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[[Image:Fatiha.jpg|right|thumb|The first Surah of the [[Qur'an]].]] | [[Image:Fatiha.jpg|right|thumb|The first Surah of the [[Qur'an]].]] | ||
The Arabic word '''Surah''' (or "Sura" {{lang|ar|سورة}} ''{{ArabDIN|sūrah}}'', plural "Suwar" {{lang|ar|سور}}) is used in [[Islam]] to mean a "chapter" of the [[Qur'an|Holy Qur'an]]. Each surah is traditionally ordered roughly in order of decreasing length. Each Sura is named for a word or name mentioned in an ''ayah'' (section), of that 'Surah'. Some 'Surah' were surprising to Muslims at the time of the 'Revelation'; for example, the elevated status of [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]] - a Jewish woman and the mother of the Christian [[Jesus]] at the time of the 'Revelation' - which is mentioned in Surah 19 ("Maryam/Mary"). Literally, Surah means "something enclosed or surrounded by a fence or wall." | The Arabic word '''Surah''' (or "Sura" {{lang|ar|سورة}} ''{{ArabDIN|sūrah}}'', plural "Suwar" {{lang|ar|سور}}) is used in [[Islam]] to mean a "chapter" of the [[Qur'an|Holy Qur'an]]. Each surah is traditionally ordered roughly in order of decreasing length. Each Sura is named for a word or name mentioned in an ''ayah'' (section), of that 'Surah'. Some 'Surah' were surprising to Muslims at the time of the 'Revelation'; for example, the elevated status of [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]] - a Jewish woman and the mother of the Christian [[Jesus]] at the time of the 'Revelation' - which is mentioned in Surah 19 ("Maryam/Mary"). Literally, Surah means "something enclosed or surrounded by a fence or wall." |
Revision as of 03:49, 21 December 2007
The Arabic word Surah (or "Sura" سورة sūrah, plural "Suwar" سور) is used in Islam to mean a "chapter" of the Holy Qur'an. Each surah is traditionally ordered roughly in order of decreasing length. Each Sura is named for a word or name mentioned in an ayah (section), of that 'Surah'. Some 'Surah' were surprising to Muslims at the time of the 'Revelation'; for example, the elevated status of Mary - a Jewish woman and the mother of the Christian Jesus at the time of the 'Revelation' - which is mentioned in Surah 19 ("Maryam/Mary"). Literally, Surah means "something enclosed or surrounded by a fence or wall."
Structure
The Qur'an consists of 114 chapters of varying lengths, each known as a surah. The title of each surah is derived from a name or quality discussed in the text or from the first letters or words of the surah. Muslims believe that Prophet Mohammed himself, on God's command, gave the surahs their names.[1] In general, the longer chapters appear earlier in the Qur'an, while the shorter ones appear later. As such, the arrangement is not connected to the sequence of revelation. Each chapter, with the exception of one, commences with the Basmala bismillah Al rahman Al rahimm,[2][3]
Each Surah is formed from several Ayahs (verses) which originally means a sign or portent sent by God. The number of the ayahs are not the same in various Surahs. An individual ayah may be just few letters or several lines. The ayahs are unlike the highly refined poetry of the pre-Islamic Arabs in their content and distinctive rhymes and rhythms, being more akin to the prophetic utterances marked by inspired sacred scriptures of Judaism and Christianity. Since the beginning of Islam, the proper number of ayahs has been a controversial issue among Muslim scholars, some recognizing 6,000, some 6,204, some 6,219, and some 6,236, although the words in all cases are the same. The most popular edition of the Qur'an, which is based on the tradition of the school of Kufa, contains 6,236 ayahs.[1]
Types of Surahs
There are two types of surahs in the Qur'an: Madinan surahs and Meccan surahs. The division of surahs into 'Meccan surahs' and 'Medinan surahs' is primarily a consequence of stylistic and thematic considerations. Classification of the surahs into these periods is based upon factors such as the length of the verse and the presence or absence of certain key concepts or word (e.g. al-Rahman as name of God).[4]
The Madinan surahs of the Qur'an are those chapters that were revealed at Madina, after Muhammad's hijra from Mecca, when the Muslims were establishing a state rather than being, as at Mecca, an oppressed minority. They are mostly placed at the beginning of the Qur'an, and typically have longer ayat. In accordance with the new situation of the Muslims, these surahs more often deal with details of legislation, and every surah that deals with issues of warfare is Madinan, beginning with surat al-Baqara.
The Meccan surahs are the chronologically earlier surahs of the Qur'an that were revealed at Mecca. They are typically shorter, with relatively short ayat, and mostly come near the end of the Qur'an. Most of the suras containing Muqatta'at are Meccan. The other type of sura is the Madinan sura.
