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." Contents 1 Structure 2 Types of Surahs 3 List of Surahs 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links 7 Credits 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 Main articles: Sura and Ayah 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,[1] 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).[2] 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: Al-Fatiha (The Opening), seven ayats, one 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, 2four 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, 2four rukus Makkan sura Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War), 75 ayat, ten rukus, Madinan sura At-Tawba (The Repentance), 129 ayat, 16 rukus, Madinan sura Yunus (Jonah), 109 ayat, 1one rukus, Makkan sura Hud (Hud), 123 ayat, 10 rukus, Makkan sura Yusuf (Joseph), 111 ayat, 1two rukus, Makkan sura Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder), 43 ayat, six rukus, Madinan sura Ibrahim (Abraham), 52 ayat, seven rukus, Makkan sura Al-Hijr (Al-Hijr, The Stoneland, The Rock City), 99 ayat, six 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, 1two rukus, Makkan sura Al-Kahf (The Cave), 110 ayat, 1two rukus Makkan sura Maryam (Mary), 98 ayat, six rukus, Makkan sura Ta-Ha (Ta-Ha), 135 ayat, 8 rukus, Makkan sura Al-Anbiya (The Prophets), 112 ayat, seven rukus, Makkan sura Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage, The Hajj), 78 ayat, ten rukus, Madinan sura Al-Muminun (The Believers), 118 ayat, six rukus, Makkan sura An-Noor (The Light), 64 ayat, nine rukus, Makkan sura Al-Furqan (The Criterion, The Standard), 77 ayat, six rukus, Makkan sura Ash-Shu'ara (The Poets), 227 ayat, 1one rukus, Makkan sura An-Naml (The Ant, The Ants), 93 ayat, seven rukus, Makkan sura Al-Qisas (The Stories), 88 ayat, nine rukus, Makkan sura Al-Ankabut (The Spider), 69 ayat, seven rukus, Makkan sura Ar-Rum (The Romans, The Byzantines), 60 ayat, six rukus, Makkan sura Luqman (Luqman), 34 ayat, four rukus, Makkan sura As-Sajda (The Prostration, Worship, Adoration), 30 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura Al-Ahzab (The Clans, The Coalition, The Combined Forces), 73 ayat, nine rukus, Madinan sura Saba (Saba, Sheba), 54 ayat, six rukus, Makkan sura Fatir (The Angels, Originator), 45 ayat, five rukus, Makkan sura Ya-Seen (Ya-seen), 83 ayat, five rukus, Makkan sura As-Saaffat (Those Who Set The Ranks, drawn Up In Ranks), 182 ayat, five rukus, Makkan sura ad (The Letter Sad), 88 ayat, five rukus, Makkan sura Az-Zumar (The Troops, Throngs), 75 ayat, eight rukus, Makkan sura Ghafir (The Forgiver), 85 ayat, nine rukus, Makkan sura Fussilat (Explained In Detail), 54 ayat, six rukus, Makkan sura Ash-Shura (Council, Consultation), 53 ayat, five rukus, Makkan sura Az-Zukhruf (Ornaments Of Gold, Luxury), 89 ayat, seven rukus, Makkan sura Ad-Dukhan (Smoke), 59 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura Al-Jathiya (Crouching), 37 ayat, four rukus, Makkan sura Al-Ahqaf (The Wind-curved Sandhills, The Dunes), 35 ayat, four rukus, Makkan sura Muhammad (Muhammad), 38 ayat, four rukus, Madinan sura Al-Fath (Victory, Conquest), 29 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura Al-Hujraat (The Private Apartments, The Inner Apartments), 18 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura Qaf (The Letter Qaf), 45 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura Adh-Dhariyat (The Winnowing Winds), 60 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura At-Tur (The Mount), 49 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura An-Najm (The Star), 62 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura Al-Qamar (The Moon), 55 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura Ar-Rahman (The Beneficent, The Mercy Giving), 78 ayat, three rukus, Madinan sura Al-Waqia (The Event, The Inevitable), 96 ayat, three rukus, Makkan sura Al-Hadid (The Iron), 29 ayat, four rukus, Madinan sura Al-Mujadila (She That Disputeth, The Pleading Woman), 22 ayat, three rukus, Madinan sura Al-Hashr (Exile, Banishment), 24 ayat, three rukus, Madinan sura Al-Mumtahina (She That Is To Be Examined, Examining Her), 13 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura As-Saff (The Ranks, Battle Array), 14 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura Al-Jumua (The Congregation, Friday), 11 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura Al-Munafiqoon (The Hypocrites), 11 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura At-Taghabun (Mutual Disillusion, Haggling), 18 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura At-Talaq (Divorce), 12 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura At-Tahrim (Banning, Prohibition), 12 ayat, two