Chapters (Surahs)

The Holy Quran describes itself as a book of guidance, sometimes offering detailed accounts of specific historical events, and often emphasizing the moral significance of an event over its narrative sequence. As such, it is important to remember that since it’s not a book of stories, it’s not in any chronological order. I will add each segment here as I post them.

SURAHS I HAVE PUBLISHED AS BOOKS

18. Al Kahf (The Cave)	Verses 1-3 The Meccans device a plot to test the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the three questions. Verses 4-9 Allah warns the Christians that what they believe today (i.e. Trinity) is a false belief. Verses 10-18 In an answer to the first question, Allah recounts to the Muslims the story of the People of the Cave (Seven Sleepers of Ephesus) and their refuge. Verses 19-26 The miracle of Allah was revealed to the world as a sign, and why Muslims say “In Sha Allah”. Verses 27-46 The Parable of the Two Men. Verses 47-59 Allah describes the Day of Judgement, and warns mankind from taking Satan as a helper. He recounts to us the fateful end of those who do. Verses 60-78 The meeting of Prophet Musa (Moses) and Al Khidr (peace be upon them both), described by Allah as one “whom We had taught knowledge from Our Own Presence”. Verses 79-82 The mysterious ways of Al Khidr (peace be upon him) and his actions are explained to Prophet Musa (Moses – peace be upon him). Verses 83-91 In an answer to the second question, Allah talks about the voyages of Zul Qarnayn and the people of the West and the East. Verses 92-110 The story of Zul Qarnayn and the wall of the people of Gog and Magog, and the answer to the final question, along with conclusion and lessons.
20. Ta Ha	Verses 1-3 Allah reveals Surah Ta Ha to comfort the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and to provide him a role model to emulate. Verses 4-9 Allah reminds the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about the majestic and heavenly origins of the Message, and then gives him a role model to emulate. Verses 10-12 Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) is travelling through the desert with his family when he sees a strange fire in the distance. Verses 13-24 Allah makes Musa (peace be upon him) a Messenger and gives him two miracles as signs. Verses 25-36 Musa (peace be upon him) asks Allah for a helper from his family. Verses 37-41 Allah reminds Musa (peace be upon him) of His past favours upon Musa, and how He has protected Musa throughout his life for him to fulfill his chosen destiny. Verses 42-44 Musa (peace be upon him) becomes a Messenger and a Prophet of Allah with a mission, and Allah gives him instructions on how to preach to the cruel Pharaoh. Verses 45-48 Musa and Harun (peace be upon them) pray to Allah for Divine Guidance and Help before preparing to confront the Pharaoh. Verses 49-50 Musa and Harun (peace be upon them) go to the Pharaoh’s court and announce themselves as Messengers of Allah, the One and Only True God. Verses 51-55 Musa and Harun (peace be upon them) inform the Pharaoh’s court about God. The Pharaoh is not impressed. Verse 56 Musa (peace be upon him) shows Pharaoh the Signs of Allah granted to him. Verses 57-59 Musa (peace be upon him) challenges the Pharaoh to a duel between Allah’s Signs and the Pharaoh’s magicians. Verse 60 The Pharaoh puts together an elite team of magicians to take on Musa (peace be upon him). Verses 61-64 Musa (peace be upon him) tries to warn the magicians about their evil before the duel. Verse 65 The great duel between the magicians of the Pharaoh and Musa (peace be upon him) begins. Verses 66-68 The magicians of the Pharaoh strike fear into the heart of Musa (peace be upon him), but Allah tells him to fear not. Verses 69 – 71 When Musa (peace be upon him) displays the Sign from Allah, the magicians understand this is no mere magic. They immediately embrace his message, much to the anger of the Pharaoh. Verses 72 – 76 The Pharaoh decides to make an example of the now defiant magicians, but it ends in utter humiliation for him. Between verses 76 & 77 – The martyrdom of Aasiya Following the defeat by Musa (peace be upon him), the Pharaoh suffers another humiliation when his own wife converts to the true faith, and he decides to make an example of her. Between verses 76 & 77 – Preaching to and preparing the Children of Israel for the Exodus Musa and Harun (peace be upon them) preach to the Children of Israel and try to instill God consciousness in them. They also make extensive practical plans to prepare their people for the Exodus. Between verses 76 & 77 – The Increasing Tyranny of the Pharaoh Unable to suppress Musa and Harun (peace be upon them), the Pharaoh increases his oppression of the Children of Israel. Between verses 76 & 77 – The Plagues of Egypt As a warning to the Pharaoh and his followers, Allah sends down various plagues upon Egypt. Between verses 76 & 77 – The Believer in the Pharaoh’s Family As the Pharaoh intensifies the persecution of the Children of Israel, a member of his own ruling elite becomes a believer in the message of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him). Between verses 76 & 77 – When the Water Turned to Blood The Pharaoh becomes more arrogant, and Allah turns the waters of Egypt into blood. Between verses 76 & 77 – Finally, the Children of Israel departs Egypt When Musa (peace be upon him) is convinced that the Pharaoh won’t change, he makes a prayer to Allah. The Children of Israel collect gold from Egyptian women, and Allah instructs the Children of Israel to leave Egypt. To be continued …