List of Suras
The 114 suras are:
- Al-Fatiha (The Opening), 7 ayats, 1 ruku, Makkan sura
- Al-Baqara (The Cow), 286 ayat, 40 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-Imran (The Family of Imran), 200 ayat, 20 rukus, Madinan sura
- An-Nisa (The Women), 177 ayat, 24 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-Ma'ida (The Table), 120 ayat, 16 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-An'am (The Cattle), 165 ayat, 20 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-A'raf (The Heights), 206 ayat, 24 rukus Makkan sura
- Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War), 75 ayat, 10 rukus, Madinan sura
- At-Tawba (The Repentance), 129 ayat, 16 rukus, Madinan sura
- Yunus (Jonah), 109 ayat, 11 rukus, Makkan sura
- Hud (Hud), 123 ayat, 10 rukus, Makkan sura
- Yusuf (Joseph), 111 ayat, 12 rukus, Makkan sura
- Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder), 43 ayat, 6 rukus, Madinan sura
- Ibrahim]] (Abraham), 52 ayat, 7 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Hijr (Al-Hijr, The Stoneland, The Rock City), 99 ayat, 6 rukus, Makkan sura
- An-Nahl (The Bee), 128 ayat, 16 rukus, Makkan sura]]
- Al-Isra (Isra], The Night Journey, The Children of Israel), 111 ayat, 12 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Kahf (The Cave), 110 ayat, 12 rukus Makkan sura
- Maryam (Mary), 98 ayat,6 rukus, Makkan sura
- Ta-Ha (Ta-Ha), 135 ayat, 8 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Anbiya (The Prophets), 112 ayat, 7 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage, The Hajj), 78 ayat, 10 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-Muminun (The Believers), 118 ayat, 6 rukus, Makkan sura
- An-Noor (The Light), 64 ayat, 9 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Furqan (The Criterion, The Standard), 77 ayat, 6 rukus, Makkan sura
- Ash-Shu'ara (The Poets), 227 ayat, 11 rukus, Makkan sura
- An-Naml (The Ant, The Ants), 93 ayat, 7 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Qisas (The Stories), 88 ayat, 9 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Ankabut (The Spider), 69 ayat, 7 rukus, Makkan sura
- Ar-Rum (The Romans, The Byzantines), 60 ayat, 6 rukus, Makkan sura
- Luqman (Luqman), 34 ayat, 4 rukus, Makkan sura
- As-Sajda (The Prostration, Worship, Adoration), 30 ayat, 3 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Ahzab (The Clans, The Coalition, The Combined Forces), 73 ayat, 9 rukus, Madinan sura
- Saba (Saba, Sheba), 54 ayat, 6 rukus, Makkan sura
- Fatir (The Angels, Originator), 45 ayat, 5 rukus, Makkan sura
- Ya-Seen (Ya-seen), 83 ayat, 5 rukus, Makkan sura
- As-Saaffat (Those Who Set The Ranks, drawn Up In Ranks), 182 ayat, 5 rukus, Makkan sura
- ad (The Letter Sad), 88 ayat, 5 rukus, Makkan sura
- Az-Zumar (The Troops, Throngs), 75 ayat, 8 rukus, Makkan sura
- Ghafir (The Forgiver), 85 ayat, 9 rukus, Makkan sura
- Fussilat (Explained In Detail), 54 ayat, 6 rukus, Makkan sura
- Ash-Shura (Council, Consultation), 53 ayat, 5 rukus, Makkan sura
- Az-Zukhruf (Ornaments Of Gold, Luxury), 89 ayat, 7 rukus, Makkan sura
- Ad-Dukhan (Smoke), 59 ayat, 3 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Jathiya (Crouching), 37 ayat, 4 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Ahqaf (The Wind-curved Sandhills, The Dunes), 35 ayat, 4 rukus, Makkan sura
- Muhammad (Muhammad), 38 ayat, 4 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-Fath (Victory, Conquest), 29 ayat, 2 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-Hujraat (The Private Apartments, The Inner Apartments), 18 ayat, 2 rukus, Madinan sura
- Qaf (The Letter Qaf), 45 ayat, 3 rukus, Makkan sura
- Adh-Dhariyat (The Winnowing Winds), 60 ayat, 3 rukus, Makkan sura
- At-Tur (The Mount), 49 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- An-Najm (The Star), 62 ayat, 3 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Qamar (The Moon), 55 ayat, 3 rukus, Makkan sura
- Ar-Rahman (The Beneficent, The Mercy Giving), 78 ayat, 3 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-Waqia (The Event, The Inevitable), 96 ayat, 3 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Hadid (The Iron), 29 ayat, 4 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-Mujadila (She That Disputeth, The Pleading Woman), 22 ayat, 3 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-Hashr (Exile, Banishment), 24 ayat, 3 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-Mumtahina (She That Is To Be Examined, Examining Her), 13 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- As-Saff (The Ranks, Battle Array), 14 ayat, 2 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-Jumua (The Congregation, Friday), 11 ayat, 2 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-Munafiqoon (The Hypocrites), 11 ayat, 2 rukus, Madinan sura
- At-Taghabun (Mutual Disillusion, Haggling), 18 ayat, 2 rukus, Madinan sura
- At-Talaq (Divorce), 12 ayat, 2 rukus, Madinan sura
