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I know maybe it's not a unfamiliar question in the Internet. I listened Islamic scholars such as Dr. Zakir - The idea that I've is that the names were created by humans to make more easy process's in identifying Al-Quran parts in which the Quran is involved... Such as praying, referencing more easily some part of te Al-Quran to a friend... But since I'm skeptic by nature, I would like to know different answers than my own.

How were the Surahs of the Qur'an named?

Even if they're just different views, and different scientific hypothesis, I would like to know them.

2 Answers 2

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There's a kind of difference of opinion on whether the names of the surahs of the qur'an are proven to be given by the prophet () through divine guidance (this is often referred to as tawqeef التوقيف in Arabic language) and means that Allah revealed them to Muhammad () and he instructed his companions (the sahabah) to give them these names or whether they are based on ijtihad (use of own effort and mind in absence of textual sources and revelation) of the sahabah () (the so called companions of the prophet ()) as we know the collection and compilation of the qur'an in one book has been established after the time of the prophet ().

Among the scholars who considered it as tawqeef we find imam ibn Jarir at-Tabari and imam Jalal ad-Dyn as-Suyuti who even considered this as the only correct opinion in his famous book on the sciences of Qur'an al-Itqan fi 'uloom al-Qur'an (الإتقان).

Imam Ibn Jareer at-Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The surahs of the Qur’an have names that were given to them by the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). End quote.

As-Suyooti (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is proven that all the names of the surahs are the matter of tawqeef, based on hadiths and reports. Were it not that I fear it would take too long, I would have explained that. End quote. (Source islamqa #131664)

and similarly said the majority of scholars. Their strongest evidence is this hadith on the compilation of the qur'an and order of the surahs in Jami' at-Tirmidhi at the time of 'Othman ibn 'Affan.

However the fact that some surah's have a couple of different names creates a hint of a doubt: Like al-Faithah which has several names (many of them have been quoted in the sunnah) and surah 9 which is called: Bara'ah (based on the word it begins with) and surat at-Tawabah, surah 17 is known as al-Isra'a and surat Bani Israel etc.

Some scholars therefore said it is mostly tawqeef while the majority says it is tawqeef others said both statements have the same meaning.

Actually the sunnah shows that the names of the surahs as we know by now were known at the time of the prophet () which is a proof for these statements, here a few examples:

  • Do not make your houses as graveyards. Satan runs away from the house in which Surah Baqara is recited. (Sahih Muslim)

  • Surat Bani-lsrael, Al-Kahf (The Cave), Maryam, Taha, Al-Anbiya' (The prophets) are amongst my first earnings and my old property, and (in fact) they are my old property. (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  • The Greatest Name of Allah, if He is called by which He will respond, is in three Surah: Al-Baqarah, Al 'Imran and Ta-Ha. (Hasan)Another chain for something similar from Al-Qasim, from Abu Umamah, from the Prophet (saas). (Sunan ibn Majah)

So what we can safely say is that the names (even different names) of the surahs were known by the sahabah () and one can find backup for them being called so by the prophet () himself for a whole lot of them and later generations mostly considered them as given by divine guidance and therefore considered giving them other names as unlawful.

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  • @bcloney the term sahabah is common knowledge stop commenting comments are not meant to stay forever.
    – Medi1Saif
    Mar 27, 2020 at 8:08
  • Please read this, it will help you to make better comments. Please please don't demean my knowledge (or lack of), I didn't offended you. I am here precisely to learn more.
    – AnteDeum
    Mar 27, 2020 at 8:19
  • @bcloney none is offending you I'm telling you that comments have a special purpose. And they will be deleted. I don't know what you intend to say withbl:"But since most names (if not all) were used by prophet Mohammed (saws) when he was alive, most of them were adopted (if not all)."
    – Medi1Saif
    Mar 27, 2020 at 8:24
  • The names I am refering are in-scope of the answer. (Surah names)
    – AnteDeum
    Mar 27, 2020 at 8:30
  • That's clear, but what do you intend with these comment if it is a repetition of information then these are candidates for deleting.
    – Medi1Saif
    Mar 27, 2020 at 8:31
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Surah names were identified by the Messenger ﷺ. There are multiple hadiths where surah names are mentioned.

More information can be found in this (Arabic) fatwa:
https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/9138/

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  • Thanks Do you know a english translation?
    – AnteDeum
    Mar 27, 2020 at 22:58
  • Sorry, @AnteDeum, I don't. Sometimes, replacing ar with en in the URL shows a translation if there is one, but I couldn't find one for this particular fatwa.
    – Hosam Aly
    May 3, 2020 at 22:11

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