Sura: Difference between revisions

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'''Sūra''' (Arabic: {{ia|سُورَة}}), in technical usage, means a part of the [[Holy Qur'an]] that has a coherent content and has a beginning and an ending. The Qur'an has 114 suras beginning with [[Sura al-Hamd]] and ending with [[Sura al-Nas]]. Suras of the Qur'an, except for [[Sura al-Tawba]], begin with "bism Allah" (English: "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. There's a disagreement about the order of suras being "[[tawqifi]]" (specified by Allah) or "[[ijtihadi]]" (by judgment of the [[companion]]s).

"Sura" literally means a level and rank, or a part and chapter of something. In technical usage, sura means a part of the [[Qur'an]] that has a coherent content and has a beginning and an ending.

The chapters of the Qur'an are named sura because they are like a "sur" (Arabic: "{{ia|سور}}", wall), separates each one of them from other chapters; or because it contains all the [[verse]]s and words.

The word "sura" is used 8 times in singular form and 1 time in plural form (Arabic: "{{ia|سُوَر}}").

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

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; margin:5px 0px 5px 15px; font-size: 90%; line-height: 90%" align="right"

![[Order]]

|1||[[sura al-Fatiha|Al-Fatiha]] (the Opening)||7||5||Makki

|2||[[sura al-Baqara|Al-Baqara]] (the Cow)||286||87||Madani

|3||[[sura Al 'Imaran|Al 'Imaran]] (the Family of 'Imran)||200||89|| Madani

|4||[[sura al-Nisa'|Al-Nisa']] (Women)||176||92||Madani

|5||[[sura al-Ma'ida|Al-Ma'ida]] (the Table)||120||112||Madani

|6||[[sura al-An'am|Al-An'am]] (Cattle)||165||55||Makki

|7||[[sura al-A'raf|Al-A'raf]] (the Elevations)||206||39||Makki

|8||[[sura al-Anfal|Al-Anfal]] (the Spoils)||75||88||Madani

|9||[[sura al-Tawba|Al-Tawba]] (Repentance)||129||113||Madani

|10||[[sura Yunus|Yunus]] (Jonah)||109||51||Makki

|11||[[sura Hud|Hud]]||123||52||Makki

|12||[[sura Yusuf|Yusuf]] (Joseph)||111||53||Makki

|13||[[sura al-Ra'd|Al-Ra'd]] (Thunder)||43||96||Madani

|14||[[sura Ibrahim|Ibrahim]] (Abraham)||52||72||Makki

|15||[[sura al-Hijr|Al-Hijr]]||99||54||Makki

|16||[[sura al-Nahl|Al-Nahl]] (the Bee)||128||70||Makki

|17||[[sura al-Isra'|Al-Isra']] (the Night Journey)||111||50||Makki

|18||[[sura al-Kahf|Al-Kahf]] (the Cave)||110||69||Makki

|19||[[sura Maryam|Maryam]] (Mary)||98||44||Makki

|20||[[sura TaHa|TaHa]]||135||45||Makki

|21||[[sura al-Anbiya|Al-Anbiya]] (the Prophets)||112||73||Makki

|22||[[sura al-Hajj|Al-Hajj]] (the Pilgrimage)||78||103||Madani

|23||[[sura al-Mu'minun|Al-Mu'minun]] (the Faithful)||118||74||Makki

|24||[[sura al-Nur|Al-Nur]] (the Light)||64||102||Madani

|25||[[sura al-Furqan|Al-Furqan]] (the Criterion)||77||42||Makki

|26||[[sura al-Shu'ara|Al-Shu'ara]] (the Poets)||227||47||Makki

