Sūrah 25 · Meccan

How Sūrah Al-Furqaan was revealed.

Where and when it came down, what it teaches, and the hadith about it — all on one calm page.

Read Al-Furqaan → The revelation story
Where revealed Meccan

Revealed in the Meccan period, before the migration to Madīnah.

Order of revelation #42

Its place in the traditional order in which the sūrahs were revealed.

Length 77 ayahs

6 reading sections in the Muṣḥaf.

The revelation story

How and when it came down.

This Makkan surah establishes the Quran as al-Furqān (The Criterion). Its purpose is built on three pillars: proving the prophethood of Muḥammad (ﷺ) as a universal warner and that the Quran is revealed from Allah; proving the Resurrection and recompense; and affirming Allah’s absolute Oneness (refuting the idea of offspring or partners to Allah). It also strengthens the Prophet (ﷺ) to persevere against the disbelievers by recalling the denial of earlier messengers and hinting at a near punishment for the mockers, before closing with a comprehensive description of the spiritual and moral characteristics of the perfect believer.

Themes and purpose:

This Makkan surah establishes the Quran as al-Furqān (The Criterion). Its purpose is built on three pillars: proving the prophethood of Muḥammad (ﷺ) as a universal warner and that the Quran is revealed from Allah; proving the Resurrection and recompense; and affirming Allah’s absolute Oneness (refuting the idea of offspring or partners to Allah). It also strengthens the Prophet (ﷺ) to persevere against the disbelievers by recalling the denial of earlier messengers and hinting at a near punishment for the mockers, before closing with a comprehensive description of the spiritual and moral characteristics of the perfect believer.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan according to the vast majority.

Chronology: It has been counted as the 42nd surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat Yā-Sīn and before Fāṭir.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah's name "Sūrat al-Furqān" (The Criterion) has been established from the time of the Prophet (ﷺ). It is named for the word al-Furqān (The Criterion, referring to the Quran) which is mentioned three times (at the beginning, middle, and end).

Ayah Count: 77 āyāt by unanimous agreement of the scholars of counting.

Surah Overview:

  • Establishing the Prophet's mission as universal, a "warner to all the nations/worlds". [1]
  • The Revelation: Praising Allah, proving the Quran is revealed from Allah, and confirming the Prophet's (ﷺ) truthfulness despite his people's rejection. [1-7]
  • Tawḥīd: Proving Allah's Oneness, refuting shirk, and explicitly invalidating the claims that angels are His daughters or that He has a son. [2-3]
  • Answering their allegation that the Quran is fabricated or “legends of the ancients”. [4-6]
  • Answering their objection to the Prophet’s (ﷺ) humanity and their demands for worldly “proofs”. [7-8]
  • The Hereafter: Proving the Resurrection and Judgment, warning of regret for disbelievers, and describing the reward for the righteous. [15, 27-29]
  • Answering their demand to see angels directly. [21-22]
  • Answering their objection as to why the Quran was not revealed all at once. [32-33]
  • Consoling the Prophet (ﷺ) with the example of past nations (Moses, Noah, ʿĀd, Thamūd, etc.) who faced rejection. [35-40]
  • Warning of Punishment: Hinting at a swift and impending punishment for the mockers. [37-39]
  • Steadfastness and reliance: Directing the Prophet (ﷺ) to persevere, strive against the rejecters with the Quran, place his trust in Allah, and clarifying that he seeks no worldly reward. [52, 57-58]
  • Praising the Believers: Concluding with a beautiful and detailed description of the virtues and character of the "Servants of the Most Merciful". [63-76]

Sūrah background — via the Quran Foundation Content API. Shown as supplied by the provider. We do not edit, summarise or generate it.

Hadith about this sūrah

What the hadith say.

These 13 narrations in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī are connected to specific āyāt of this sūrah — a linkage reviewed by the Quran Foundation. Open any one to read it in full, in Arabic and English.

