What Is a Surah? Meaning, Names and How Surahs Are Arranged

A surah is a chapter of the Quran. The Quran has 114 of them, from the opening prayer Surah Al-Fatihah (1) to Surah An-Nas (114). Each surah is made of verses called ayahs, and each has a name and a number.

What does the word mean?

Classical scholars gave several explanations of the Arabic word surah. One links it to the wall around a city — a section enclosed and set apart. Another links it to a rank or step, as if the reader climbs from one to the next. Both describe the same idea: a surah is a complete unit with a beginning and an end. In English it is often written sura and translated as “chapter”.

How long is a surah?

Surahs vary enormously. Surah Al-Baqarah (2) has 286 ayahs and fills more than two of the Quran’s thirty parts, while the shortest surahs have only 3. See the shortest and longest surahs for the full comparison.

How surahs got their names

A surah’s name usually comes from a distinctive word, story or subject inside it, not from its main theme. Surah Al-Baqarah (2) (The Cow) is named after a short story about a cow in it, although most of the surah is about other subjects. Some surahs are named after prophets:

Others are named after people or places — Maryam after Mary, Luqman after the wise man Luqman, Al-Kahf after the cave in its best-known story. Several surahs are known by more than one name: At-Tawbah is also called Bara’ah, and Al-Fatihah has many names, including Umm al-Kitab (“the Mother of the Book”).

Surahs that begin with single letters

Twenty-nine surahs open with letters of the Arabic alphabet read one by one, such as Alif Lam Mim at the start of Al-Baqarah (2:1). These are called al-huruf al-muqatta’at, the disconnected letters. Their meaning is not explained in the Quran, and many scholars say their full meaning is known only to God. Some surahs take their name from them, such as Ya-Sin and Qaf.

The order of the surahs

Surahs are not arranged in the order they were revealed. After Al-Fatihah, they run roughly from longest to shortest. The first verses to be revealed are in surah 96. According to the majority view, the order of surahs in the mushaf follows what the Prophet taught; some scholars held that part of it was arranged by his companions.

Meccan and Medinan surahs

Every surah is also described as Meccan or Medinan, depending on whether it was revealed mainly before or after the migration to Medina. In the dataset used here, 86 are Meccan and 28 Medinan. Meccan surahs are often shorter, with intense, rhythmic verses about faith and the afterlife; Medinan surahs are longer and include guidance for community life.

Find any surah

Every surah has its own page on this site with its Arabic text, number of ayahs and classification. Browse the full surah list, or make a video from any surah.

Frequently asked questions

What does surah mean?

A surah is a chapter of the Quran. The word is often explained as an enclosure or a step, a section set apart from what is around it.

How many surahs are in the Quran?

114. The longest is Al-Baqarah with 286 ayahs; the shortest have 3 ayahs.

Why do some surahs have more than one name?

Many surah names were used by the Prophet's companions and early scholars, and some surahs were known by more than one. Printed copies usually show the best-known name.

This article explains common understanding and history for general readers; it is not a religious ruling. For questions of practice, consult a qualified scholar. See the disclaimer.

Keep reading

• How Many Surahs and Verses Are in the Quran?
• How Long Is the Quran? Pages, Words, Juz and Reading Time
• The Shortest and Longest Surahs and Verses in the Quran
• What Is an Ayah? Meaning of Ayah and How Quran Verses Are Numbered