|27||[[sura al-Naml|Al-Naml]] (the Ants)||93||48||Makki

|28||[[sura al-Qasas|Al-Qasas]] (the Story)||88||49||Makki

|29||[[sura al-'Ankabut|Al-'Ankabut]] (the Spider)||69||85||Makki

|30||[[sura al-Rum|Al-Rum]] (the Byzantines)||60||84||Makki

|31||[[sura Luqaman|Luqaman]]||34||57||Makki

|32||[[sura al-Sajda|Al-Sajda]]||30||75||Makki

|33||[[sura al-Ahzab|Al-Ahzab]] (the Confederates)||73||90||Madani

|34||[[sura Saba'|Saba']] (Sheba)||54||58||Makki

|35||[[sura Fatir|Fatir]] (the Originator)||45||43||Makki

|36||[[sura YaSin|YaSin]]||83||41||Makki

|37||[[sura al-Saffat|Al-Saffat]] (the Ranged Ones)||182||56||Makki

|38||[[sura Sad|Sad]]||88||38||Makki

|39||[[sura al-Zamar|Al-Zamar]] (the Throngs)||75||59||Makki

|40||[[sura al-Ghafir|Al-Ghafir]] (the Forgiver)||85||60|| Makki

|41||[[sura Fussilat|Fussilat]] (Elaborated)||54||61||Makki

|42||[[sura al-Shura|Al-Shura]] (Consultation)||53||62||Makki

|43||[[sura al-Zukhruf|Al-Zukhruf]] (Ornaments)||89||63||Makki

|44||[[sura al-Dukhan|Al-Dukhan]] (Smoke)||59||64||Makki

|45||[[sura al-Jathia|Al-Jathia]] (Crowling)||37||65||Makki

|46||[[sura al-Ahqaf|Al-Ahqaf]] ()||35||66||Makki

|47||[[sura Muhammad|Muhammad]]||38||95||Madani

|48||[[sura al-Fath|Al-Fath]] (Vicroty)||29||111||Madani

|49||[[sura al-Hujurat|Al-Hujurat]] (Apartments)||18||106||Madani

|50||[[sura Qaf|Qaf]]||45||34||Makki

|51||[[sura al-Dhariyat|Al-Dhariyat]] (the Scatterers)||60||67||Makki

|52||[[sura al-Tur|Al-Tur]] (the Mount)||49||76||Makki

|53||[[sura al-Najm|Al-Najm]] (the Star)||62||23||Makki

|54||[[sura al-Qamar|Al-Qamar]] (the Moon)||55||37||Makki

|55||[[sura al-Rahman|Al-Rahman]] (the All-beneficent)||78||97||Madani

|56||[[sura al-Waqi'a|Al-Waqi'a]] (Imminent)||96||46||Makki

|57||[[sura al-Hadid|Al-Hadid]] (Iron)||29||94||Madani

|58||[[sura al-Mujadila|Al-Mujadila]] (the Pleader)||22||105||Madani

|59||[[sura al-Hashr|Al-Hashr]] (the Banishment)||24||101||Madani

|60||[[sura al-Mumtahana|Al-Mumtahana]] (the Tested Woman)||13||91||Madani

|61||[[sura al-Saff|Al-Saff]] (Ranks)||14||109||Madani

|62||[[sura al-Jumu'a|Al-Jumu'a]] (Friday)||11||110||Madani

|63||[[sura al-Munafiqun|Al-Munafiqun]] (the Hypocrites)||11||104||Madani

|64||[[sura al-Taghabun|Al-Taghabun]] (Disposession)||18||108||Madani

|65||[[sura al-Talaq|Al-Talaq]] (Divorce)||12||99||Madani

|66||[[sura al-Tahrim|Al-Tahrim]] (the Forbidding)||12||107||Madani

|67||[[sura al-Mulk|Al-Mulk]] (Sovereignty)||30||77||Makki

|68||[[sura al-Qalam|Al-Qalam]] (the Pen)||52||2||Makki

|69||[[sura al-Haqqa|Al-Haqqa]] (the Inevitable)||52||78||Makki

|70||[[sura al-Ma'arij|Al-Ma'arij]] (Lofty Stations)||44||79||Makki

|71||[[sura Nuh|Nuh]] (Noah)||28||71||Makki

|72||[[sura al-Jinn|Al-Jinn]] (the Jinn)||28||40||Makki

|73||[[sura al-Muzzammil|Al-Muzzammil]] (Enwrapped)||20||3||Makki

