The Quran consists of 114 chapters, called surahs (; ) and around 6,200 verses (depending on school of counting) called ayahs (, ; ). Chapters are arranged broadly in descending order of length. For a preliminary discussion about the chronological order of chapters, see Surah.
Each surah except the ninth (al-Tawba) is preceded by a formula known as the basmala or tasmiah, which reads ("In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful."). In twenty-nine surahs, this is followed by a group of letters called "muqaṭṭa'āt" (lit. "abbreviated" or "shortened"), unique combinations of a few letters whose meaning are unknown.
The table in this article follows the Kufic school of counting verses, which is the most popular today and has the total number of verses at 6,236.
Table of surahs + # Anglicized title(s) Arabic title(s) English title(s) Number of verses (Number of Rukūʿs) Place of Revelation Egyptian Standard Chronological OrderQran.org: Quran Verses in Chronological OrderChronological Order of Quranic Surahs , by Kevin P. Edgecomb (2002). Nöldeke's Chronological Order Muqatta'at (isolated letters) Title refers to Main theme(s)Juz' 1 Al-Fatiha (Al-Hamd)
(Al-Asas)
(Al-Sab' al-Mathani) The Opening, the Opening of the Divine Writ, The Essence of the Divine Writ, The Surah of Praise, The Foundation of the Quran, and The Seven Oft-Repeated [Verses] 7 (1) Makkah 5 48 Whole Surah The fundamental principles of the Quran in a condensed form. It reads: “(1) In the name of God (Allah), the Compassionate and Merciful. (2) Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds, (3) the Compassionate and Merciful, (4) Master of the Day of Judgement. (5) Thee we worship and from Thee we seek help.1 2 Al-Baqara The Cow 286 (40) Madinah 87 91 Alif Lam Mim v. 67-73 The necessity of God-consciousness. The error(s) committed by followers of earlier revelations. Legal ordinances (ethics, social relations, warfare etc.). AL-BAQARAH (the Cow) has been so named from the story of the Cow occurring in this Surah (vv. 67-73). Ibrahim. Kaaba. Ayatul Kursi. (v. 255)1-3 3 Al 'Imran The Family of Imran, The House of ʿImrān 200 (20) Madinah 89 97 Alif Lam Mim v. 33, 35 The human nature of Isa. The oneness of Allah. Man's faith and temptations. The Battle of Uhud (3 AH). Imran in Islam is regarded as the father of Mary. This chapter is named after the family of Imran, which includes Imran, Saint Anne (wife of Imran), Mary, and Jesus 3-4 4 An-Nisa The Women 176 (24) Madinah 92 100 Whole Surah Unity of the human race and the mutual obligations of men and women towards one another. (v. 1) Rights of women. Questions related to family life (including marriage and inheritance). Peace and war. Relations of believers with unbelievers. Striving in the Cause of Allah (Jihad). (v. 95–97)4-6 5 Al-Ma'ida (Al-'Uqud) The Table, The Last Supper, The Contracts 120 (16) Madinah 112 114 v. 112-114 A series of ordinances (incl. Religious rites and social obligations). Corruption of the original message of the Injeel by Jews and Christians. (v. 68–77, 116–118)6-7 6 Al-An'am The Cattle, The Grazing Livestock 165 (20) Makkah 55 89 v. 136. Human nature of Muhammad. (v. 50) Oneness and uniqueness of Allah. (e.g. v. 100, 103) Pre-Islamic superstitions concerning animals. (v. 136)7-8 7 Al-A'raf The Heights, The Faculty of Discernment 206 (24) Makkah 39 87 Alif Lam Mim Sad v. 46, 48 The mission of the prophets. Adam, Hawwa and Iblis. (v. 16–25) Stories of Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut, Shuáyb and Musa. (v. 59–171) Allah's Covenant with humanity. (v. 172)Gwynne, Rosalind Ward (2014). Logic, Rhetoric and Legal Reasoning in the Qur'an: God's Arguments. Routledge Studies in the Qur'an. Routledge, UK. . pp. 1-2. What happens to those who discard Allah's message. (v. 175)8-9 8 Al-Anfal (Badr) The Spoils of War, Badr 75 (10) Madinah 88 95 v. 1 The Battle of Badr (2 A.H.). Doctrine of sacrifice through action.9-10 9 At-Tawba (Bara'a) Repentance, Dissociation, Immunity 129 (16) Madinah 113 113 Problems of war between believers and their enemies. The expedition to Tabuk (9 A.H.). Prohibition of intercalation in the Islamic lunar calendar(v. 37) Those who cannot attain to faith. (v. 124–127)10-11 10 Yunus Jonah 109 (11) Makkah 51 84 Alif Lam Ra v. 98 The revelation of the Quran to Muhammad (not Muhammad's own work). (v. 15–17, 37–38, 94) References to earlier prophets. Fundamental tenets of Islam.11 11 HudHud 123 (10) Makkah 52 75 Alif Lam Ra v. 50-60 The revelation of God's will through his prophets. More stories of earlier prophets. Just dealings between men.11-12 12 Yusuf Joseph 111 (12) Makkah 53 77 Alif Lam Ra Whole Surah The story of the Islamic prophet Joseph (as an illustration of God's unfathomable direction of men's affairs).12-13 13 Ar-Ra'd The Thunder 43 (6) Madinah 96 90 Alif Lam Mim Ra v. 13 God's revelation, through his prophets, of certain fundamental moral truths, and the consequences of accepting or rejecting them.13 14 IbrahimAbraham 52 (7) Makkah 72 76 Alif Lam Ra v. 35-41 The revelation of God's word to all mankind, destined to lead man from darkness to light. 15 Al-Hijr The Rocky Tract, The Stoneland, The Rock City, Hegra 99 (6) Makkah 54 57 Alif Lam Ra v. 80 God's guidance to man through revelation of the Quran, which will remain uncorrupted for all times. (v. 9)14 16 An-Nahl The Bees 128 (16) Makkah 70 73 v. 68-69 God's creativeness: Manifested in the instincts of the bee. Culmination: Guidance through his revealed word. 17 Al-Isra (Bani Israil)The Night Journey, Children of Israel, The Children of Israel 111 (12) Makkah 50 67 v.1 Muhammad's Night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem. The children of Israel. (v. 2–8, 101–104)15 18 Al-Kahf The Cave 110 (12) Makkah 69 69 v. 13-20 A series of parables or allegories on the theme of faith in God versus excessive attachment to the life of this world. Including: The men of the cave. (v. 13–20) The rich man and the poor man. (v. 32–44) Moses and the unnamed sage. (v. 60–82) The allegory of Dhu'l-Qarnayn, the Two-Horned One’. (v. 83–98)15-16 19 Maryam Mary 98 (6) Makkah 44 58 Kaf Ha Ya 'Ayn Sad v. 16-37 The story of Zachariah and his son John, the precursor of Jesus. (v. 2–15) The story of Mary and Jesus. (v. 16–37)16 20 Ta-Ha (Al-Kalim)Ṭāʾ Hāʾ, The Interlocutor 135 (8) Makkah 45 55 Ta Ha'Ta Ha' has also been interpreted as the invocation 'O man'. In this case, it is not counted as a Muqatta'at. . v. 1 The guidance offered by God through his prophets. The fundamental truths inherent in all revealed religions are identical. The story of Moses. (v. 9-98) 21 Al-Anbiya The Prophets 112 (7) Makkah 73 65 v. 48-91 The oneness, uniqueness and transcendence of God. The continuity and intrinsic unity of all divine revelation. Stories of the prophets of old. (v. 48–91) The believers of all faiths belong to one single community. (v. 92)17 22 Al-Hajj The Pilgrimage, The Hajj 78 (10) Madinah 103 107 v. 25-38 The Mecca pilgrimage and some of the rituals connected with it. (v. 25–38) 23 Al-Mu'minun The Believers 118 (6) Makkah 74 64 v. 1 True faith. The evidence of the existence of an almighty Creator, and man's ultimate responsibility before Him. The unity of all religious communities, broken by man's egotism, greed and striving after power. (v. 52–53) The impossibility to believe in God, without believing in life after death.18 24 An-Nur The Light 64 (9) Madinah 102 105 v. 35 Mutual relations and ethical rules between men and women. The mystic parable of the ‘light of God’ ("Verse of Light"). (v. 35) 25 Al-Furqan The Criterion, The Standard, The Standard of True and False 77 (6) Makkah 42 66 v. 1 The purpose of every divine revelation is to provide a stable criterion of true and false. The humanness of every apostle sent by God to man. (v. 20) Divine revelation belongs to God's creative activity.18-19 26 Ash-Shu'ara The Poets 227 (11) Makkah 47 56 Ta Sin Mim v. 224 Man's weakness, which causes him to reject God's message and worship power and wealth etc.19 27 An-Naml (Sulayman) The Ant 93 (7) Makkah 48 68 Ta Sin v. 18 The king and prophet(Sulayman) Solomon and queen of Sheba.19-20 28 Al-Qasas The Narrations, The Stories, The Story 88 (9) Makkah 49 79 Ta Sin Mim v. 25 Human aspects of the life of Moses. 