71. Nuh (Noah)	Introduction (Part 1) An introduction to the story of Prophet Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him), and the link between him and Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). Introduction (Part 2) The start of idolatry, and how Satan duped a very early generation of humans to start revering graven images. Introduction (Part 3) With the worship of idols and the rise of paganism, the nascent human society becomes more corrupt and more selfish. Verses 1-4 Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) begins Allah’s call to the earliest group of disbelievers to call them back to the worship of Allah alone. Verses 5-16 Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) tries various methods by which to spread Allah’s message and appeal to his people. Verses 17-20 Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) remains patient and steadfast, and perseveres in preaching to his stubborn community for 950 years. Verses 21-28 The fateful prayer of Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him), when his people plotted to kill him. Conclusion (Part 1) After Allah reveals to Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) that no one else would accept the truth, the Believers start building the Ark. Conclusion (Part 2) The Flood purifies the world from idolatry and the Believers are saved. Conclusion (Part 3) and Morals The conclusion to the story of Prophet Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him) and the lessons and morals from this Surah.

SURAHS ON THE WEBSITE ONLY

4. Nisaa (Women)	Verse 34 Does the Holy Quran sanction wife beating and spousal abuse? The khatib explains why not, and how domestic abuse is un-Islamic. Verse 35 Allah explains on how to reconcile warring spouses.
12. Yusuf (Joseph)	Verses 1-6 The dream of a young infant Yusuf (Joseph – peace be upon him), and the jealousy of his older step brothers. Verses 7-15 The jealousy of the brothers take a dark turn, and their evil deed. Verses 16-19 The brothers lie to their father Yaqub (Jacob – peace be upon him), and a caravan bound for Egypt picks up Yusuf (Joseph – peace be upon him) from the well. Verses 20-21 A young Yusuf (peace be upon him) is sold to the Aziz as a slave in Egypt. Verses 22-25 The wife of the Aziz invites a now young adult Yusuf (peace be upon him) to sin, and he refuses and attempts to run away. Verses 26-29 Yusuf (peace be upon him) defends himself against accusations of impropriety, and is proved innocent. Verses 30-31 The wife of the Aziz invites the ladies of the city to a banquet, Yusuf (peace be upon him) is presented before the ladies. Verses 32-35 Yusuf (peace be upon him) chooses to be imprisoned rather than commit sin, and asks Allah for help in fighting the temptations of Zuleikha. Verses 36-42 Yusuf (peace be upon him) befriends two prisoners, a cup bearer and a baker, and interprets their dreams for them. Verses 43-46 Many years later, the King of Egypt sees a very strange dream, and his servant recalls Yusuf (peace be upon him) and his skills at interpreting dreams. Verses 47-57 The King of Egypt reopens the case against Yusuf (peace be upon him), who is found innocent of all charges, and he is made the governor of Egypt. Verse 58 Years later, in the midst of the famine, the brothers of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) travel to Egypt for food. Verses 59-62 The brothers do not recognize Yusuf (peace be upon him), who supplies them with food and devises a plan to get hold of his full brother. Verses 63-68 The brothers convince Yaqub (peace be upon him) to let Ben Yamin accompany the older step brothers to Egypt. Verses 69-81 Ben Yamin is detained in Egypt, and now the step brothers are in trouble. Verses 82-92 Finally, Yusuf (peace be upon him) reveals his identity to his brothers, and a beautiful example of forgiveness is revealed. Verses 93-100 Yaqub (peace be upon him) regains his eyesight, and is reunited with his son Yusuf (peace be upon him) after many years. This is the story of how the Children of Israel came to settle in Egypt. Verses 101-111 The conclusion to the story of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him), and how the story of people from a bygone era is meant as a lesson for people of understanding.
