What is the traditional order of the earliest Quranic surahs (chapters)?

In a Nutshell: Traditionally, the earliest Qur'anic suras are those revealed in Mecca starting with al-Alaq (Iqra' No. 96); al-Qalam (Nun No. 68); al-Muzammil (No. 73); al-Mudathir (No. 74) through to al-Masad (No. 111). Background to Order of Early Quranic Surahs The issue of the order of revelation is quite complicated, especially regarding the early revelations, because there were not a lot of Muslims around at the time to document the causes of revelation nor its order. The challenges in determining a precise order Revelation wasn't linear: Quranic chapters (surahs) were revealed over a 23-year period in response to events and needs, not as a single, chronologically ordered book. Oral tradition emphasis: Early Islam primarily focused on recitation and memorization, not the written arrangement of surahs. Compilation after the Prophet's passing: The arrangement we have today was done by his Companions shortly after his death. Their methodology weighed revelation timing, length, and other factors. There are a number of narrations by the companions for why a certain revelation came, as well as conflicting narrations about the order of certain verses; there are also similar causes of revelation often narrated for different revelations, including the two chapters in question. Accepted Traditional Order of the Earliest Quranic Suras (chapters) There are three narrations from the first-century Hijri on the authority of Mujahid, 'Atta' al-Khurasani and Jabir ibn Zayd narrated from Ibn Abbas (ra) regarding the order of revelation. (Ibn 'Ashur, at-Tahrir wa at-Tanwir, Vol. 1, p. 90) They differ slightly between each other, the later narration traditionally more widely accepted as most scholars of 'Ulum al-Qur'an relied on it, such as Suyuti and al-Ja'bari. Scholars basically agree on the following order of the first ten early revelations: Al-Alaq (Iqra' No. 96); Al-Qalam (Nun No. 68); Al-Muzammil (No. 73); Al-Mudathir (No. 74); Al-Masad (No. 111); At-Takwir (No. 81); Al-A'la (No. 87); Al-Layl (No. 92); Al-Fajr (No. 89); Ad-Duha (No. 93). It was narrated Ibn Abbas (and other tabi'een) said: وَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَا أَنْزَلَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ: اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ ثُمَّ ن ثُمَّ يا أيها المزمل ثم يا أيها الْمُدَّثِّرُ ثُمَّ تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ثُمَّ إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ ثُمَّ سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى ثُمَّ وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى ثُمَّ وَالْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ وَالضُّحَى ثُمَّ أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ ثُمَّ وَالْعَصْرِ ثُمَّ وَالْعَادِيَّاتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ ثُمَّ أَلْهَاكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ ثُمَّ أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ ثُمَّ قُلْ يا أيها الْكَافِرُونَ ثُمَّ أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ ثُمَّ قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ ثُمَّ قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ ثُمَّ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ثُمَّ وَالنَّجْمِ ثُمَّ عَبَسَ ثُمَّ إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ .... "The (order of) the first revelations are: 'Read in the name of your Lord' (Iqra' No. 96); Then 'Nun (No. 68); Then 'O you who are muzammil' (No. 73); Then 'O you who are Mudathir' (No. 74); Then Tabat Yada Abi Lahab (No. 111); Then 'when the sun is wrapped up' (No. 81); Then 'Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,' (Al-A'la No. 87); Then 'By the night when it covers' (Al-Layl No. 92); Then Al-Fajr (No. 89); Then Ad-Duha (No. 93); Then 'Did We not expand for your breast?' (ash-Sharh No. 94); Then al-'Asr (No. 103); Then al-'Adiyat (No. 100); Then 'Indeed, We have granted you, (O Muhammad), al-Kawthar' (No. 108); Then 'Competition in (worldly) increase diverts you' (at-Takathur No. 102); Then 'Have you seen the one who denies the religion?' (al-Ma'un No. 107); Then ' Say, O disbelievers' (al-Kafirun No. 109); Then 'Have you not considered, (O Muhammad), how your Lord dealt (with the companions of the elephant?)' (al-Feel No. 105); Then 'Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak' (al-Falaq No. 113); Then 'Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind' (an-Naas No. 114); Then 'Say, He is Allah, who is) One' (as-Samad No. 112); Then an-Najm (No. 53); Then Abasa (No. 80); Then 'Indeed, we sent the Qur'an down during the Night Qadr' (al-Qadr No. 97) …" (Suyuti, al-Itqan Fi 'Ulum al-Qur'an, Vol. 1, pp. 40-44, Zarkashi, al-Burhan Fi 'Ulum al-Qur'an." Vol. 1, pp. 193-194) The eight-century lexicographer and Mufasir Fairuzabadi narrated this case of agreement of the scholars of 'Ulum al-Qur'an, not the historians or commentators who differed: اتَّفقوا على أَنَّ أَوّل السُّور المكِّية اقرأ باسم رَبِّكَ الذي خَلَقَ ، ثمَّ ن والقلم وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ ، ثمَّ سورة المزمِّل ، ثمَّ سورة المدَّثِّر ، ثمَّ سورة تبَّت "They agreed that the first Meccan suras are: 'Read in the name of your Lord' (Iqra'); Then 'Nun wa Al-Qalam'; Then 'O you who are muzammil' (Al-Muzammil); Then 'O you who are mudathir' (al-Mudathir); Then Tabat Yada (Al-Masad) … (and added the above order)." (Fairuz-Abadi, Basa'ir Dhawi at-Tameedh, Vol. 1, pp. 98-99) Ash-Sheikh Haafizh Saalih (rh) addresses the argument as to whether the dawah was private or public from its inception. So for example they say that the Da’wah was secret until the following Aayah was revealed: And proclaim what you have been commanded and turn away from the polytheists(Al-Hijr 