Surah
/ˈsʊə.rə/noun
A chapter of the Quran.
Did you know?Arabic sūrah is traditionally connected with the idea of an ordered section or rank, though scholars have also discussed possible influence from related Aramaic and Hebrew terms for a line or row.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Islamic Arabic
Arabic
sūrah
“A row, rank, degree, or ordered section; the exact early sense is debated.”
Late Antiquity
Arabic
sūrah
“A structured portion or section, a sense associated with the organization of Quranic revelation.”
7th Century
Arabic
sūrat
“A chapter or distinct unit of the Quran.”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
sūrah
“A Quranic chapter, each forming a named textual unit.”
17th Century
English
sura
“An English rendering for a chapter of the Quran.”
Modern English
English
surah
“A chapter of the Quran, commonly spelled with final -h.”