17. Bani Israel (The Children of Israel)	Verse 85 The answer to the third question posed to test the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
19. Maryam (Mary)	Verses 16-26 The story of Maryam (Mary – peace be upon her) and the miraculous birth of Prophet Isa (Jesus – peace be upon him). Verses 27-40 Maryam (Mary – peace be upon her) returns to her people; the story of the first miracle of Prophet Isa (Jesus – peace be upon him). Allah warns those who say He beget a son.
28. Al Qasas (The Story)	Verses 1-7 Allah talks about the birth of Prophet Musa (Moses – peace be upon him), and how the cruelty of the Pharoah forced his mother into a drastic action. Verses 8-13 Allah talks about the promise He made to the mother of Prophet Musa (Moses – peace be upon him), and how God’s promises are always fulfilled.
30. Ar Rum (The Romans)	Verses 1-5 The battle between the Romans and the Persians, and a bold prophecy by the Holy Quran. Verses 6-7 Despite all signs to the contrary, the Prophecy of the Romans comes true.
55. Ar Rahman (The Beneficent)	Verses 1-6 A Surah often called “adornment of the Holy Quran” starts by listing Allah as the (Most) Beneficent, and counts a few of His blessings, such as the creation of man. Verses 7-18 Allah talks about the heavens and the earth, and the various fruits and blessings He has made for man (and Jinn) on the earth. Verses 19-28 Allah points out the blessings in different water bodies (such as salt and fresh water) that do not mix, and warns us that one day it will all end. Verses 29-38 Allah informs us that we can never escape the physical universe save with His permission, and one day we all will have to return to Him. Verses 39-45 Allah informs Man and Jinn about the consequences that await the guilty and the sinners on the Day of Judgement.
60. Al Mumtahina (She That Is To Be Examined)	Verses 1-2 Can Muslims be friends with non-Muslims? The story of Haatib and the letter, and the answer to the question. Verses 3-9 Can a Muslim be friends with a non-Muslim? Of course, as Allah clarifies, and story of the relationship between a father and his son, the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham – peace be upon him). Verse 10 Can a Muslim marry a non-Muslim? The prohibition first came to place during 6 AH (628 AD), and the events behind the prohibition is explained. Verses 11 – 13 Can a Muslim marry a non-Muslim? No, says the Holy Quran, and explains the procedure for Muslims already married to non-Muslim spouses when the prohibition came down.
63. Al Munafiqoon (The Hypocrites)	Verses 1-8 Let’s meet a Hypocrite today. The aftermath of the Battle of Muraisi and Abdullah Ibn Ubayy. Verses 9-11 Allah instructs Muslims to be generous, and to spend in His way and give in charity.
72. Al Jinn (The Jinn)	Verses 1 – 5 Allah introduces the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and us Muslims, to the Jinn. Verses 6 – 17 The Jinns talk about their journeys to the heavens, and of the various religious views in their community.
