| |
The Koran consists of 114 chapters of varying lengths, each
known as a sura. Chapters are classed as Mecca or Medina, depending on where the
verses were revealed. Chapter titles are derived from a name or quality
discussed in the text, or from the first letters or words of the sura. Muslims
believe that Muhammad, on God's command, gave the chapters their names.
Generally, longer chapters appear earlier in the Quran, while the shorter ones
appear later. The chapter arrangement is thus not connected to the sequence of
revelation. Each sura, with the exception of one, commences with the Basmala. an
Arabic phrase meaning ("In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"), with
the exception of the ninth chapter. There are, however, still 114 occurrences of
the basmala in the Quran, due to its presence in verse 27:30 as the opening of
Solomon's letter to the Queen of Sheba.
Each sura is formed from several ayat (verses), which originally means a sign or
portent sent by God. The number of ayat differ from sura to sura. |
.gif){kind=small}
.gif){kind=small}