20 29 Al-Ankabut The Spider 69 (7) Makkah 85 81 Alif Lam Mim v. 41 The parable of ‘the spider house’, a symbol of false beliefs that are destined to be blown away by the winds of truth. (v. 41) 20-21 30 Ar-Rum Rome, Byzantium, The Greeks the romans 60 (6) Makkah 84 74 Alif Lam Mim v. 2 Predictions of the near victory of the east Romans [over the Persians] and the Battle of Badr (2 A.H.). (v. 1–7) God's ability to resurrect the dead at the end of time, and the people's ignorance of this.21 31 LuqmanLuqman 34 (4) Makkah 57 82 Alif Lam Mim v. 12-19 The story of Luqman, a legendary sage, counselling his son. (v. 12–19) 32 As-Sajda (Al-Madaji') The Prostration, The Beds 30 (3) Makkah 75 70 Alif Lam Mim v. 15 God's creation.Ali, Abdullah Yusuf (1934). The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary. Introduction to the Sura. God's revelation and man's acceptance or denial. The Day of Judgement. 33 Al-Ahzab The Clans, The Confederates, The Combined Forces 73 (9) Madinah 90 103 v. 9-27 The War of the Confederates (5 A.H.). (v. 9-27) The relationship between Muhammad and his family.21-22 34 Saba Sheba, The City of Sheba 54 (6) Makkah 58 85 v. 15-20 The insignificance of the knowledge accessible to man. (v. 9) The story of the people of Sheba, as an example of the impermanence of human power, wealth and glory. (v. 15–20) Always be conscious of God. (v. 46)22 35 Fatir (Al-Mala'ika) The Originator, The Angels, The Creator of Angels 45 (5) Makkah 43 86 v. 1 God's power to create and resurrect. God's revelation of his will through his prophets. 36 Ya-SinYāʾ Sīn 83 (5) Makkah 41 60 Yaseen'Ya Sin' has also been interpreted as the invocation 'O thou human being'. In this case, it is not counted as a Muqatta'at. . v. 1 Man's moral responsibility, resurrection and God's judgment. To be recited over the dying and in the prayers of the dead.22-23 37 As-Saffat Those Who Set The Ranks, Drawn Up In Ranks, Those Ranged in Ranks 182 (5) Makkah 56 50 v. 1 Resurrection and the certainty that all human beings will have to answer before God. Man's constant need of prophetic guidance. Stories of earlier prophets. (v. 75–148)23 38 Sad (Dawud)Ṣād, David 88 (5) Makkah 38 59 Sad v. 1 Divine guidance and its rejection by those who are lost in fast pride. 39 Az-Zumar (Al-Ghuraf) The Crowds, The Troops, The Chambers 75 (8) Makkah 59 80 v. 71, 73 The evidence of the existence and oneness of God in all manifestations of nature. God forgives all sins to him who repents before his death. Allegories of the Last Hour and the Day of Judgment.23-2440Ghafir (Al-Muʼmin)The Forgiver (God), Forgiving, The Believer85 (9)Makkah6078Ha Mimv. 3 Man's false pride, worship of false values (wealth, power etc.) and his denial of divine guidance. Stories of earlier prophets.2441Fussilat (Al-Masabih)Expounded, Explained In Detail, Clearly Spelled Out, The Lamps54 (6)Makkah6171Ha Mimv. 3 Man's acceptance or rejection of divine revelation.24-2542Ash-Shura (Ha Mim 'Ayn Sin Qaf)The Consultation, Ḥāʾ Mīm ʿAyn Sīn Qāf53 (5)Makkah6283Ha Mim 'Ayn Sin Qafv. 36 God is undefinable and unfathomable. (v. 11, 16) All prophets taught the oneness of God, so all believers of all ‘denominations’ should see themselves as ‘one single community’. (v. 13, 15) The law of cause and effect: In the life to come man will only harvest ‘what his own hands have wrought’ in this world.25 43 Az-Zukhruf The Gold Adornments, The Ornaments of Gold, Luxury, Gold, Ornaments of Gold 89 (7) Makkah 63 61 Ha Mim v. 35 To equal anyone or anything with God is sprititually destructive and logically unacceptable.