Surah

Lore & Background

A surah is a chapter of the Quran, with the scripture containing 114 such chapters. These chapters vary greatly in length: the shortest, al-Kawthar, consists of only three verses, while the longest, al-Baqarah, contains 286 verses. The Quran’s structure is roughly organized by descending size, not by theme or chronology. One-third of the Quran is made up of eight very long chapters (Q2 through Q9), another third consists of nineteen mid-length chapters (Q10 through Q28), and the final third comprises eighty-six short and very short chapters (Q29 through Q114). Of the 114 surah, 86 are classified as Meccan, meaning they were revealed before Muhammad’s migration to Medina, and 28 as Medinan, revealed after that event. This classification is approximate; a surah is termed Meccan or Medinan based on when its beginning was revealed, though some Meccan surah contain Medinan verses and vice versa. Meccan surah generally address faith and the afterlife, while Medinan surah focus on organizing social life and strengthening the Muslim community. All surah except At-Tawbah begin with the basmalah, the phrase “In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,” which marks the boundaries between chapters. Surah are recited during the standing portions of Muslim prayers, and the first surah, Al-Fatiha, is recited in every unit of prayer.

Reader's Guide

The surah are fundamental to Islamic practice and belief. They are recited during the standing portions of Muslim prayers, with 'Al-Fatiha', the first surah, recited in every unit of prayer. The classification into Meccan and Medinan surah reflects thematic differences: Meccan surah generally deal with faith and scenes of the Hereafter, while Medinan surah focus on organizing social life and showing strength towards unbelievers. The arrangement of surah roughly by descending size means the Quran's structure is neither chronological nor thematic, a feature that has led to various scholarly attempts to establish a chronological order, including those by medieval writers, Theodor Nöldeke, Richard Bell, and Mehdi Bazargan, though no definitive chronology has been universally accepted. The surah serve as the primary divisions of the Quran, each with its own name and content, and their boundaries are marked by the basmalah formula except for surah At-Tawbah.

Did You Know?

• Except for surah At-Tawbah, all surah begin with the basmalah: 'In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful'.
• The surah are arranged roughly in order of descending size, not chronologically or thematically.