Surah

The first Surah of the Qur'an

The Arabic word Surah (or "Sura" سورة sūrah, plural "Surahs" سور) is used in Islam to mean a "chapter" of the Holy Qur'an. Literally, Surah means "something enclosed or surrounded by a fence or wall."

Each Surah is named for a word or name mentioned in an ayah (section) of that Surah. Some Surahs 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—which is mentioned in Surah 19 ("Maryam/Mary").

Structure

Open Quran

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. 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, 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.

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.

Types of Surahs

Did you know?

There are two types of Surahs (chapters) in the Qur'an: Madinan surahs and Meccan 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).

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 surahs containing Muqatta'at are Meccan.

List of Surahs

The 114 surahs are:

1. Al-Fatiha (The Opening), seven ayats, one ruku, Makkan sura
2. Al-Baqara (The Cow), 286 ayat, 40 rukus, Madinan sura
3. Al-Imran (The Family of Imran), 200 ayat, 20 rukus, Madinan sura
4. An-Nisa (The Women), 177 ayat, 2four rukus, Madinan sura
5. Al-Ma'ida (The Table), 120 ayat, 16 rukus, Madinan sura
6. Al-An'am (The Cattle), 165 ayat, 20 rukus, Makkan sura
7. Al-A'raf (The Heights), 206 ayat, 2four rukus Makkan sura
8. Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War), 75 ayat, ten rukus, Madinan sura
9. At-Tawba (The Repentance), 129 ayat, 16 rukus, Madinan sura
10. Yunus (Jonah), 109 ayat, 1one rukus, Makkan sura
11. Hud (Hud), 123 ayat, 10 rukus, Makkan sura
12. Yusuf (Joseph), 111 ayat, 1two rukus, Makkan sura
13. Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder), 43 ayat, six rukus, Madinan sura
14. Ibrahim (Abraham), 52 ayat, seven rukus, Makkan sura
15. Al-Hijr (Al-Hijr, The Stoneland, The Rock City), 99 ayat, six rukus, Makkan sura
16. An-Nahl (The Bee), 128 ayat, 16 rukus, Makkan sura
17. Al-Isra (Isra], The Night Journey, The Children of Israel), 111 ayat, 1two rukus, Makkan sura
18. Al-Kahf (The Cave), 110 ayat, 1two rukus Makkan sura
19. Maryam (Mary), 98 ayat, six rukus, Makkan sura
20. Ta-Ha (Ta-Ha), 135 ayat, 8 rukus, Makkan sura
21. Al-Anbiya (The Prophets), 112 ayat, seven rukus, Makkan sura
22. Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage, The Hajj), 78 ayat, ten rukus, Madinan sura
23. Al-Muminun (The Believers), 118 ayat, six rukus, Makkan sura
24. An-Noor (The Light), 64 ayat, nine rukus, Makkan sura
25. Al-Furqan (The Criterion, The Standard), 77 ayat, six rukus, Makkan sura
26. Ash-Shu'ara (The Poets), 227 ayat, 1one rukus, Makkan sura
27. An-Naml (The Ant, The Ants), 93 ayat, seven rukus, Makkan sura
28. Al-Qisas (The Stories), 88 ayat, nine rukus, Makkan sura
29. Al-Ankabut (The Spider), 69 ayat, seven rukus, Makkan sura
30. Ar-Rum (The Romans, The Byzantines), 60 ayat, six rukus, Makkan sura
31. Luqman (Luqman), 34 ayat, four rukus, Makkan sura
32. As-Sajda (The Prostration, Worship, Adoration), 30 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura
33. Al-Ahzab (The Clans, The Coalition, The Combined Forces), 73 ayat, nine rukus, Madinan sura
34. Saba (Saba, Sheba), 54 ayat, six rukus, Makkan sura
35. Fatir (The Angels, Originator), 45 ayat, five rukus, Makkan sura
36. Ya-Seen (Ya-seen), 83 ayat, five rukus, Makkan sura
37. As-Saaffat (Those Who Set The Ranks, drawn Up In Ranks), 182 ayat, five rukus, Makkan sura
38. ad (The Letter Sad), 88 ayat, five rukus, Makkan sura
39. Az-Zumar (The Troops, Throngs), 75 ayat, eight rukus, Makkan sura
40. Ghafir (The Forgiver), 85 ayat, nine rukus, Makkan sura
41. Fussilat (Explained In Detail), 54 ayat, six rukus, Makkan sura
42. Ash-Shura (Council, Consultation), 53 ayat, five rukus, Makkan sura
43. Az-Zukhruf (Ornaments Of Gold, Luxury), 89 ayat, seven rukus, Makkan sura
44. Ad-Dukhan (Smoke), 59 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura
45. Al-Jathiya (Crouching), 37 ayat, four rukus, Makkan sura
46. Al-Ahqaf (The Wind-curved Sandhills, The Dunes), 35 ayat, four rukus, Makkan sura
47. Muhammad (Muhammad), 38 ayat, four rukus, Madinan sura
48. Al-Fath (Victory, Conquest), 29 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura
49. Al-Hujraat (The Private Apartments, The Inner Apartments), 18 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura
50. Qaf (The Letter Qaf), 45 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura
51. Adh-Dhariyat (The Winnowing Winds), 60 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura
52. At-Tur (The Mount), 49 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
53. An-Najm (The Star), 62 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura
54. Al-Qamar (The Moon), 55 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura
55. Ar-Rahman (The Beneficent, The Mercy Giving), 78 ayat, three rukus, Madinan sura
56. Al-Waqia (The Event, The Inevitable), 96 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura
57. Al-Hadid (The Iron), 29 ayat, four rukus, Madinan sura
58. Al-Mujadila (She That Disputeth, The Pleading Woman), 22 ayat, three rukus, Madinan sura
59. Al-Hashr (Exile, Banishment), 24 ayat, three rukus, Madinan sura
60. Al-Mumtahina (She That Is To Be Examined, Examining Her), 13 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
61. As-Saff (The Ranks, Battle Array), 14 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura
62. Al-Jumua (The Congregation, Friday), 11 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura
63. Al-Munafiqoon (The Hypocrites), 11 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura
64. At-Taghabun (Mutual Disillusion, Haggling), 18 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura
65. At-Talaq (Divorce), 12 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura
66. At-Tahrim (Banning, Prohibition), 12 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura
67. Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty, Control), 30 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
68. Al-Qalam (The Pen), 52 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
69. Al-Haaqqa (The Reality), 52 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
70. Al-Maarij (The Ascending Stairways), 44 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
71. Nooh (Nooh), 28 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
72. Al-Jinn (The Jinn), 28 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
73. Al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One, Bundled Up), 20 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
74. Al-Muddaththir (The Cloaked One, The Man Wearing A Cloak), 56 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
75. Al-Qiyama (The Rising Of The Dead, Resurrection), 40 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
76. Al-Insan (Human), 31 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
77. Al-Mursalat (The Emissaries, Winds Sent Forth), 50 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
78. An-Naba (The Tidings, The Announcement), 40 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
79. An-Naziat (Those Who Drag Forth, Soul-snatchers), 46 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura
80. Abasa (He Frowned), 42 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
81. At-Takwir (The Overthrowing), 29 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
82. Al-Infitar (The Cleaving, Bursting Apart), 19 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
83. Al-Mutaffifin (Defrauding, The Cheats, Cheating), 36 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
84. Al-Inshiqaq (The Sundering, Splitting Open), 25 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
85. Al-Burooj (The Mansions Of The Stars, Constellations), 22 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
86. At-Tariq (The Morning Star, The Nightcomer), 17 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
87. Al-Ala (The Most High, Glory To Your Lord In The Highest), 19 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
88. Al-Ghashiya (The Overwhelming, The Pall), 26 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
89. Al-Fajr (The Dawn, Daybreak), 30 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
90. Al-Balad (The City, This Countryside), 20 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
91. Ash-Shams (The Sun), 15 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
92. Al-Lail (The Night), 21 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
93. Ad-Dhuha (The Morning Hours, Morning Bright), 11 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
94. Al-Inshirah (Solace, Consolation, Relief), eight ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
95. At-Tin (The Fig, The Figtree), eight ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
96. Al-Alaq (The Clot, Recite), 19 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
97. Al-Qadr (Power, Fate), five ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
98. Al-Bayyina (The Clear Proof, Evidence), eight ayat, one rukus, Madinan sura
99. Az-Zalzala (The Earthquake), eight ayat, one rukus, Madinan sura
100. Al-Adiyat (The Courser, The Chargers), 11 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
101. Al-Qaria (The Calamity, The Stunning Blow, The Disaster), 11 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
102. At-Takathur (Rivalry In World Increase, Competition), eight ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
103. Al-Asr (The Declining Day, Eventide, The Epoch), three ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
104. Al-Humaza (The Traducer, The Gossipmonger), nine ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura
105. Al-Fil (The Elephant), five ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura
106. Quraysh (Quraish), four ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura
107. Al-Ma'un (Small Kindnesses, Almsgiving, Have You Seen), seven ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura
108. Al-Kawthar (Abundance, Plenty), three ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura
109. Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers, The Kafirs), six ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura
110. An-Nasr (Succour, Divine Support, Victory), three ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura
111. Al-Masadd (The Palm Fibre), five ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura
112. Al-Ikhlas (Sincerity), four ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura
113. Al-Falaq (The Daybreak, Dawn), five ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura
114. Al-Nas (Mankind), six ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura

References

ISBN 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 February 26, 2023.

• List of all Surahs of the Qur'an
• Qur'ān Verses in Chronological Order

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

• Sura  ^history
• Madinan_sura  ^history
• Meccan_sura  ^history
• Qur'an  ^history

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

• History of "Surah"

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.