The Koran
Quranic Sura Names
Contents
What is a Sura? * The Bible and The Koran
List of Anglicized Sura Names
Additional Info on Suras
What is a Sura?
Suras are the term for Quranic sections or chapters. Each Quranic sura has a name. That name either refers directly to some
aspect of the sura's subject matter, else serves as a mnemonic, picking up on one or more words or sounds used in it. For
example, the second sura in the Quran, al‑Baqara ('the Cow'), bears its name because it relates, among other things, the story
of how Moses instructed his (somewhat recalcitrant) people about a sacrificial cow. Contrast this with the twentieth sura, Ta
Ha, which simply takes its name from its first two Arabic letters, ta and ha.
Suras emanate from different times and places in the life of the prophet Muhammad. Traditional Qurans pay no heed, though, to
this chronology, ordering suras instead according to their subject matter and length (with the shorter suras tending to come near
the end). Although using a chronological sura arrangement might have certain pedagogical advantages, the fact is that no one
can agree on the exact order. Also, most translations follow the traditional order. It has seemed sensible, therefore, to stick to
the traditional order for the Quran Browser.
In practical terms, what this means is that if you are reading along in, say, al‑Fatihah, and come to the end, the next passage will
be al‑Baqara 2:1, i.e., the first verse of the sura that comes after al‑Fatihah in traditional Qurans.
List of Anglicized Sura Names
Because the Quran is written in Arabic, the sura names are Arabic ones. Arabic, though, is very different from English, and not
only has many sounds that English speakers have trouble making, but also has far more sounds than our Latin alphabet can
reliably transcribe. Because of this, Quran translations normally try to render the sura names in English (e.g., al‑Falaq ‑>
'Daybreak'). Unfortunately, it is not always clear what the sura names mean, or how exactly they should be translated. As a
result, the translations often differ radically in how they render them ‑ radically enough to make them incompatible with each
other. For example, Dawood translates ad‑Duha and al‑Falaq as 'Daylight' and 'Daybreak,' respectively. Shakir, however,
does precisely the opposite (i.e., 'Daylight' for al‑Falaq and 'Daybreak' for ad‑Duha).
Because of difficulties both with transcribing and translating the Arabic sura names . It uses Anglicized, and therefore
transcribable, versions of the Arabic sura names. The Anglicized sura names are not original to me. Rather, they are drawn
from various sources, primarily from N. J. Dawood's translation, where they are given (at least in my 1974 edition) in the
appendix on the traditional sequence of chapters.
List of sura names:
al‑Fatihah
al‑Baqarah
Al‑Imran
an‑Nisa'
al‑Ma'idah
al‑An`am
al‑A`raf
al‑Anfal
at‑Taubah
Yunus
Hud
Yusuf
ar‑Ra`d
Ibrahim
al‑Hijr
an‑Nahl
bani Isra'il
al‑Kahf
Maryam
Ta Ha
al‑Anbiya'
al‑Hajj
al‑Mu'minun
an‑Nur
al‑Furqan
ash‑Shu`ara'
an‑Naml
al‑Qasas
al‑`Ankabut
ar‑Rum
