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The last Surah (complete Chapter) revealed in the Holy Quran
The last complete Surah revealed to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) from the Holy Quran is Surah An-Nasr[1].
It has been narrated from Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (peace be upon him) about his father Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (peace be upon him) who said: ‘The first Surah that was revealed is: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful (Read in the name of your Lord…)[2], and the last Surah that was revealed is: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful (When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest)[3]. [4]
Muqatul said: When this Surah – Surah An-Nasr – was revealed, he recited it to his companions who were overjoyed and optimistic, but when Abbas heard it, he wept. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) asked, ‘Why are you crying, my uncle?’ He replied, ‘I think your end has been announced to you, O Messenger of Allah!’ The Prophet said, ‘It is as you say.’ He lived for two more years after this, during which he was never seen laughing or looking happy. This Surah is also called the Surah of Farewell.[5]
The last verse revealed from the Holy Quran
As for the last revelation from the Holy Quran in terms of a verse, it is the word of Allah Almighty: ‘Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’[6]
This verse is known as the Verse of Completion, and many commentators and historians have explicitly stated that it was revealed about Imam Amir al-Mu’minin Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) on the day of Ghadir in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the tenth year of the blessed Hijrah.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was on his way back from the Farewell Pilgrimage to Medina. Shihab al-Din Mahmoud Al-Aloosi al-Baghdadi, who died in 1270 Hijri, narrated from Abu Sa’id al-Khudri that he said: “ ‘This verse: ‘Forbidden to you … This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion” was revealed after the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said to Ali (may Allah honor his face) in Ghadir Khum: ‘Whoever considers me his master, Ali is his master.’ When it was revealed, he said: ‘Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest) for the perfection of the religion, the completion of the favor, and the Lord’s satisfaction with my message and Ali’s (may Allah honor his face) leadership after me.’“[7]
[1] Surah An-Nasr is the 110th chapter of the Holy Quran.
[2] The Holy Quran: Surah Al-Alaq (96), Verse: 1, Page: 597.
[3] The Holy Quran: Surah An-Nasr (110), Verse: 1, Page: 603.
[4] Uyoon Akhbar Al-Ridha (peace be upon him): 2 / 6, and Bihar al-Anwar: 89 / 39, by Al-Sheikh Mohammad Baqir Al-Majlisi, born in Isfahan in 1037 Hijri, and died there in 1110 Hijri, published by Al-Wafa Foundation, Beirut / Lebanon, in 1414 Hijri.
[5] Bihar al-Anwar: 21 / 99.
[6] The Holy Quran: Surah Al-Ma’ida (5), Verse: 3, Page: 107.
[7] Ruh al-Ma’ani: 4 / 91, published by Dar al-Fikr, Beirut.