The Qur'an contains 114 chapters, called Surahs, of different lengths. They are not arranged according to the order in which they were revealed, so you do not need to approach the Qur'an like a chronological history book.
The Qur'an
A Message From Your Creator
The final revelation from your Creator, with guidance for life, faith, and the Hereafter.
What Is the Qur'an?
The Qur'an is the speech of Allah, revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through the angel Jibrīl (Gabriel). Muhammad ﷺ did not author the Qur'an; his duty was to receive, convey, teach, and live by the revelation sent to him.
Allah describes the Qur'an as guidance for humanity, with clear proofs that distinguish truth from falsehood. It teaches us who our Creator is, why we are here, how He wants us to live, and what awaits us after death.
The Qur'an was revealed in clear Arabic, and its message is for all humanity.
The Same Call of the Prophets
The Qur'an does not present Islam as a new religion invented by Muhammad ﷺ. It teaches that Allah sent messengers throughout human history—including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, peace be upon them—with the same foundation: worship the One Creator and do not worship anything besides Him.
Their revealed laws contained differences appropriate to their peoples and times, but the foundation of their religion was submission to the One God.
The Qur'an is the final revelation. It confirms the truth originally revealed before it and stands as the final authority over previous scriptures.
Before You Begin
You will encounter commands, questions, promises, warnings, accounts of earlier peoples, descriptions of Paradise and Hellfire, signs in creation, and repeated invitations to think and reflect.
Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and many other prophets appear throughout the Qur'an. Their stories emphasize faith, obedience, patience, repentance, and the call to worship God alone.
Themes often appear across different Surahs rather than being confined to a single chapter. As you read, look for the central message connecting them: who Allah is, why He created us, and how we should respond to Him.
The Qur'an calls people to reflect, not merely to finish its pages. Read thoughtfully. Pause when something raises a question, and continue learning as the Qur'an explains its message across different passages.
Reading the Qur'an in English
Arabic Qur'an
The revealed Qur'anic text
Translation
A translation of its meanings
Arabic revealed text and translated meanings are related, but not identical.
The Qur'an was revealed in Arabic. What you read in English—or any other language—is a translation of its meanings, helping you understand the message of the Arabic revelation.
Translations are extremely useful for understanding, but no translation can reproduce every meaning and linguistic feature of the original Arabic.
You do not need to know Arabic before you begin reading the Qur'an.
You can use the ISA reader to view the Arabic, the translation, or both together.
Where Should I Start?
Start Here
Al-Fatihah
The Opening · 7 verses
A short prayer that introduces some of the Qur'an's greatest themes: worship, dependence upon God, and asking Him to guide us to the straight path.
Start with Al-Fatihah →Alternate
Al-Ikhlas
Sincerity of Faith · 4 verses
Concise declaration of who God is. Only four verses, but a direct declaration of who God is: One, perfect and self-sufficient, neither born nor giving birth, with nothing comparable to Him.
Read Al-Ikhlas →Alternate
Maryam
Mary · 98 verses
Useful for readers familiar with Jesus and Mary. An account involving Mary, Jesus, Zechariah, John, Abraham, and other prophets. Especially helpful for readers familiar with Biblical figures who want to understand how the Qur'an speaks about them.
Read Maryam →You can also begin from Al-Fatihah and continue through the Qur'an in order. There is no requirement that a first-time reader begin with these recommendations.
What Will You Find?
The CreatorPurpose of LifeThe ProphetsWorshipMercy & ForgivenessAccountabilityParadise & HellfireGuidance
Ready to Begin?
The best way to understand what the Qur'an says is to read it for yourself.
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About this Qur'an reader: Sources & Attribution →