- At-Tahrim (Banning, Prohibition), 12 ayat, 2 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty, Control), 30 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Qalam (The Pen), 52 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Haaqqa (The Reality), 52 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Maarij (The Ascending Stairways), 44 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- Nooh (Nooh), 28 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Jinn (The Jinn), 28 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One, Bundled Up), 20 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Muddaththir (The Cloaked One, The Man Wearing A Cloak), 56 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Qiyama (The Rising Of The Dead, Resurrection), 40 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Insan (Human), 31 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Mursalat (The Emissaries, Winds Sent Forth), 50 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- An-Naba (The Tidings, The Announcement), 40 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- An-Naziat (Those Who Drag Forth, Soul-snatchers), 46 ayat, 2 rukus, Makkan sura
- Abasa (He Frowned), 42 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- At-Takwir (The Overthrowing), 29 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Infitar (The Cleaving, Bursting Apart), 19 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Mutaffifin (Defrauding, The Cheats, Cheating), 36 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Inshiqaq (The Sundering, Splitting Open), 25 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Burooj (The Mansions Of The Stars, Constellations), 22 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- At-Tariq (The Morning Star, The Nightcomer), 17 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Ala (The Most High, Glory To Your Lord In The Highest), 19 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Ghashiya (The Overwhelming, The Pall), 26 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Fajr (The Dawn, Daybreak), 30 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Balad (The City, This Countryside), 20 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Ash-Shams (The Sun), 15 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Lail (The Night), 21 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Ad-Dhuha (The Morning Hours, Morning Bright), 11 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Inshirah (Solace, Consolation, Relief), 8 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- At-Tin (The Fig, The Figtree), 8 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Alaq (The Clot, Recite), 19 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Qadr (Power, Fate), 5 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Bayyina (The Clear Proof, Evidence), 8 ayat, 1 rukus, Madinan sura
- Az-Zalzala (The Earthquake), 8 ayat, 1 rukus, Madinan sura
- Al-Adiyat (The Courser, The Chargers), 11 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Qaria (The Calamity, The Stunning Blow, The Disaster), 11 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- At-Takathur (Rivalry In World Increase, Competition), 8 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Asr (The Declining Day, Eventide, The Epoch), 3 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Humaza (The Traducer, The Gossipmonger), 9 ayat, 1 rukus, Makkan sura
- Al-Fil (The Elephant), 5 ayat, 1 ruku, Makkan sura
- Quraysh (Quraish), 4 ayat, 1 ruku, Makkan sura
- Al-Ma'un (Small Kindnesses, Almsgiving, Have You Seen), 7 ayat, 1 ruku, Makkan sura
- Al-Kawthar (Abundance, Plenty), 3 ayat, 1 ruku, Makkan sura
- Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers, The Kafirs), 6 ayat, 1 ruku, Makkan sura
- An-Nasr (Succour, Divine Support, Victory), 3 ayat, 1 ruku, Makkan sura
- Al-Masadd (The Palm Fibre), 5 ayat, 1 ruku, Makkan sura
- Al-Ikhlas (Sincerity), 4 ayat, 1 ruku, Makkan sura
- Al-Falaq (The Daybreak, Dawn), 5 ayat, 1 ruku, Makkan sura
- Al-Nas (Mankind), 6 ayat, 1 ruku, Makkan sura
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid
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tag; no text was provided for refs namedBritannica
- ↑ Arabic: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم, transliterated as: bismi-llāhi ar-raḥmāni ar-raḥīmi.</ ref> an Arabic phrase meaning ("In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"), with the exception of the ninth chapter. There are, however, still 114 occurrences of the basmala in the Qur'an, due to its presence in verse 27:30 as the opening of Solomon's letter to the Queen of Sheba. cf. _Islam (Ctrl-click)">Encyclopedia of Islam, "Kur`an, al-"
- ↑ See:
- "Kur`an, al-", Encyclopedia of Islam Online
- Allen (2000) p. 53
- ↑ Angelika Neuwirth, Studien zur Komposition der mekkanischen Suren. Reviewed by Andrew Rippin, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Vol. 45, No. 1. (1982), pp. 149-150.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Basit, Abdul. Essence of the Quran: Commentary and Interpretation of Surah Al-Fatihah. Kazi Publications, 1997. ISBN 978-1871031553
- Elyasee, Halsem (ed), Maramaduke Pickthall (Trans.) Sixteen Surahs. Islamic Book Service, 2004. ISBN 978-8172311773
- Qazi, Muhmoud Ahmad. Short Surahs for Prayers: A Textbook for Elementary Quranic Studies. Kazi Publications; Bilingual edition, 1994. ISBN 978-1567443844
External links
All links retrieved November 18, 2007
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