complete was Surat Bara’ah. The last verse to be revealed was the closing verse of Surat al-Nisa’: “They ask you for a ruling. Say, ‘Allah gives you a ruling concerning one who leaves neither parent nor child.’” (1)

It is also narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, that the last verse to be revealed was the verse concerning usury, and that the last surah to be revealed was: “When Allah’s help and victory come.” It is also narrated from him that the last verse to be revealed was His saying, exalted is He: “And fear a Day when you will be returned to Allah” (al-Baqarah 2:281).

It is narrated that, after Surat al-Nasr was revealed, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, lived for one year. Then Surat Bara’ah was revealed after it—the last surah to be revealed in its entirety—and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, lived for six months thereafter. Then, on the way to the Farewell Pilgrimage, the verse was revealed: “They ask you for a ruling. Say, ‘Allah gives you a ruling concerning one who leaves neither parent nor child.’” It was therefore called the Summer Verse. Then, while he was standing at Arafah, this was revealed: “Today I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you” (al-Ma’idah 5:3). He lived for eighty-one days thereafter. Then the verses concerning usury were revealed, followed by: “And fear a Day when you will be returned to Allah.” He lived for twenty-one days thereafter. (2)