Luqman
as‑Sajdah
al‑Ahzab
Saba'
al‑Fatir
Ya Sin
as‑Saffat
Sad
az‑Zumar
al‑Mu'min
Ha Mim Sajdah
ash‑Shura
az‑Zukhruf
ad‑Dukhan
al‑Jathiyah
al‑Ahqaf
Muhammad
al‑Fath
al‑Hujurat
Qaf
adh‑Dhariyat
at‑Tur
an‑Najm
al‑Qamar
ar‑Rahman
al‑Waqi`ah
al‑Hadid
al‑Mujadilah
al‑Hashr
al‑Mumtahanah
as‑Saff
al‑Jum`ah
al‑Munafiqun
at‑Taghabun
at‑Talaq
at‑Tahrim
al‑Mulk
al‑Qalam
al‑Haqqah
al‑Ma`arij
Nuh
al‑Jinn
al‑Muzammil
al‑Mudathir
al‑Qiyamah
ad‑Dahr
al‑Mursalat
an‑Naba'
an‑Nazi`at
`Abasa
at‑Takwir
al‑Infitar
at‑Tatfif
al‑Inshiqaq
al‑Buruj
at‑Tariq
al‑A`la
al‑Ghashiyah
al‑Fajr
al‑Balad
ash‑Shams
al‑Layl
ad‑Duha
al‑Inshirah
at‑Tin
al‑`Alaq
Qadr
al‑Bayyinah
al‑Zilzal
al‑`Adiyat
al‑Qari`ah
at‑Takathur
al‑`Asr
al‑Humazah
al‑Fil
al‑Quraysh
al‑Ma`un
al‑Kauthar
al‑Kafirun
an‑Nasr
al‑Lahab
al‑Ikhlas
al‑Falaq
an‑Nas
Additional Information on Suras
For those with at least some knowledge of Arabic, the following chart aims at offering some idea of the underlying
pronunciations of the sura names. Arabic sounds are represented as follows: Arabic consonants with close English equivalents
are represented with those English equivalents (even in the case of digraphs like th and sh). Where Arabic fricatives have no
equivalent, an h is used there as well (e.g., dh). So‑called emphatics are represented with capital letters (e.g., emphatic t
becomes T). Uvular qaf is q. The voiced and unvoiced pharyngeal fricatives, `ayin and Ha, are represented as ` and H,
respectively. Long vowels are doubled (e.g., aa, oo, ee). Final ‑a is given as ah, a', or a, depending on how the Arabic is
spelled. This system is not original to me. Rather, I found it in use at several Islamic sites around the Web.
Number
Anglicized name
Arabic name
English Translation
1
al‑Fatihah
al‑faatiHah
The Opening
2
al‑Baqarah
al‑baqarah
The Cow
3
Al‑Imran
aali‑`imraan
The Family Of Imran
4
an‑Nisa'
an‑nisaa'
Women
5
al‑Ma'idah
al‑maa'idah
The Food
6
al‑An`am
al‑an`aam
The Cattle
7
al‑A`raf
al‑a`raaf
The Elevated Places
8
al‑Anfal
al‑anfaal
The Spoils Of War
9
at‑Taubah
at‑tawbah
Repentance
10
Yunus
yoonus
Jonah
11
Hud
hood
Hud
12
Yusuf
yoosuf
Joseph
13
ar‑Ra`d
ar‑Ra`d
The Thunder
14
Ibrahim
ibraheem
Abraham
15
al‑Hijr
al‑Hijr
The Rock
16
an‑Nahl
an‑naHl
The Bee
17
bani Isra'il
banee Israa'eel
The Israelites
18
al‑Kahf
al‑kahf
The Cave
19
Maryam
maryam
Mary
20
Ta Ha
Taa haa
Ta Ha
21
al‑Anbiya'
al‑anbiyaa'
The Prophets
22
al‑Hajj
al‑Hajj
The Pilgrimage
23
al‑Mu'minun
al‑mu'minoon
The Believers
24
an‑Nur
an‑noor
The Light
25
al‑Furqan
al‑furqaan
The Criterion
26
ash‑Shu`ara'
ash‑shu`araa'
The Poets
27
an‑Naml
an‑naml
The Ant
28
al‑Qasas
al‑qasas
The Narrative
29
al‑`Ankabut
al‑`ankaboot
The Spider
30
ar‑Rum
ar‑room
The Romans
31
Luqman
luqmaan
Lukman
32
as‑Sajdah
as‑sajdah
The Adoration
33
al‑Ahzab
al‑aHzab
The Allies
34
Saba'
as‑Saba'
Sheba
35
al‑Fatir
al‑faaTir
The Creator
36
Ya Sin
yaa seen
Ya Sin
37
as‑Saffat
aS‑Saaffaat
The Rangers
38
Sad
Saad
Sad
39
az‑Zumar
az‑zumar
The Companies
40
al‑Mu'min
al‑mu'min
The Forgiving One
41
Ha Mim Sajdah
haa meem sajdah
Revelations Well Expounded
42
ash‑Shura
ash‑shooraa
