How can one reconcile the narrations in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim which state that Surah At-Tawbah (Bara’ah) was revealed "complete" and "entire" towards the end of the revelation period, while other authentic hadiths indicate that verse 113 of the same Surah was revealed before the Hijrah upon the death of Abu Talib, and that other verses of the Surah were revealed at different times (such as during the Battle of Tabuk and upon the death of Abdullah ibn Ubayy)?
When there is an apparent contradiction in some narrations, a solution to this disturbance must be sought, and a distinction made between what is correct and what is incorrect. Such a difference does not justify doubting the foundation of the religion or the veracity of major events. For example, the differing narrations about the Syrian crisis do not mean that the crisis does not exist.
Interpreting the difference in narrations, such as the claim that Surat Al-Tawbah was revealed in its entirety, does not invalidate the religion. Rather, the error could stem from the narrator, or it could be a linguistic interpretation of the phrase "in its entirety" to mean "most of it."
The conclusion is to focus on comprehensive sciences and postpone historical details that neither build nor destroy, to become educated in various fields, and to rely on reliable scientific sources instead of internet pages that might raise doubts, so that an individual can be constructive in their society rather than a source of skepticism.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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