What does the word “sura” mean?

The word sura (chapter of the Qur’an) literally means rank, high position, honor, high and beautiful building, city-wall, floors or the upper parts of a building. The plural form of the term is suwar (chapters). When applied to the Qur’an it means the separate parts of the Qur’an that have a beginning and an end and which are made up of verses. The Glorious Qur’an is composed of 114 chapters. In the same way that floors or upper parts of a building are called sura in Arabic, the various parts of the Qur’an are also called sura. The Qur’anic chapters most probably have been referred to with this term because each of them contains divine words and thus holds a high rank. Just like high city-walls built from bricks, the chapters of the Qur’an are built of verses that have a unique meaning and wording, each phrase standing in a specific place, supporting each other. Each sura of the Qur’an is like a castle of truths; it is a high and strong building that is easily distinguishable from other suras, with a definite cooperation between the verses, each one elucidating the other.

 

Akgul, Muhittin (2009). The Quran in 99 Questions (Abdullah Erdemli Trans.). New Jersey: Tughra Books. (Originally published in Turkish as Kur’an İklimine Seyahat)