  1. Relates to āyah30
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4819

    حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مِنْهَالٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَعْلَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ ‏﴿‏وَنَادَوْا يَا مَالِكُ لِيَقْضِ عَلَيْنَا رَبُّكَ‏﴾‏ وَقَالَ قَتَادَةُ مَثَلاً لِلآخِرِينَ عِظَةً ‏لِمَنْ بَعْدَهُمْ.‏ وَقَالَ غَيْرُهُ ‏{‏مُقْرِنِينَ‏}‏ ضَابِطِينَ يُقَالُ فُلاَنٌ مُقْرِنٌ لِفُلاَنٍ ضَابِطٌ لَهُ وَالأَكْوَابُ الأَبَارِيقُ الَّتِي لاَ خَرَاطِيمَ لَهَا. وَقَالَ قَتَادَةُ: ‏﴿في أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ﴾: جُمْلَةِ الْكِتَابِ أَصْلِ الْكِتَابِ ‏﴿‏أَوَّلُ الْعَابِدِينَ‏﴾‏ أَىْ مَا كَانَ فَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الأَنِفِينَ وَهُمَا لُغَتَانِ رَجُلٌ عَابِدٌ وَعَبِدٌ وَقَرَأَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ ‏﴿‏وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ‏﴾‏ وَيُقَالُ أَوَّلُ الْعَابِدِينَ الْجَاحِدِينَ مِنْ عَبِدَ يَعْبَدُ‏.‏

    Narrated Ya`la: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting when on the pulpit: 'They will cry, "O Malik (Keeper of Hell) Let your Lord make an end of us.' (43.77)

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  2. Relates to āyah68
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4761 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4762
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4764

    حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا مَنْصُورٌ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنْ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى ‏﴿‏فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ‏﴾‏ قَالَ لاَ تَوْبَةَ لَهُ‏.‏ وَعَنْ قَوْلِهِ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ ‏﴿‏لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ‏﴾‏ قَالَ كَانَتْ هَذِهِ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ‏.‏

    Narrated Sa`id bin Jubair: I asked Ibn `Abbas about Allah's saying:-- '.. this reward is Hell Fire.' (4.93) He said, "No repentance is accepted from him (i.e. the murderer of a believer)." I asked him regarding the saying of Allah: 'Those who invoke not with Allah any other god.' ...(25.68) He said, "This Verse was revealed concerning the pagans of the pre-lslamic period."

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4765

    حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبْزَى سَلِ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ عَنْ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى ‏﴿‏وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ‏﴾‏ وَقَوْلِهِ ‏﴿‏لاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ‏﴾‏ حَتَّى بَلَغَ ‏‏﴿‏إِلاَّ مَنْ تَابَ‏﴾‏ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ قَالَ أَهْلُ مَكَّةَ فَقَدْ عَدَلْنَا بِاللَّهِ وَقَتَلْنَا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَتَيْنَا الْفَوَاحِشَ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ [quran sura="25" aya_start="70" aya_end="70"]‏{‏إِلاَّ مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً صَالِحًا‏}‏ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ [quran sura="25" aya_start="70" aya_end="70"]‏{‏غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا‏}‏

    Narrated Sa`id bin Jubair: Ibn Abza said to me, "Ask Ibn `Abbas regarding the Statement of Allah: 'And whoever murders a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell.' (4.69) And also His Statement: '...nor kill such life as Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause .....except those who repent, believe, and do good deeds.' " (25.68-70) So I asked Ibn `Abbas and he said, "When this (25.68-69) was revealed, the people of Mecca said, "We have invoked other gods with Allah, and we have murdered such lives which Allah has made sacred, and we have committed illegal sexual intercourse. So Allah revealed: 'Except those who repent, believe, and do good deeds and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.' (25.70)

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4766

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ أَمَرَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبْزَى أَنْ أَسْأَلَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنْ هَاتَيْنِ الآيَتَيْنِ، ‏﴿‏وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُتَعَمِّدًا‏﴾‏، فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ لَمْ يَنْسَخْهَا شَىْءٌ‏.‏ وَعَنْ ‏﴿‏وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ‏﴾‏ قَالَ نَزَلَتْ فِي أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ‏.‏

    Narrated Sa`id bin Jubair: `Abdur-Rahman bin Abza ordered me to ask Ibn `Abbas regarding the two Verses (the first of which was ): "And whosoever murders a believer intentionally." (4.93) So I asked him, and he said, "Nothing has abrogated this Verse." About (the other Verse): 'And those who invoke not with Allah any other god.' he said, "It was revealed concerning the pagans."

