Short answer
Scholars group the ayat of the Quran in several ways: Makki and Madani (revealed before or after the Hijrah), muhkam and mutashabih (clear and less clear in meaning, 3:7), abrogating and abrogated (nasikh and mansukh), and by subject, such as ayat of law, belief, stories, parables and dua.
This is a topic of the Quranic sciences ('ulum al-Quran). For law, the Hanafi usul scholars build rulings on the clear ayat, interpret the less clear in their light, and give weight to the later revelation where two rulings conflict.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
- Makki and Madani: ayat revealed before the Hijrah are called Makki; those after are Madani, even if revealed in Makkah. Makki ayat focus on belief, the afterlife and the stories of the prophets; Madani ayat add laws on family, trade, war and society.
- Muhkam and mutashabih: Allah says some ayat are precise, "the foundation of the Book", and others are unspecific (3:7). The clear ayat explain the rest. The ayah warns against chasing the unclear ones to cause confusion.
- Nasikh and mansukh: some later ayat replaced the ruling of earlier ones, as in the stages of the ban on alcohol. The Quran states the principle in 2:106.
- Ayat al-ahkam: the ayat of law, about 500 by a common estimate, which the fuqaha study most closely.
- Stories, parables and oaths: the stories of the prophets, the parables Allah strikes for people, and the oaths by the dawn, the sun and the fig.
- Ayat of sajdah: 14 places where a prostration is due: see sajdah tilawat.
These categories help scholars understand and apply the Quran, and help you read it with more insight. A good translation with notes, or a short course in 'ulum al-Quran, introduces them. See what is a surah and an ayah, what the Quran contains and What is the Quran?
The evidence
Quran, Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:7
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مِنْهُ ءَايَٰتٌۭ مُّحْكَمَٰتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَٰبِهَٰتٌۭ ۖ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌۭ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَٰبَهَ مِنْهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ ٱلْفِتْنَةِ وَٱبْتِغَآءَ تَأْوِيلِهِۦ ۗ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَٱلرَّٰسِخُونَ فِى ٱلْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ كُلٌّۭ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ ﴿٧﴾
It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding.
The Quran divides its own ayat into clear and less clear.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:106
۞ مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ ءَايَةٍ أَوْ نُنسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍۢ مِّنْهَآ أَوْ مِثْلِهَآ ۗ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ ﴿١٠٦﴾
We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is over all things competent?
The basis of abrogation.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Itqan (al-Suyuti), Chapters on Makki and Madani, muhkam and mutashabih, and abrogation. The standard work on the sciences of the Quran.
- Usul al-Shashi, Sections on the Book, the clear and the ambiguous. Hanafi usul on how ayat are classified for law.
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.