|74||[[sura al-Muddaththir|Al-Muddaththir]] (Shrouded)||56||4||Makki

|75||[[sura al-Qiyama|Al-Qiyama]] (Resurrection)||40||31||Makki

|76||[[sura al-Insan|Al-Insan]] (Man)||31||98||Madani

|77||[[sura al-Mursalat|Al-Mursalat]] (the Emissaries)||50||33||Makki

|78||[[sura al-Naba'|Al-Naba']] (the Tiding)||40||80||Makki

|79||[[sura al-Nazi'at|Al-Nazi'at]] (the Wrestlers)||46||81||Makki

|80||[[sura 'Abasa|'Abasa]] (He Frowned)||42||24||Makki

|81||[[sura al-Takwir|Al-Takwir]] (the Winding Up)||29||7||Makki

|82||[[sura al-Infitar|Al-Infitar]] (the Rending)||19||82||Makki

|83||[[sura al-Mutaffifin|Al-Mutaffifin]] (the Defrauding)||36||86||Makki

|84||[[sura al-Inshiqaq|Al-Inshiqaq]] (the Splitting)||25||83||Makki

|85||[[sura al-Buruj|Al-Buruj]] (the Houses)||22||27||Makki

|86||[[sura al-Tariq|Al-Tariq]] (the Nightly Visitor)||17||36||Makki

|87||[[sura al-A'la|Al-A'la]] (the Most Exalted)||19||8||Makki

|88||[[sura al-Ghashiya|Al-Ghashiya]] (the Enveloper)||26||68||Makki

|89||[[sura al-Fajr|Al-Fajr]] (the Dawn)||30||10||Makki

|90||[[sura al-Balad|Al-Balad]] (the City)||20||35||Makki

|91||[[sura al-Shams|Al-Shams]] (the Sun)||15||26||Makki

|92||[[sura al-Layl|Al-Layl]] (the Night)||21||9||Makki

|93||[[sura al-Duha|Al-Duha]] (the Morning Brightness)||11||11||Makki

|94||[[sura al-Sharh|Al-Sharh]] (Expanding)||8||12||Makki

|95||[[sura al-Tin|Al-Tin]] (the Fig)||8||28||Makki

|96||[[sura al-'Alaq|Al-'Alaq]] (Clinging Mass)||19||1||Makki

|97||[[sura al-Qadr|Al-Qadr]] (the Ordainment)||5||25||Makki

|98||[[sura al-Bayyina|Al-Bayyina]] (the Proof)||8||100||Madani

|99||[[sura al-Zalzala|Al-Zalzala]] (the Quake)||8||93||Madani

|100||[[sura al-'Adiyat|Al-'Adiyat]] (the Chargers)||11||14||Makki

|101||[[sura al-Qari'a|Al-Qari'a]] (the Catasrophe)||11||30||Makki

|102||[[sura al-Takathur|Al-Takathur]] (Rivalry)||8||16||Makki

|103||[[sura al-'Asr|Al-'Asr]] (Time)||3||13||Makki

|104||[[sura al-Humaza|Al-Humaza]] (the Scandal-monger)||9||32||Makki

|105||[[sura al-Fil|Al-Fil]] (the Elephant)||5||19||Makki

|106||[[sura Quraysh|Quraysh]]||4||29||Makki

|107||[[sura al-Ma'un|Al-Ma'un]] (Aid)||7||17||Makki

|108||[[sura al-Kawthar|Al-Kawthar]] (Abundance)||3||15||Makki

|109||[[sura al-Kafirun|Al-Kafirun]] (the Faithless)||6||18||Makki

|110||[[sura al-Nasr|Al-Nasr]] (the Help)||3||114||Madani

|111||[[sura al-Masad|Al-Masad]] (Palm Fibre)||5||6||Makki

|112||[[sura al-Ikhlas|Al-Ikhlas]] (Monotheism)||4||22||Makki

|113||[[sura al-Falaq|Al-Falaq]] (Daybreak)||5||20||Makki

|114||[[sura al-Nas|Al-Nas]] (Humans)||6||21||Makki

There's a disagreement about the names of suras being specified by [[God]] (being [[tawqifi]]) or is specified by the [[companion]]s ([[ijtihadi]]). Al-Suyuti, [[al-Zarkashi]], and some other Qur'an researchers consider it tawqifi.

