Mufassalat

Mufassalat are short chapters at the end of the Qur’an. They are also called Riyad al-Qur’an. In these chapters, abrogated verses can less be seen. Therefore, they are also called Muhkamat. Mufassalat end with the chapter Nas; but, about the beginning of them, there are 12 different opinions. They are divided in three groups regarding the number of verses: Tiwal (long chapters), Awsat (middle-size chapters) and Qisar (short chapters).

Meaning

In usages, Mufassalat refer to the chapters at the end of the Qur’an which are short and are separated from each other with the verse “In the Name of God, the All-Compassionate, the Most Merciful”.

Other Names

Since abrogated verses are few in these chapters, they are also called Muhkamat. In a narration in which Ibn Abbas has answered a question about Muhkam, he has interpreted it as Mufassal. In some hadiths, these chapters have been called Riyad al-Qur’an.

Mufassalat in Narrations of the Prophet (s)

The term Mufassal exists in narrations of the Prophet (s) as well:

“Chapters of Tiwal have been given to me instead of Torah, and chapters of Sunan have been given to me instead of gospels and [chapters of] Mathani instead of Zabur; and I was given superiority over them by the chapters of Mufassal which are 68. And the Qur’an has dominance over books of other Prophets (s).”

There are other hadiths transmitted from the Prophet (s) such as the hadith of Wathila b. Asqa’ about Mufassalat. In these hadiths, God has given the Prophet (s) superiority over other Prophets (s) because of Mufassal chapters.

Characteristics

• They are separated from each other with the verse “In the Name of God, the All-Compassionate, the Most Merciful” due to their shortness.
• They are mostly revealed in Mecca.

Types

Mufassalat chapters are divided to three groups based on the number of verses:

• Tiwal chapters which are chapters including Hujurat or Qaf to chapter Naba’ or Buruj.
• Awsat chapters which are chapters including Tariq to Bayyina
• Qisar chapters which are chapters including Zilzal to Nas.

Exegetes’ Opinions about the Number of Mufassalaat

The last chapter of Mufassalat is Nas as agreed by all, but there are 12 opinions about the first chapter of Mufassalat: Saffat, Jathiya, Muhammad (s), Fath, Hujurat, Qaf, al-Rahman, Saff, Furqan, Insan, A’la and Duha.