# Meccan and Medinan Surahs: What the Labels Mean

The labels are chronological, not geographical — they mark whether a surah was revealed before or after the migration to Madinah.

## What is the difference between Meccan and Medinan surahs?

A Meccan surah is one revealed before the Prophet's migration to Madinah, and a Medinan surah is one revealed after it. The distinction is about time rather than place: a passage revealed near Makkah after the migration is still classed as Medinan. Of the 114 surahs, 86 are Meccan and 28 are Medinan.

## Why chronology and not location

The migration is the dividing line because it marks a change in the community's circumstances, from a small persecuted group to an established society. Classifying by that event rather than by geography keeps the label meaningful: it tells you the setting a surah addresses.

## Order of revelation against order in the mushaf

The surahs are not arranged in the order they were revealed. Al-Fatihah is first in the mushaf but fifth in revelation order; Al-Alaq, widely held to contain the first revealed verses, is 96th in the mushaf. Every surah page on this site lists both numbers.

## Length is not a reliable guide

Meccan surahs are often shorter and Medinan ones longer, but that is a tendency and not a rule. Al-Baqarah is Medinan and the longest; Al-Anam is Meccan and also long. The classification is recorded rather than inferred.

## Common questions

**How many Meccan and Medinan surahs are there?**

86 Meccan and 28 Medinan, by the classification this site uses.

**Can one surah contain both?**

Some surahs are held to contain verses from both periods. The label reflects the classification of the surah as a whole.

**Where can I see which is which?**

Every surah page here states it, and the surah index labels all 114.

## See this on the site

- [Browse all 114 surahs, each labelled Meccan or Medinan](https://quranonlineread.com/quran/)
- [Surah Al-Alaq — the first revealed](https://quranonlineread.com/quran/al-alaq/)
- [Surah Al-Baqarah — a Medinan surah](https://quranonlineread.com/quran/al-baqarah/)

## Related

- [What a Juz Is, and Why the Quran Has 30](https://quranonlineread.com/learn/what-is-a-juz/)
- [How to Read a Quran Reference Like 2:255](https://quranonlineread.com/learn/understanding-verse-references/)

## Source

Published by: QuranOnline
Canonical page: https://quranonlineread.com/learn/meccan-and-medinan-surahs/
Last updated: 2026-09-08T17:04:00.171Z
Editorial policy: https://quranonlineread.com/about/#editorial