Checked, not guessed
Many numbers and “miracles” about the Quran are shared – some are true, some are not. Here we count for ourselves, in the complete Uthmani text, and say openly what is established. Plus: what is promised to those who read the Quran, and where the heart most easily finds peace.
Tap a word. You see how often it occurs – and every single place, ready to read.
Counted in the Uthmani text of the King Fahd Complex in Madinah (6,236 verses, Hafs count). Word forms are counted with the article and prefixed particles (wa-, fa-, bi-, li-, ka-), without attached pronouns; names also with the vocative “yā”. Other ways of counting can give slightly different numbers – that is why we state the method.
What is shared on social media is often well meant. But the Quran needs no invented numbers. We checked every statement ourselves.
As a direct command – “lā takhaf”, “lā takhāfī”, “lā takhāfū”, “lā takhāfā” – it occurs 13 times: said to Ibrahim, to Musa and Harun, to the mother of Musa, to Lut, to Dawud and to the believers. In addition, 13 times comes the promise “no fear shall be upon them, nor shall they grieve”. 26 places together – fewer than claimed, but every one of them a comfort.
Counting the singular “yawm” and “yawman” – with article and particles, but without attached pronouns and without “yawma’idhin” (on that day) – gives exactly 365 places. Other ways of counting give other numbers. It remains remarkable.
In the singular (“shahr”, “ash-shahr”, “shahran”) there are 12 places. And the Quran itself says: “The number of months with Allah is twelve” (9:36).
Counted with article and particles: ad-dunyā 115 times, al-ākhira 115 times. Not counted is 3:72, where “ākhirahu” means “its end” (of the day), not the Hereafter.
Counted with all prefixes such as wallāhi, billāhi, lillāhi, there are 2,699 places (without “Allāhumma”). This matches the well-known counts.
Musa is named 136 times – more than any other prophet. Then come Ibrahim (69), Nuh (43), Yusuf (27), Isa and Adam (25 each).
Yes. Her name appears 34 times, and a whole surah bears her name: surah 19, Maryam.
Four times as “Muhammad” (3:144, 33:40, 47:2, 48:29) and once as “Ahmad” (61:6) – in many other places Allah addresses him as “O Prophet” and “O Messenger”.
At-Tawbah (surah 9) is the only surah that does not begin with “Bismillāh ar-Raḥmān ar-Raḥīm”. Scholars give various reasons – for example that it opens with a solemn declaration of disassociation.
Quran 9:1
An-Naml (surah 27) has the basmala twice: at its beginning and in verse 30, in Sulayman’s letter to the Queen of Sheba.
Quran 27:30
In surah Al-Mujādilah (58) the name “Allah” appears in every one of its 22 verses – we checked each one.
Quran 58
In surah Ar-Raḥmān (55) one question returns 31 times: “So which of the favours of your Lord would you deny?”
Quran 55:13
Surah Al-Mursalāt (77) repeats ten times: “Woe, that Day, to the deniers!”
Quran 77:15
Only two verses contain every one of the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet: 3:154 and 48:29, the verse that describes the companions of the Prophet ﷺ.
Quran 3:154, 48:29
29 surahs begin with single letters such as Alif-Lām-Mīm, Yā-Sīn or Qāf. Their meaning is known to Allah alone – many scholars see in them a sign that the Quran is made of exactly these letters and yet cannot be imitated.
e.g. Quran 2:1, 36:1, 50:1
Six surahs bear the name of a prophet: Yūnus, Hūd, Yūsuf, Ibrāhīm, Muḥammad ﷺ and Nūḥ. And one surah bears the name of a woman: Maryam.
Quran 10, 11, 12, 14, 47, 71, 19
According to the classification in the Madinah mushaf, 86 surahs were revealed in Makkah and 28 in Madinah. The Makkan surahs speak above all of faith, the Madinan ones also of life together as a community.
Madinah mushaf
In 15 places the Madinah mushaf marks a prostration during recitation (sujūd at-tilāwah). The Hanafis count 14 (without the second in Al-Ḥajj, 22:77), the Shafiʿis and Hanbalis also 14 (without Ṣād, 38:24, which they see as a prostration of gratitude), and the Malikis, in their best-known view, 11.
e.g. Quran 7:206, 22:77, 38:24, 96:19
Al-ʿAṣr, Al-Kawthar and An-Naṣr each have only three verses. Imam ash-Shāfiʿī is reported to have said: had people reflected only on Al-ʿAṣr, it would have sufficed them.
Quran 103, 108, 110; Tafsir Ibn Kathir
“fa-asqaynākumūhu” – “and We gave it to you to drink” (15:22) – has eleven letters and is one of the longest words in the Quran.
Quran 15:22
The thirtieth part, Juz ʿAmma, contains 37 surahs (78–114) – the surahs most Muslims learn by heart first.
Quran 78–114
Five surahs begin with “al-ḥamdu lillāh” – “All praise is due to Allah”: Al-Fātiḥa, Al-Anʿām, Al-Kahf, Sabaʾ and Fāṭir. Each then gives its own reason for praise: Al-Fātiḥa – He is Lord of the worlds; Al-Anʿām – He created the heavens and the earth and made darkness and light; Al-Kahf – He sent down the Book to His servant; Sabaʾ – to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth; Fāṭir – He originated the heavens and the earth and made the angels messengers.