[[Jawadi Amuli]] doesn't accept the names of suras being tawqifi, and in contrast considers the common names of suras as names given to them by people and then the name became prevalent. He considers the usage of the names in some [[hadith]]s of Ahl al-Bayt because of the recognition of the sura with the name. He says: it's unlikely that a sura containing great knowledge, deep wisdom, and a lot of rulings being named after a cow; or a sura which contain 40 proofs for the unity of God being named after the cattle; or a sura with deep knowledge and the stories of many of the [[Prophet]]s being named after the ants.

The Qur'an was gradually revealed to the [[Prophet (s)]], in the length of 23 years ([[gradual revelation]]). According to the historical records, [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] was the first one to collect the Qur'an after the demise of the Prophet (s). The suras in the collected Qur'an ([[Mushaf of Imam 'Ali (a)]]) was ordered according to the order of [[revelation]]. After the completion of the work, he loaded it on a camel (due to its bulk) and brought it to the [[companion]]s, but they didn't accept it and said that they didn't need it, so Imam 'Ali (a) hid it and after that no one saw the mushaf. [[Shi'a]] believes that other [[Imams]] had inherited the mushaf and now it is in the possession of [[Imam al-Mahdi (aj)]]. According to [[al-Shaykh al-Mufid]], Imam 'Ali (a) had ordered the Qur'an according to the order of revelation and placed [[Makki suras]] before Madani suras and [[al-Mansukh]] before [[al-Nasikh]].

The existing Qur'an is collected in the time of the rule of [['Uthman b. 'Affan]] which begins with the [[Sura al-Fatiha]] and ends with the [[Sura al-Nas]]. This Qur'an is verified by Imam 'Ali and other Imams.

There's a disagreement about the order of suras being [[tawqifi]] (specified by [[Allah]]) or [[ijtihadi]] (by the judgment of the [[companion]]s); some of the Qur'an researchers, like [[al-Suyuti]], say: the existing order of suras is tawqifi and is specified by Allah and the Prophet (s) commanded to order suras as they are.

Some other considered the order of suras as ijtihadi and being ordered by the judgment of the companions who collected the Qur'an. The third opinion is that the order of suras are a mix of being tawqifi and ijtihadi; meaning that when there was a command from the Prophet (s) about the place of a sura it was obeyed, and when there wasn't, the suras were ordered by the companions who collected the Qur'an.

===First Revealed Sura===

# The first sura revealed to the Prophet (s) is [[Sura al-'Alaq]], which was revealed in the beginning of [[Bi'tha]].

===Last Sura Revealed===

According to Shi'a [[hadith]]s, the last complete sura was Sura al-Nasr. When the sura was revealed, the Prophet (s) recited it to the companions and all became glad except for [[Al-'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib|al-'Abbas]], the uncle of the Prophet (s), who became very sad and said: "I think the sura announces the end of your mission", the Prophet (s) said: "you think right"; and the Prophet (s) demised two years later.

As the Sura al-Nasr is revealed after the [[Conquest of Mecca]] in 8/629, and Sura al-Tawba is revealed one year later, some combined the two facts as the last ''complete'' sura revealed is Sura al-Nasr, and Sura al-Tawba is considered the last sura because its beginning verses are revealed later, although the very last [[verse]] revealed is the [[Ikmal verse]] (see: [[Verse#First_and_Last_Verses|First and Last_Verses]])