Sura: Difference between revisions

'''Sura''' (Arabic: سورة), in technical usage, means a part of Qur'an that has a coherent content and has a beginning and an ending. Qur'an has 114 suras beginning with sura al-Hamd and ending with sura al-Nas. Suras of Qur'an, except for sura al-Tawba, begin with "bism Allah" (In the name of Allah the All-beneficent the All-merciful) phrase. The word "sura" is used 8 times in singular form and 1 time in plural form. There's a disagreement about the order of suras being Tawqifi (specified by Allah) or Ijtihadi (by judgment of the companions).

== Etymology ==

Suras of Qur'an -except for sura al-Tawba- begin with the phrase "bism Allah" ("In the name of Allah the All-beneficent the All-merciful").

The word "sura" is used 8 times in singular form and 1 time in plural form (Arabic: سُوَر, transliteration: suwar). The chapters of Qur'an are named sura because they are like a "sur" (Arabic: سور, wall), separates it from other chapters; or because it contains all the verses and words. Or because every sura represents the excitement and elevation of God against the enemies.

Some of the philologists believe that the word is from the root "س ء ر" and means a part or the remaining of something.

=== According to Time of Revelation ===

Suras of Qur'an, according to the time of revelation, are divided into two general categories:

* Makki: according to the most common definition, suras which are revealed before the emigration of the Prophet (s) to Medina (in which ever place it is revealed), are Makki.

* Madani: suras which are revealed after the emigration are called Madani.

* First: suras which are revealed in Mecca and its outskirts, even after the emigration, are Makki; and suras which are revealed in Medina and its outskirts, are Madani.

* Second: the suras in which the people of Mecca are addressed are Makki and in which the people of Medina are addressed are Madani.

=== According to Length ===

The suras of Qur'an are categorized according to the count and length of verses:

* Sab' Tuwal (the seven longs): this suras are the longest suras in Qur'an, namely: al-Baqara, Al Imran, al-Nisa', al-Ma'ida, al-An'am, al-A'raf, and Yunus.

* Mi'un (with 100 verses): the suras which have more than 100 verses and are not as long as the Sab' Tuwal suras: al-Anfal, al-Tawba, al-Nahl, Hud, Yusuf, al-Kahf, al-Isra', al-Anbiya', TaHa, al-Mu'minun, al-Shu'ara, and al-Saffat.

* Mathani (oft-repeated): near 20 suras which verses are under 100, like: al-Qasas, al-Naml, al-'Ankabut, YaSin, and Sad.

* Al-Mufassal (separated): these are named because they are short and are separated with "bism Allah".

== Count of Suras ==

The count of suras in the existing Qur'an is 114. According to some narrations from Ahl al-Bayt (a), suras of al-Duha and al-Sharh are considered as one sura, and also al-Fil and Quraysh, so the count of suras becomes 112. There are some historical reports about Mushafs of some of the companions which have more or less suras but the current Qur'an, which is collected in the time of the rule of 'Uthman, has 114 suras and is verified by Imam 'Ali (a) and other Imams.

== Naming ==

Each sura of Qur'an is named after the beginning words, or after the content and the massage of the sura; so the name of each sura is in accordance to its content, as sura al-Baqara (the Cow) is named after the mention of the cow which Banu Isra'il had been commanded to slay (2:67), or sura al-Nisa' (Women) is named because some rulings about women is mentioned in it.