94). So the Messenger (saw) then proclaimed the matter and embarked in his Da’wah. He commenced to insult the idols of Quraish, he exposed and discredited their indulgences and challenged them all of which made them in turn plot against him and oppose him with hostility, hatred and aggression against him (saw) and his companions (rah). However by examining this Aayah in Soorat ul-Hijr which was preceded by 47 Soorahs or 52 in accordance to some reports and then examine these Soorahs which came before it i.e. those Soorahs which were said to have been in the secret stage of the Da’wah, the truth of what they have claimed can be made clear. Was it really in truth a secret stage restricted to the explanation of the Islamic Aqeedah and to explain its thoughts or did this stage incorporate other subject areas? It is also required to connect these subjects with the historical events which have been agreed upon like Hamzah Ibn Abi Taalib (ra) embracing Islaam and the circumstances and time surrounding it or the embracing of Islaam by ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab (ra) and how and when this occurred, and did these occur before the proclamation of the matter or after its proclamation and did the Muslims meet with harm and persecution before the revelation of this Aayah or not? Did the 47 Soorahs that preceded this Aayah insult the idols, discredit their dreams and ambitions, expose the falsehood of their thoughts and concepts or did they not? And did the effects of that represent the motivation and incentive to be hostile against those who believed amongst them or not? In this way and what is similar to it we are able to understand the stages and which each of the stages requires in terms of work and actions and this is in accordance to the ordering of the Suwar in respect to the time of their revelation. In accordance with Suyuti's ‘Al-Itqaan Fee ‘Uloom il-Qur’an’ the first 50 or so suras comprised: 1) Iqra’ 2) Al-Muzammil 3) Al-Mudaththir 4) Al-Masad 5) At-Takweer 6) Al-A’alaa 7) Al-Lail 8) Al-Fajr 9) Ad-Duhaa 10) Sharh 11) Al-‘Asr 12) Al-‘Aadiyaat 13) Al-Kawthar 14) At-Takaathur 15) Maa’oon 16) Al-Kaafiroon 17) Al-Feel 18) Al-Falaq 19) An-Naas 20) Al-Ikhlaas 21) An-Najm 22) ‘Abasa 23) Al-Qadr 24) Ash-Shams 25) Al-Burooj 26) At-Teen 27) Quraish 28) Al-Qaari’ah 29) Al-Qiyaamah 30) Al-Humazah 31) Al-Mursalaat 32) Qaf 33) Al-Balad 34) At-Taariq 35) Al-Qamar 36) Saad 37) Al-A’araaf 38) Al-Jinn 39) YaSeen 40) Al-Furqaan 41) Al-Faatir 42) Maryam 43) TaHa 44) Shu’araa’ 46) An-Naml 47) Al-Qasas 48) Al-Israa’ 49) Younus 50) Hood 51) Yousuf 52) Al-Hijr Misconceptions - Order of Early Quranic Surahs "There's one absolutely correct chronological order": While the earliest surahs are generally agreed upon, scholars differ on precise placements for some. There's historical evidence, not absolute divine dictate, behind the traditional order. "The order dictates a linear understanding of Islam's development": Quranic revelation responded to events and changing needs. Even later surahs can contain foundational content and vice versa. Thematic links across the whole text matter. "Studying early surahs alone gives a full picture of Islam": They provide early context, but later revelations expand, modify, and deepen Islamic law and understanding. "Early Muslim scholarship was primitive": Companions who compiled the Quran were meticulous, utilizing multiple memorizers and (where available) written records. Their process deserves respect, even if open to scholarly scrutiny. "Later scholars added surahs or deliberately misordered things": There's zero credible evidence for this. While interpretive differences exist, accusing early Muslims of such distortion contradicts a core Islamic belief in Quranic preservation. "Knowing this order is vital for simple Muslims": It's valuable for scholarly study, but everyday faith focuses on implementing the Quran's holistic message more than dissecting precise historical order. "A different order would radically change the Quran's meaning": While order could subtly shift reading experience, core Quranic principles, narratives, and calls to action aren't dependent on strict chronology. FAQs - Order of Early Quranic Surahs If not chronological, what dictates the order? Companions used a mix of factors: length, timing when known, instructions from the Prophet, and thematic groupings. Why didn't the Prophet definitively arrange everything? Emphasis was on memorization and practice. Written compilation gained crucial weight after his death. Are certain surahs 100% the earliest, disputed, or unknown?: The top five mentioned earlier have the strongest support. Later placements within the first 20-30 surahs get less certain. Do any schools of thought follow a radically different order?: No major school does this. Minor variances based on scholarly analysis of historical data exist but don't alter the overall Quran. How does a new Muslim benefit from knowing about this? It shows a reverence for Quranic history and how our text reached us, adding another layer of appreciation. Is it disrespectful to question the order? Not if the intent is scholarly inquiry with respect for Companion's efforts. Islam encourages deeper learning and exploration of its textual history. Where can I get reliable sources on this? Look for established Islamic centers of learning, works by noted scholars on Quranic sciences ('Ulum Al-Quran) or consult Imams specializing in this field. Conclusion The earliest Qur'anic suras are those revealed in Mecca starting in all likelihood with: Al-Alaq (Iqra' No. 96); Al-Qalam (Nun No. 68); Al-Muzammil (No. 73); Al-Mudathir (No. 74); and Al-Masad (No. 111). References Suyuti, al-Itqan Fi 'Ulum al-Qur'an Zarkashi, al-Burhan Fi 'Ulum al-Qur'an Fairuz-Abadi, Basa'ir Dhawi at-Tameedh