Features and Characteristics of the Makkan and Madinah Suwar (Revelation)

The Makkan Suwar have their main themes as follows:

• The unity of Allah (Tawhid)
• The coming Resurrection and Judgment Day
• Righteous conducts, and lessons of the people and prophets of the past.

The Madinah Suwar on the other hand have their main themes as:

• Transformation of the Muslim Community into a state.
• The social, economic, political, military etc life of Muslims.
• The rules, regulations and ordinances of Islam.

Apart from the above, the Makkan Suwar are generally short, the language is poetic and the Suwar are full of oaths. In addition, the sentences are short, and are mostly full of warnings of hell to evil doers and promise of paradise for doers of good.


The Madinah Suwar, on the other hand are generally longer and more explanatory. They make direct references to battles and other encounters by Muslims. These Suwar also address the faithful and the people of books. They also address mankind as an-nas, i.e all people. Generally, all chapters whose revelation began in Makkah are known as Makkan Suwar even if their parts were revealed in Madinah.

In other words, a surah is said to be of Makkan origin even it if contains verses from Madinah. Also a surah is said to be of Madinah origin when its beginning was revealed in Madinah, even if it contains verses from the Makkan period in its text.

Furthermore, there are 19 surah with what some scholars called huruf tahji (such as alif, lam, min e.t.c). All these suwar are of Makkan origin except suratul Baqara (chapter 2) and Al-Imran (chapter 3).