Quran 1:2, 6:1, 18:1, 34:1, 35:1
Al-Jinn, Al-Kāfirūn, Al-Ikhlāṣ, Al-Falaq and An-Nās begin with “Qul” – “Say!”. That this word remained in the recitation shows how precisely the Prophet ﷺ passed on what was revealed to him – down to the last word.
Quran 72:1, 109:1, 112:1, 113:1, 114:1
Zayd ibn Ḥāritha is the only companion of the Prophet ﷺ mentioned by name in the Quran – in Surah Al-Aḥzāb. The Prophet ﷺ had once taken him as a son and loved him dearly.
Quran 33:37
The Quran names only a few angels: Jibrīl and Mīkāl (2:98), Mālik, the keeper of the Fire (43:77), and Hārūt and Mārūt in Babylon (2:102). Other names we know from the hadith, such as Isrāfīl.
Quran 2:98, 2:102, 43:77; Sahih Muslim 770
The name “Makkah” appears only once in the Quran (48:24), and so does “Bakkah” (3:96) – according to scholars another name for Makkah or for the site of the Kaaba. Madinah is called once by its old name “Yathrib” (33:13), and otherwise “al-Madīnah”, the City.
Quran 48:24, 3:96, 33:13
“This day I have perfected for you your religion” (5:3) was revealed on the day of ʿArafah, on a Friday. ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb confirmed this when a Jewish man told him: had this verse been revealed to us, we would have made that day a festival.
Sahih al-Bukhari 45, Sahih Muslim 3017
According to Ibn ʿAbbās, An-Naṣr (110) was the last surah revealed complete, all at once. Ibn ʿAbbās and ʿUmar understood it as a sign that the Prophet’s ﷺ life was drawing to its close.
Sahih Muslim 3024, Sahih al-Bukhari 4970
The Quran was sent down in the month of Ramadan (2:185), on the Night of Decree (97:1). It reached people piece by piece, over some 23 years – “that you might recite it to the people at intervals” (17:106).
Quran 2:185, 97:1, 17:106
After the battle of Yamāmah, in which many who knew the Quran by heart were killed, Abū Bakr had Zayd ibn Thābit gather the Quran on sheets. ʿUthmān later had copies of it sent to the provinces. “Indeed, We sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will preserve it” (15:9).
Sahih al-Bukhari 4986, 4987; Quran 15:9
The Prophet ﷺ said: “A surah of the Quran of thirty verses interceded for a man until he was forgiven: Tabāraka-lladhī bi-yadihi-l-mulk.” That is why many recite Al-Mulk (67) before sleeping.
at-Tirmidhi 2891 (hasan), Abu Dawud 1400
“Whoever memorises the first ten verses of Surah Al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjāl.” Many read the whole surah on Fridays. The hadith on that is not in al-Bukhari or Muslim but in al-Ḥākim and al-Bayhaqī; many scholars grade it good (ḥasan) or authentic.
Sahih Muslim 809; al-Hakim, al-Bayhaqi
“Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him.” And before sleeping, the Prophet ﷺ would blow into his cupped hands, recite Al-Ikhlāṣ, Al-Falaq and An-Nās and wipe over his body with them – three times.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5009, 5017; Sahih Muslim 807
The Quran is not a book to read once and put away. These words of the Prophet ﷺ are authentically reported:
“Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah receives a good deed, and a good deed is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Lām-Mīm is a letter – rather Alif is a letter, Lām is a letter and Mīm is a letter.”
“Read the Quran, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who read it.”
“The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it.”
“The one who is skilled in the Quran is with the noble, obedient scribes. And the one who reads it and stumbles, finding it hard, has a double reward.”
“It will be said to the companion of the Quran: Read and rise, and recite as you used to recite in the world – your rank is at the last verse you read.”
The Quran promises no formula for quick money. It promises something greater: barakah – blessing that makes little go far –, a good life and provision from where one does not expect it. These are its own words (in meaning):
فَقُلْتُ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفَّارًا يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا وَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَـٰرًا
“Ask forgiveness of your Lord – He is ever Forgiving. He will send rain upon you in abundance, give you increase in wealth and children, and provide you with gardens and rivers.”
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ
“If you are grateful, I will surely give you more.”
فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَـٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْرًا
“Whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for him and provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – He is sufficient for him.”
وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَـٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَـٰكِن كَذَّبُوا۟ فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
“Had the people of the towns believed and been mindful of Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth.”
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَوٰةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while being a believer – We will surely give them a good life.”
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَـٰرَةً لَّن تَبُورَ لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
“Those who recite the Book of Allah, establish prayer and spend from what We have provided them hope for a trade that will never perish.”
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ
“Surely, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَا هُوَ شِفَآءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا
“We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers.”
Reading a lot of Quran does not make anyone rich “automatically” – but it makes you rich in what lasts: calm, gratitude, trust and a reward that never ends. And whoever works honestly, gives thanks and asks forgiveness may hope for Allah’s provision.
“Richness is not having many possessions; richness is the richness of the soul.”
Peace with Allah can be found anywhere – He is near. But there are places and times He has especially blessed.
Hadith are given with collection and number. The verses are rendered in meaning; tap a reference to read the Arabic wording and a recognised translation. For questions about rulings, please ask a scholar.
Every letter counts tenfold. Start today with one verse – the Shams Method guides you step by step.
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