Meccan and Medinan surahs are the two groups into which scholars divide the Quran's 114 chapters based on when they were revealed. Meccan (Makki) surahs came before the Prophet Muhammad's migration from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE, and Medinan (Madani) surahs came after it.
On Quran Universe, every surah page shows a label reading Makkah or Madinah. This article explains what that label means, how Meccan vs Medinan surahs differ in style and content, which surahs belong to each group, and what we know about the revelation order of the Quran.
Key takeaways
- The Quran was revealed over about 23 years: roughly 13 years in Makkah (610–622 CE) and 10 years in Madinah (622–632 CE).
- Most scholars define a Meccan surah as one revealed before the Hijrah (migration) and a Medinan surah as one revealed after it, wherever the revelation took place.
- In the widely used classification followed on this site, 86 surahs are Meccan and 28 are Medinan, though scholars differ on a few surahs.
- Meccan surahs focus mainly on faith in one God, the afterlife and the stories of earlier prophets, while Medinan surahs add laws and guidance for a growing community.
- The Quran is not arranged in revelation order; the first verses revealed were the opening of Surah al-Alaq (96:1–5).
What does Makkah or Madinah on a surah mean?
The label tells you which period of the Prophet's mission a surah belongs to. Makkah is the city where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born and first received revelation. Madinah is the city several hundred kilometers to the north where he and his followers migrated in 622 CE, an event called the Hijrah, which also marks the start of the Islamic calendar.
The most common definition among scholars is based on time, not strict location. A verse revealed after the Hijrah counts as Medinan even if it came down in Makkah. A well-known example is the verse "This day I have perfected for you your religion," which, according to Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, was revealed at Arafah near Makkah during the Prophet's Farewell Pilgrimage, yet it is part of a Medinan surah, al-Ma'idah.
A surah's label describes it as a whole. Some Meccan surahs contain a few verses that scholars report were revealed in Madinah, and the reverse also occurs.
Meccan vs Medinan surahs: what is the difference?
The two periods were very different. In Makkah, the Muslims were a small, often persecuted minority calling people to belief in one God. In Madinah, they formed a community with their own society, so revelation also addressed law, family life, relations with neighbors and conflict.
Common features of Meccan surahs
- Shorter, rhythmic verses with powerful imagery
- A focus on the oneness of God (tawhid), the Day of Judgment, Paradise and Hell
- Stories of earlier prophets such as Noah, Abraham, Moses and Joseph, and how their peoples responded
- Arguments against idol worship and calls to reflect on nature
- Frequent oaths, such as "By time" or "By the sun"
Short Meccan surahs in the last part of the Quran show this style clearly.
By time, Indeed, mankind is in loss, Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
Common features of Medinan surahs
- Longer verses and longer surahs
- Detailed laws on prayer, fasting, charity, marriage, divorce, inheritance, trade and justice
- Frequent direct address to believers with "O you who have believed"
- Discussion of the hypocrites (munafiqun), who claimed faith publicly but opposed it in secret
- Guidance on relations with Jews and Christians, called the People of the Book, and on treaties and war
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -
These are general patterns, not strict rules. For example, the call "O mankind" appears in Medinan surahs too, such as Quran 49:13.
Why were the surahs revealed in stages?
The Quran itself explains that it was revealed gradually, not all at once. This allowed people to absorb its teachings step by step and strengthened the Prophet through difficult years.
And those who disbelieve say, "Why was the Qur'an not revealed to him all at once?" Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly.
Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, described this wisdom in a report in Sahih al-Bukhari. She said the first parts revealed spoke of Paradise and Hell, and only when people's faith was firm did rulings on what is lawful and unlawful come. If the first command had been "Do not drink wine," she said, people would have refused.
The gradual prohibition of intoxicants is a well-known example. An early Medinan verse noted that the harm of wine is greater than its benefit (Quran 2:219), a later one forbade coming to prayer intoxicated (Quran 4:43), and a final verse in al-Ma'idah prohibited it fully.
Makki and Madani surah list
Since the Meccan surahs are the large majority, the simplest way to present the full makki surah list is to name the Medinan ones. In the classification used on Quran Universe, these 28 surahs are Medinan:
al-Baqarah (2), Ali Imran (3), an-Nisa (4), al-Ma'idah (5), al-Anfal (8), at-Tawbah (9), ar-Ra'd (13), al-Hajj (22), an-Nur (24), al-Ahzab (33), Muhammad (47), al-Fath (48), al-Hujurat (49), ar-Rahman (55), al-Hadid (57), al-Mujadila (58), al-Hashr (59), al-Mumtahanah (60), as-Saf (61), al-Jumu'ah (62), al-Munafiqun (63), at-Taghabun (64), at-Talaq (65), at-Tahrim (66), al-Insan (76), al-Bayyinah (98), az-Zalzalah (99) and an-Nasr (110).
