What is the difference between Makkan and Medinan Surahs?
The Zurqani mentioned three terminologies in defining Makki and Madani:
1. Makki is what was revealed in Mecca, and Madani is what was revealed in Medina. 2. The well-known definition: Makki is what was revealed before the Hijra (migration), and Madani is what was revealed after it, even if the place of revelation differed. 3. Makki is what addressed the people of Mecca, and Madani is what addressed the people of Medina. This is based on Ibn Mas'ud's statement that the address "O mankind" was for the people of Mecca, who were predominantly disbelievers, and "O you who have believed" was for the people of Medina, who were predominantly believers.
The Zurqani also mentioned signs by which Makki and Madani chapters are identified, among them: every surah that contains only "O mankind" is Makki (except for Surah Al-Hajj); every surah that contains "Nay" is Makki; every surah that begins with disjoined letters is Makki (except for Al-Baqarah and Al 'Imran); every surah that contains the story of Adam and Iblis is Makki (except for Al-Baqarah); and every surah that mentions the hypocrites is Madani (except for Al-'Ankabut).
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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