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4810

    حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَنَّ ابْنَ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَهُمْ قَالَ يَعْلَى إِنَّ سَعِيدَ بْنَ جُبَيْرٍ أَخْبَرَهُ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ نَاسًا، مِنْ أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ كَانُوا قَدْ قَتَلُوا وَأَكْثَرُوا وَزَنَوْا وَأَكْثَرُوا، فَأَتَوْا مُحَمَّدًا صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالُوا إِنَّ الَّذِي تَقُولُ وَتَدْعُو إِلَيْهِ لَحَسَنٌ لَوْ تُخْبِرُنَا أَنَّ لِمَا عَمِلْنَا كَفَّارَةً‏.‏ فَنَزَلَ ‏﴿‏وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَلاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَلاَ يَزْنُونَ‏﴾‏ وَنَزَلَ ‏﴿‏قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لاَ تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ‏﴾‏

    Narrated Ibn `Abbas: Some pagans who committed murders in great number and committed illegal sexual intercourse excessively, came to Muhammad and said, "O Muhammad! Whatever you say and invite people to, is good: but we wish if you could inform us whether we can make an expiration for our (past evil) deeds." So the Divine Verses came: 'Those who invoke not with Allah any other god, not kill such life as Allah has forbidden except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse.' (25.68) And there was also revealed:-- 'Say: O My slaves who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah.' (39.53)

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6001 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6861 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7532
  3. Relates to āyah70
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3855

    حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ، أَوْ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الْحَكَمُ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ أَمَرَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبْزَى قَالَ سَلِ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ عَنْ هَاتَيْنِ الآيَتَيْنِ، مَا أَمْرُهُمَا ‏﴿‏وَلاَ تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ ‏﴾‏ ‏﴿‏وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُتَعَمِّدًا‏﴾‏ فَسَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَقَالَ لَمَّا أُنْزِلَتِ الَّتِي فِي الْفُرْقَانِ قَالَ مُشْرِكُو أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ فَقَدْ قَتَلْنَا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ، وَدَعَوْنَا مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ، وَقَدْ أَتَيْنَا الْفَوَاحِشَ‏.‏ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ [quran sura="25" aya_start="70" aya_end="70"]‏{‏إِلاَّ مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ‏}‏ الآيَةَ فَهَذِهِ لأُولَئِكَ وَأَمَّا الَّتِي فِي النِّسَاءِ الرَّجُلُ إِذَا عَرَفَ الإِسْلاَمَ وَشَرَائِعَهُ، ثُمَّ قَتَلَ فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ‏.‏ فَذَكَرْتُهُ لِمُجَاهِدٍ فَقَالَ إِلاَّ مَنْ نَدِمَ‏.‏

    Narrated Sa`id bin Jubair: `AbdurRahman bin Abza said, "Ask Ibn `Abbas about these two Qur'anic Verses: 'Nor kill such life as Allah has made sacred, Except for just cause.' (25.168) "And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell. (4.93) So I asked Ibn `Abbas who said, "When the Verse that is in Sura-al-Furqan was revealed, the pagans of Mecca said, 'But we have slain such life as Allah has made sacred, and we have invoked other gods along with Allah, and we have also committed fornication.' So Allah revealed:-- 'Except those who repent, believe, and do good-- (25.70) So this Verse was concerned with those people. As for the Verse in Surat-an-Nisa (4-93), it means that if a man, after understanding Islam and its laws and obligations, murders somebody, then his punishment is to dwell in the (Hell) Fire forever." Then I mentioned this to Mujahid who said, "Except the one who regrets (one's crime) . "

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4765

    حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبْزَى سَلِ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ عَنْ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى ‏﴿‏وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ‏﴾‏ وَقَوْلِهِ ‏﴿‏لاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ‏﴾‏ حَتَّى بَلَغَ ‏‏﴿‏إِلاَّ مَنْ تَابَ‏﴾‏ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ قَالَ أَهْلُ مَكَّةَ فَقَدْ عَدَلْنَا بِاللَّهِ وَقَتَلْنَا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَتَيْنَا الْفَوَاحِشَ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ [quran sura="25" aya_start="70" aya_end="70"]‏{‏إِلاَّ مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً صَالِحًا‏}‏ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ [quran sura="25" aya_start="70" aya_end="70"]‏{‏غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا‏}‏

    Narrated Sa`id bin Jubair: Ibn Abza said to me, "Ask Ibn `Abbas regarding the Statement of Allah: 'And whoever murders a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell.' (4.69) And also His Statement: '...nor kill such life as Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause .....except those who repent, believe, and do good deeds.' " (25.68-70) So I asked Ibn `Abbas and he said, "When this (25.68-69) was revealed, the people of Mecca said, "We have invoked other gods with Allah, and we have murdered such lives which Allah has made sacred, and we have committed illegal sexual intercourse. So Allah revealed: 'Except those who repent, believe, and do good deeds and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.' (25.70)

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The link between each āyah and these narrations is the Quran Foundation's reviewed reference map. The wording is reproduced verbatim from a public-domain edition of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and is not edited, summarised or generated; every narration also opens at Sunnah.com so it can be checked against another copy.

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