The Counsel
43
az‑Zukhruf
azl‑zukhruf
The Embellishment
44
ad‑Dukhan
ad‑dukhaan
The Evident Smoke
45
al‑Jathiyah
al‑jaathiyah
The Kneeling
46
al‑Ahqaf
al‑aHqaaf
The Sandhills
47
Muhammad
muHammad
Muhammad
48
al‑Fath
al‑fatH
The Victory
49
al‑Hujurat
al‑Hujuraat
The Chambers
50
Qaf
qaaf
Qaf
51
adh‑Dhariyat
adh‑dhaariyaat
The Scatterers
52
at‑Tur
aT‑Toor
The Mountain
53
an‑Najm
an‑najm
The Star
54
al‑Qamar
al‑qamar
The Moon
55
ar‑Rahman
ar‑raHmaan
The Merciful
56
al‑Waqi`ah
al‑waaqi`ah
That Which is Coming
57
al‑Hadid
al‑Hadeed
The Iron
58
al‑Mujadilah
al‑mujaadilah
She Who Pleaded
59
al‑Hashr
al‑Hashr
The Exile
60
al‑Mumtahanah
al‑mumtaHanah
She Who is Tested
61
as‑Saff
as‑saff
The Ranks
62
al‑Jumu`ah
al‑jumu`ah
The Day of Congregation
63
al‑Munafiqun
al‑munafiqoon
The Hypocrites
64
at‑Taghabun
at‑taghaabun
The Cheating
65
at‑Talaq,
aT‑Talaaq
The Divorce
66
at‑Tahrim
at‑taHreem
The Prohibition
67
al‑Mulk
al‑mulk
The Kingdom
68
al‑Qalam
al‑qalam
The Pen
69
al‑Haqqah
al‑Haaqqah
The Inevitable
70
al‑Ma`arij
al‑ma`aarij
The Ladders
71
Nuh
nooH
Noah
72
al‑Jinn
al‑jinn
The Jinn
73
al‑Muzammil
al‑muzammil
The Mantled One
74
al‑Mudathir
al‑muddaththir
The Clothed One
75
al‑Qiyamah
al‑qiyaamah
The Resurrection
76
ad‑Dahr
ad‑dahr
The Man
77
al‑Mursalat
al‑mursalaat
The Emissaries
78
an‑Naba'
an‑naba'
The Tidings
79
an‑Nazi`at
an‑naazi`aat
Those Who Pull Out
80
`Abasa
`abasa
He Frowned
81
at‑Takwir
at‑takweer
The Cessation
82
al‑Infitar
al‑infiTaar
The Cleaving Asunder
83
at‑Tatfif
at‑taTfeef
The Defrauders
84
al‑Inshiqaq
al‑inshiqaaq
The Rending
85
al‑Buruj
al‑burooj
the Constellations
86
at‑Tariq
aT‑Taariq
The Night‑Comer
87
al‑A`la
al‑A`laa
The Most High
88
al‑Ghashiya
al‑ghaashiyah
The Overwhelming Calamity
89
al‑Fajr
al‑fajr
The Dawn
90
al‑Balad
al‑balad
The City
91
ash‑Shams
ash‑shams
The Sun
92
al‑Layl
al‑lail
The Night
93
ad‑Duha
aD‑DuHaa
The Early Hours
94
al‑Inshirah
al‑inshiraaH
The Expansion
95
at‑Tin
aT‑Teen
The Fig
96
al‑`Alaq
al‑`alaq
The Clot
97
al‑qadr
al‑qadr
The Majesty
98
al‑Bayyinah
al‑bayyinah
The Proof
99
al‑Zilzal
al‑Zilzaal
The Shaking
100
al‑`Adiyat
al‑`aadiyaat
The Assaulters
101
al‑Qari`ah
al‑qaari`ah
The Terrible Calamity
102
at‑Takathur
at‑takaathur
Worldly Gain
103
al‑`Asr
al‑`asr
Time
104
al‑Humazah
al‑humazah
The Slanderer
105
al‑Fil
al‑feel
The Elephant
106
al‑Quraysh
al‑quraish
The Quraish
107
al‑Ma`un
al‑maa`oon
The Daily Necessaries
108
al‑Kauthar
al‑kauthar
Abundance
109
al‑Kafirun
al‑kaafiroon
The Unbelievers
110
an‑Nasr
an‑naSr
The Help
111
al‑Lahab
al‑lahab
The Flame
112
al‑Ikhlas
al‑ikhlaaS
The Unity
113
al‑Falaq
al‑falaq
The Daybreak
114
an‑Nas
an‑naas
The Men
The Koran
Long before Mohammed's call, Arabian paganism was showing signs of decay. At the Ka'ba the Meccans worshipped not only
Allah, the supreme Semitic God, but also a number of female deities whom they regarded as the daughters of Allah. Among
these were Al‑Lat, Al‑Uzzah and Al‑Manat, who represented the Sun, Venus and Fortune respectively. Impressed by Jewish
and Christian monotheism, a number of men known as 'hanifs' had already rejected idolatry for an ascetic religion of their own.
Mohammed appears to have been influenced by them. It was his habit to retire to a cave in the mountains in order to give
himself up to solitary prayer and meditation. According to Muslim tradition, one night in Ramadhan about the year 610, as he
was asleep or in a trance, the Angel Gabriel came to him and said: 'Recite!'. He replied: 'What shall I recite?'. The order was
repeated three times, until the angel himself said:
'Recite in the name of your Lord who created, created man from clots of blood. Recite! Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One,
who by the pen taught man what he did not know.'
When he awoke, these words, we are told, seemed to be 'inscribed upon his heart'.
Mohammed, who disclaimed power to perform miracles, firmly believed that he was a messenger of God, sent forth to confirm
previous scriptures. God had revealed His will to the Jews and the Christians through chosen apostles, but they disobeyed
God's commandments and divided themselves into schismatic sects. The Koran accuses the Jews of corrupting the Scriptures
and the Christians of worshipping Jesus as the son of God, although He had expressly commanded them to worship none but
Him. Having thus gone astray, they must be brought back to the right path, to the true religion preached by Abraham. This was
Islam ‑ absolute submission or resignation to the will of Allah.
The Bible compared with The Koran
The Bible
The Koran
The Bible teaches that Jesus came as redeemer and
deliverer from the sins of mankind.
The Koran teaches that
Mohammed came to
WARN.
God said, "I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your
head, and you shall bruise his heel."
Genesis 3:15
Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way, and the truth, and the
life; no one comes to the Father, but by me."
John 14:6
For our sake he (God) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew
no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of
God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers
by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us
by a Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, through
whom also he created the world.
Hebrews 1:1‑2
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that
whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal
life.
John 3:16
Jesus said to her (Martha), "I am the resurrection and the life;
he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."
John 11:25
Therefore give warning.
Your duty is only to warn
them: you are not their
keeper. As for those that
turn their backs and
disbelieve, Allah will
inflict on them the
supreme chastisement.
To Us they shall return,
and We will bring them
to account.
Sura 88:21
The unbelievers among
the People of the
Book(*) and the pagans
shall burn for ever in the
fire of Hell. They are the
vilest of all creatures.
Sura 98:6
People of the Book!(*)
Our apostle has come to
reveal to you our will
after an interval during
which there were no
apostles.
Sura 5:17
(*) 'People of the Book'
are the Jews
.