First and last verses revealed in the Qur’an

What were the first and last verses or chapters to be revealed in the Qur’an?

a. The first verses to be revealed: There are different opinions about the early Revelations to the Prophet. The best-known and mostly widely accepted opinion is that the first five verses of Sura Alaq were the first to be revealed. There are a number of narrations that support this opinion; one
of these is as follows:
According to the narration of Aisha, the commencement of the divine inspiration to God’s Messenger was in the form of good dreams that came like bright daylight (i.e. true) and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. Gabriel, the Angel of Revelation, descended upon him while
he was in seclusion in the Cave of Hira and revealed him the first five verses from Sura Alaq.
After this first visit of Archangel Gabriel, Revelation ceased for a certain period ( dawr al-fatra) and then resumed. Revelation came regularly after this cessation period with the revelation of the first five verses from Sura Muddaththir. On the other hand, many hold that the verses to be revealed first were the verses of Sura al-Fatiha. According to others, the basmala was the first verse to be revealed.
b. The last verses to be revealed: There are differing narrations about which verse was revealed
last. Neither the Qur’an nor the Prophet give any definite information on this matter. The only narrations on this matter are from the Companions. Bayhaqi says: “If they are all true, the only way to abolish the differences between them is to understand that every one replies to the question according to their own understanding.” Qadi Abu Bakr says: “None of these narrations are invalid. Every one has spoken according to their opinion or their comprehension. They are presumably speaking about the last words they heard from the Prophet just before he passed away. Some of them might not have even heard them directly from the Prophet, but perhaps heard them later.” The most widely accepted opinion is that the 281st verse of Sura Baqara was the verse to be revealed last.

 

Akgul, Muhittin (2009). The Quran in 99 Questions (Abdullah Erdemli Trans.). New Jersey: Tughra Books. (Originally published in Turkish as Kur’an İklimine Seyahat)