THE DIFFERENCE IN THE NUMBER OF VERSES IN THE QURAN: A RESEARCH STUDY

Abstract

The number of verses in the Quran has been a subject of scholarly discussion among early Islamic scholars. While there is a consensus that the total number of verses is no less than six thousand, variations exist due to differences in the methods used by scholars from different regions, including Medina, Mecca, Kufa, Basra, and Sham. These differences arise from factors such as the inclusion or exclusion of Bismillah as an independent verse, the principles of waqf wa wasl (pausing and continuation), and the treatment of huruf muqatta’at (disjointed letters). Historical sources, including the works of Abu Amr al-Dani and Al-Qurtubi, document these variations and their underlying reasons. Some scholars counted 6,236 verses, while others recorded numbers such as 6,204, 6,219, or 6,226, based on their methodologies and regional recitational traditions. Despite these differences, the integrity and structure of the Quran remain unchanged, as these variations do not affect the meaning or recitation of the text. This study critically examines the reasons for these differences, the scholarly methodologies employed in verse enumeration, and the impact of these variations on the understanding of the Quran. By analyzing classical Islamic sources, this research highlights the role of ijtihad (independent reasoning) in Quranic studies while reaffirming the divine preservation of the Quranic text.

Keywords: Quranic Verses Count, Scholarly Differences, Regional Variations, Ijtihaad in Quranic Studies, Preservation of the Quran