All the other 86 surahs are Meccan. These include al-Fatihah, Yusuf, al-Kahf, Maryam, Ya-Sin, al-Waqiah, al-Mulk and almost all of Juz Amma, including al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas.
Why do some lists differ?
Scholars agree on the great majority of surahs, but a few are disputed because the historical reports point in different directions. Surahs such as ar-Ra'd, ar-Rahman, al-Insan and az-Zalzalah are labeled Medinan in the list above, while many other scholars and printed copies classify them as Meccan. This is why you may see slightly different totals in other books and websites.
What is the revelation order of the Quran?
The Quran's order in the book is different from the order in which it was revealed. According to the account in Sahih al-Bukhari, the very first revelation was the opening of Surah al-Alaq, in the Cave of Hira.
Recite in the name of your Lord who created - Created man from a clinging substance. Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous - Who taught by the pen - Taught man that which he knew not.
After a pause, revelation resumed with the opening of al-Muddaththir, which called the Prophet to begin warning his people. Early lists of the order, compiled from reports of the companions and their students, place surahs such as al-Qalam, al-Muzzammil and al-Fatihah among the earliest. The chronological order printed in many modern copies of the Quran is based on these traditional lists, and scholars treat the exact sequence as approximate.
Scholars also differ on the last revelation. Reports mention Quran 2:281 as the last verse revealed, while a narration in Sahih Muslim describes an-Nasr as the last complete surah revealed at once.
Academic historians have proposed their own chronologies as well, often dividing the Meccan surahs into early, middle and late periods based on style. These broadly agree with the traditional view that short, rhythmic surahs came early and longer legal passages came later in Madinah.
Why the Meccan and Medinan classification matters
Knowing whether a surah is Meccan or Medinan is one of the basic tools of tafsir, the science of explaining the Quran. It helps readers understand who was being addressed, what situation the community was in, and how a teaching developed over time.
For Muslims, it adds depth to verses they recite every day. For newcomers, it explains why some surahs feel like urgent poetry and others like detailed guidance for daily life. You can learn more about how the book is structured in how many surahs and verses are in the Quran and how it was recorded in who wrote the Quran.
See the label on every surah
Every surah page on Quran Universe shows its Makkah or Madinah label beside its verse count, and the home page lists all 114 surahs with their labels. Open any verse to read the Arabic, the Sahih International translation, a short context card and Tafsir Ibn Kathir, which often explains when and why a passage was revealed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Makki and Madani surahs?
Makki (Meccan) surahs were revealed before the Prophet Muhammad's migration to Madinah in 622 CE, and Madani (Medinan) surahs were revealed after it. Makki surahs focus mostly on faith in one God, the afterlife and the stories of prophets. Madani surahs also include laws and guidance for running a Muslim community.
How many Meccan and Medinan surahs are in the Quran?
In the widely used classification followed on Quran Universe, 86 surahs are Meccan and 28 are Medinan. Some scholars classify a few surahs differently, such as ar-Rahman and al-Insan, so you may see slightly different totals. All agree that the Meccan surahs are the clear majority.
Is a Meccan surah always revealed in Makkah?
Not always. Most scholars define Meccan and Medinan by time rather than place, so the dividing line is the Hijrah in 622 CE. A verse revealed in Makkah after the Hijrah, such as during the Farewell Pilgrimage, is still counted as Medinan.
What was the first surah revealed in the Quran?
The first verses revealed were the first five verses of Surah al-Alaq, chapter 96, which begin with the command "Recite." They came to the Prophet Muhammad in the Cave of Hira near Makkah in 610 CE. Surah al-Fatihah is often described as the first complete surah revealed, though scholars discuss this.
Is the Quran arranged in the order of revelation?
No. The Quran is arranged with al-Fatihah first and then, broadly, from the longest surahs to the shortest. Most scholars hold that this arrangement was taught by the Prophet himself. The revelation order is known from historical reports, and scholars treat its exact sequence as approximate.
Why does Quran Universe label surahs Makkah or Madinah?
The label tells you which period of the Prophet's mission a surah belongs to. Knowing this helps you understand the context of its verses, who they addressed and what was happening at the time. It is a small detail that makes reading the Quran much clearer.