rukus, Madinan sura Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty, Control), 30 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura Al-Qalam (The Pen), 52 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura Al-Haaqqa (The Reality), 52 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura Al-Maarij (The Ascending Stairways), 44 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura Nooh (Nooh), 28 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura Al-Jinn (The Jinn), 28 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura Al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One, Bundled Up), 20 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura Al-Muddaththir (The Cloaked One, The Man Wearing A Cloak), 56 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura Al-Qiyama (The Rising Of The Dead, Resurrection), 40 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura Al-Insan (Human), 31 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura Al-Mursalat (The Emissaries, Winds Sent Forth), 50 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura An-Naba (The Tidings, The Announcement), 40 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura An-Naziat (Those Who Drag Forth, Soul-snatchers), 46 ayat, two rukus, Makkan sura Abasa (He Frowned), 42 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura At-Takwir (The Overthrowing), 29 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Infitar (The Cleaving, Bursting Apart), 19 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Mutaffifin (Defrauding, The Cheats, Cheating), 36 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Inshiqaq (The Sundering, Splitting Open), 25 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Burooj (The Mansions Of The Stars, Constellations), 22 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura At-Tariq (The Morning Star, The Nightcomer), 17 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Ala (The Most High, Glory To Your Lord In The Highest), 19 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Ghashiya (The Overwhelming, The Pall), 26 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Fajr (The Dawn, Daybreak), 30 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Balad (The City, This Countryside), 20 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Ash-Shams (The Sun), 15 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Lail (The Night), 21 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Ad-Dhuha (The Morning Hours, Morning Bright), 11 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Inshirah (Solace, Consolation, Relief), eight ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura At-Tin (The Fig, The Figtree), eight ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Alaq (The Clot, Recite), 19 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Qadr (Power, Fate), five ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Bayyina (The Clear Proof, Evidence), eight ayat, one rukus, Madinan sura Az-Zalzala (The Earthquake), eight ayat, one rukus, Madinan sura Al-Adiyat (The Courser, The Chargers), 11 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Qaria (The Calamity, The Stunning Blow, The Disaster), 11 ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura At-Takathur (Rivalry In World Increase, Competition), eight ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Asr (The Declining Day, Eventide, The Epoch), three ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Humaza (The Traducer, The Gossipmonger), nine ayat, one rukus, Makkan sura Al-Fil (The Elephant), five ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura Quraysh (Quraish), four ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura Al-Ma'un (Small Kindnesses, Almsgiving, Have You Seen), seven ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura Al-Kawthar (Abundance, Plenty), three ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers, The Kafirs), six ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura An-Nasr (Succour, Divine Support, Victory), three ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura Al-Masadd (The Palm Fibre), five ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura Al-Ikhlas (Sincerity), four ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura Al-Falaq (The Daybreak, Dawn), five ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura Al-Nas (Mankind), six ayat, one ruku, Makkan sura Notes ↑ Arabic: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم, transliterated as: bismi-llāhi ar-raḥmāni ar-raḥīmi. ↑ 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 January 7, 2020. 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. 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