. For people of all ages, however, religions of divine origin matter more than an idol worship with no foundation. That is why these themes come earlier in the book.

The present order tells a continuous story. It begins with God and His revelation. Then come Adam (as), the earlier prophets, and how people treated them. The short chapters at the end, many of them revealed early in Mecca, speak of the last days and of events to come. That is why they belong at the end. In this way, answers to particular occasions became a timeless book for all humanity.

Who fixed this order? The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) himself, following instructions he received through the angel Gabriel. He told the scribes which chapter and which place each verse belonged to. Many companions learned the text by heart together with this order. Later, Hazrat Uthman (ra) had the order publicly confirmed by witnesses while the companions were still alive. No one objected. To this day there is only this one version.