suura

Suura is a transliteration variant of the Arabic term سُورة (sūrah), which designates a chapter of the Qur’an, the central religious text of Islam. In English and many other languages, the standard renderings are “surah” or “sura,” and the plural form is suwar or suwarah depending on transliteration.

The Qur’an is divided into 114 surahs, arranged in a fixed order rather than strictly by length. Surah names are usually derived from a distinctive word, theme, or subject found within the chapter, such as Al-Fatiha (The Opening), Al-Baqarah (The Cow), or Maryam (Mary). Each surah consists of a varying number of verses, known as ayat, ranging from a small handful to as many as 286 in a single surah.

Scholarly study classifies surahs as Meccan or Medinan, indicating where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have revealed them. Meccan surahs are typically earlier in date and often focus on faith and doctrine, while Medinan surahs tend to address community laws and social guidance. Some surahs display characteristics that scholars attribute to both periods, and precise dating can be debated.

Historically, the compilation and standardization of the Qur’an into a fixed text with its chapter divisions are traditionally associated with the Caliph Uthman in the 7th century CE, a process aimed at preserving a single, authoritative text. In textual studies, ayat numbers within surahs aid reference and exegesis but do not alter the central structure of the chapters themselves.

In other languages or transliteration traditions, the term suura may appear as a variant form, but the conventional English term remains surah. The concept is primarily central to Islamic studies, Qur’anic exegesis, and religious education.