73. Al Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One)	Verses 1-9 Muslims are instructed to pray at night and recite the Holy Quran in a melodious fashion. Verses 10-19 Muslims have to deal with those who ridicule them in a patient manner, as Allah promises to deal with them in a befitting manner. A warning is given to those that reject Islam. Verse 20 This is how Islam is supposed to be practiced – moderately and without subjecting one’s self to unnecessary hardships. Allah is the Most Merciful.
83. Al Mutaffifin (The Defrauders)	Verses 1-6 Allah declares a terrible end for those that defraud people. Verses 7-17 What is the “Sijjin”? Verses 18-28 What is the “Illiyun”? Verses 29-36 Those that defraud people can laugh and rejoice temporarily, but the Holy Quran warns them of their fateful end.
91. Shams (The Sun)	Verses 1-15 Who is successful, and who is a failure? The story of the people of Thamud, and the camel.
94. Al Inshirah (Relief)	Verses 1-8 Hardships are a part of life, as are blessings, Allah teaches us. “Verily, with every difficulty, there is relief”.
95. At Tin (The Fig)	Verses 1 – 8 Allah talks about how He created man in the best of stature, and how man sinks to the lowest of the low (and who are the exceptions).
96. Al Alaq (The Clot)	Verses 1-5 The story of the very first revelation of the Holy Quran‘s verses, and how it all began.
99. Al Zalzala (The Earthquake)	Verses 1-8 The story of how it will all end. The Big Earthquake, and the rewards of good deeds and the punishment of evil deeds.
100. Al Adiyat (The Chargers)	Verses 1-11 In ancient times, Arab raiders used to strike unsuspecting victims at dawn. Today, there are those that profit from similar crimes. Allah warns mankind about loving wealth, and warns about the Day of Judgement.
101. Al Qariah (The Calamitous Event)	Verses 1-11 On the Day of Judgement, it is one’s actions that will determine one’s fate. Allah warns mankind from committing evil deeds, and promises us Paradise for good deeds.
102. Takasur (Worldly Competition)	Verses 1-8 Allah cautions us to be not of those who are just busy in the accumulation of wealth and worldly gains, losing sight of ethics, morality and religion, giving in to greed and envy.
103. Al Asr (Time)	Verses 1-3 Considered as one of the most important chapters of the Holy Quran, Allah reveals the secrets to mankind on how not to lose the battle against Time.
104. Al Humaza (The Gossipmonger)	Verses 1-9 The Holy Quran teaches us that he who gossips, backbites and hoards wealth – his end is not good.
105. Al Fil (The Elephant)	Verses 1-5 The story of Abraha, and how Allah protects the city of Mecca from the Army of the Elephants.
107. Al Maun (Alms giving)	Verses 1-3 Allah tells us of the one who denies the judgement to come. Verses 4-7 “Woe to the worshippers”. Allah warns mankind of those who worship to be seen.
108. Kausar (Abundance)	Verses 1-3 Who will be the one who is without Future Hope?
109. Al Kafirun (The Unbelievers)	Verses 1-6 The Holy Quran‘s stance on diversity of religions and freedom of faith is summed up by Verse 6 of this Surah.
110. Al Nasr (Divine Help)	Verses 1-3 When Allah grants victory, glorify His praises, and ask for forgiveness. The last complete Surah of the Holy Quran to be revealed, this Surah talks about the Conquest of Mecca, and how a Muslim should remain humble and seek forgiveness from his Lord, even after a great Victory.
111. – Al Masadd (Palm Fibre)	Verses 1-5 The story of Abu Lahab and his enmity towards the Muslims.
112. Al Ikhlas (The Purity)	Verses 1-4 The Islamic declaration of Monotheism, a concept of God and negation of associating partners with the One.

More info: Chapter titles are derived from a name or quality discussed in the text, or from the first letters or words of the Surah. Muslims believe that Muhammad, on Allah’s command, gave the chapters their names. Generally, longer chapters appear earlier in the Holy Quran, while the shorter ones appear later. The chapter arrangement is thus not connected to the sequence of revelation.