Is the arrangement of the surahs in the mushafs divinely prescribed or the result of ijtihad by the Companions?

The questioner : The question you asked me is about the arrangement of the surahs in the mushafs, meaning, is it divinely prescribed or the result of ijtihad by the Companions, as some people say?

The Shaykh : There is disagreement on this issue, unlike the arrangement of the verses, which is divinely prescribed by consensus. As for the surahs, it appears that they were arranged through the ijtihad of the Companions. In any case, whether one person holds that this is the stronger view or another holds that a different view is stronger, the matter is easy and does not require much research or disagreement, because there is no text that obliges the Muslim to adopt one opinion over the other.

The questioner : Okay, what is it, Shaykh? I mean, when Jibril (peace be upon him) was listening to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) recite the Qur'an, how was the arrangement?

The Shaykh : What is it? How was it? It is the ignorance of the answer that has made the matter as you heard.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : And beware of that.