Why does Surah Tauba not start with Bismillah?

There are 114 Surah in the Holy Quran out of which only one Surah i.e Surah Tauba does not start with Bismillah. Ever wondered why does Surah Tauba not start with Bismillah?

Why does Surah Tauba not start with Bismillah?

Why Surah Al Anfaal has been placed next to surah Tauba. Why isn’t Bismillah placed between the two surahs as Bismillaah is placed at the beginning of all other Surah of the Holy Quran.

Uthman bin Affan رضي الله عنه replied: “When the verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he called someone to write them down for him and told him to put this verse in the surah in which such and such has been mentioned.

Surah Al Anfaal is one of the initial surahs to be revealed in Madina while surah Tauba was one of the last to be revealed. However, its content is similar to each other.

I, therefore, thought that it was a part of al-Anfal. Hence I put them in the category of as-sab’u at-tiwal (the seven lengthy surahs), and I did not write “بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ” between them. – Sunan Abi Dawud 786

The death of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

However, before it could have been decided that it was really a part of Surah Al Anfaal or not, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ died. Bismillah, therefore, wasn’t placed before it as they were not confirmed that if it was either part of the surah Al Anfaal or not.

According to Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah, 4/225, the Bismillah is not placed in between the surahs as scribers did not know if they were separate surahs or not.