Question # 489: Assalaamu ‘alay kum, Were the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah revealed during the Night Journey (al-Isra wal-Mi’raj)? Jazakallahu khaiyran

bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: Yes, the last two verses of Soorah al-Baqarah were revealed during the Night Journey (al-Isra wal-Mi’raj) based on the authentic hadith reported by Muslim.

Long Answer: The last two ayat of Soorah al-Baqarah read as follows:

“The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. (They say,) “We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers ـ and they say, “We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all).”” “Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets a reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. “Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians); our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have the strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Mawla (Patron, Supporter, and Protector) and give us victory over the disbelieving people.””

The following hadith from Sahih Muslim is the proof that these two last ayat were revealed during the Night Journey (al-Isra wal-Mi’raj):

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) said: “When the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) was taken on the Night Journey, he came to Sidrah Al-Muntaha, which is in the sixth heaven. That is where everything that comes up from below ends, and where everything that comes down from above until it is taken from it. Allah says: When what covered the lote-tree did cover it! (Soorah an-Najm, 53:16) He said: “It was moths of gold. And I was given three things: The five daily prayers, the last verses of Surah Al-Baqarah, and whoever of my Ummah die without associating anything with Allah will be forgiven for Al-Muqhimat (The sins of the worst magnitude that drag one into the Fire).”

An-Nawawi entitled a chapter of his commentary on “Saheeh Muslim” as: “Urging people to recite the last two verses of Al-Baqarah” and he mentioned a number of ahadith, among which is the hadith narrated by ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) was given on the night of Israa’ (Prophet’s night journey to Jerusalem and his ascension to the seventh heaven) three things: “He was given the five daily obligatory prayers, he was given the last verses of Chapter Al-Baqarah, and the one who does not associate anything with Allah from his nation, his great sins will be forgiven.” (Islamweb.net)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam