surah

A woman wears a beautiful surah scarf to a garden party.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chapter of the Quran: "surah" (also spelled "sura") refers to any of the 114 chapters into which the Quran, the central religious text of Islam, is divided. Each surah is a distinct unit of revelation, varying in length and thematic content.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The first surah of the Quran is called Al-Fatiha, or "The Opening." (The initial chapter of the Islamic holy book.)
  • Muslims often recite a surah during their daily prayers. (A chapter from the Quran is spoken as part of worship.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have a surah memorized": to know a specific chapter of the Quran by heart.

  • She has memorized the shortest surah, Al-Kawthar. (She can recite the entire chapter from memory.)

• "a surah revealed in Mecca": a surah that was given to the Prophet Muhammad during his time in Mecca, often focusing on spiritual and theological themes.

  • Surah Al-Ikhlas is a Meccan surah emphasizing the oneness of God. (This chapter originates from the early Meccan period.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sura (n): an alternative spelling of "surah."

  • The term "sura" is often used interchangeably with "surah" in English texts. (Both spellings refer to a Quranic chapter.)

• Surah number (n): the numerical order of a surah within the Quran.

  • Surah 2 is the longest chapter in the Quran. (The second surah is known as Al-Baqarah.)

Synonyms

• Chapter: a division of a book or religious text.
• Section: a distinct part of a larger work.

Phrasal Verbs

Related Idioms