Questions Quran, dua and dhikr

How many books are in the Quran?

Checked by our team

Short answer

The Quran is one book, not a collection of books like the Bible. It has 114 surahs (chapters), divided for reading into 30 equal parts called juz and 7 parts called manzil. It also names earlier scriptures: the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel and the scrolls of Ibrahim and Musa.

Hanafi position

This is a factual question. Muslims believe the Quran is a single book revealed to one prophet, Muhammad ﷺ, over about 23 years, and that all 114 surahs are equally the word of Allah.

The four schools agree on this.

Explanation

The Bible is a library of many books written by different people over centuries. The Quran is different. It is one book, revealed by Allah to one messenger over about 23 years, and arranged by his instruction. Its 114 parts are called surahs, not books.

How the Quran is divided:

  • 114 surahs: from al-Fatiha to an-Nas. They vary from 3 ayat (al-Kawthar) to 286 ayat (al-Baqarah). See the list of the 114 surahs.
  • 30 juz (para): equal parts so that you can read the whole Quran in a month. See the juz list.
  • 7 manzil: parts for reading the Quran in a week.
  • Ruku': short passages marked in many South Asian copies.

These divisions were added later to help readers. The surahs and their order come from the Prophet ﷺ.

The books the Quran mentions. Muslims believe in all the scriptures Allah revealed. The Quran names the Torah (Tawrah) given to Musa, the Psalms (Zabur) given to Dawud, the Gospel (Injil) given to Isa, and the scrolls (suhuf) of Ibrahim and Musa. The Quran confirms the truth of what came before it and is the final revelation. See do Muslims believe in the Torah.

For more, read What is the Quran? and what a surah and an ayah are.

The evidence

Quran, Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:3

نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنزَلَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ ﴿٣﴾

He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.

The Quran confirms the earlier scriptures and names the Torah and the Gospel.

Quran 3:3, translation by Sahih International

Quran, Surah An-Nisaa 4:163

۞ إِنَّآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ كَمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ نُوحٍۢ وَٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَىٰ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَٰرُونَ وَسُلَيْمَٰنَ ۚ وَءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ زَبُورًۭا ﴿١٦٣﴾

Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].

The Psalms (Zabur) were given to Dawud.

Quran 4:163, translation by Sahih International

Quran, Surah Al-A'laa 87:18-19

إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَفِى ٱلصُّحُفِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ﴿١٨﴾ صُحُفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ ﴿١٩﴾

Indeed, this is in the former scriptures, The scriptures of Abraham and Moses.

The Quran mentions the scrolls of Ibrahim and Musa.

Quran 87:18-19, translation by Sahih International

Where the ruling is recorded

  • al-Itqan (al-Suyuti), Chapters on the number of surahs and on the parts of the Quran. Explains the 114 surahs and the later divisions into parts.

Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.