Sciences of the Quran (‘ulum al-Qur’an): a complete map
The sciences of the Quran (‘ulum al-Qur’an) are the disciplines Muslim scholars developed to study the Quran itself: how it was revealed and compiled, how it is written and recited, how it is structured and how it should be interpreted. Here is a map of the main sciences, with a guide to each one and the classic books on the subject.
Last updated: 4 October 2026
The main sciences of the Quran
| Science | What it studies | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Revelation (wahy) | How the Quran was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ, beginning in the Cave of Hira. | The first revelation |
| Makki and Madani | Which passages came before and after the Hijrah, and what that tells us. | Makki and Madani surahs |
| Occasions of revelation (asbab an-nuzul) | The events and questions that particular verses responded to. | Tafsir books |
| Compilation (jam‘ al-Qur’an) | How the Quran was memorised, written down and gathered into one mushaf. | How the Quran was written |
| Script and spelling (rasm) | The Uthmani spelling of the mushaf and its later dots and vowel marks. | Uthmani script |
| Readings (qira’at) | The authentic ways of reciting the text, transmitted with chains. | Qira’at |
| Recitation (tajwid) | The rules for pronouncing the Quran as it was revealed. | Tajweed rules |
| Structure | Surahs, verses, juz, hizb and the opening letters of surahs. | Huroof muqatta‘at |
| Abrogation (naskh) | Rulings in earlier verses that were later replaced, a carefully limited subject. | — |
| Clear and ambiguous verses (muhkam and mutashabih) | Verses with one clear meaning, and those whose meaning is referred back to the clear ones (Al ‘Imran 3:7). | — |
| Inimitability (i‘jaz) | Why the Quran cannot be imitated, and its challenge to produce a surah like it. | — |
| Interpretation (tafsir) | The principles and sources for explaining the Quran. | How to understand the Quran |
Why these sciences matter
A verse read without its context can be misunderstood. Knowing when it was revealed, what it responded to, how it was read and whether a ruling was later adjusted is what allows scholars to explain the Quran responsibly. For ordinary readers, a basic grasp of these sciences explains much of what appears in a tafsir book and why translations differ; see English translations compared.
Classic books on ‘ulum al-Qur’an
| Book | Author | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Burhan fi ‘Ulum al-Qur’an | Badr ad-Din az-Zarkashi (d. 794 AH) | One of the first comprehensive works |
| Al-Itqan fi ‘Ulum al-Qur’an | Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti (d. 911 AH) | The classic reference, in 80 chapters |
| Mabahith fi ‘Ulum al-Qur’an | Manna‘ al-Qattan (20th century) | A widely taught modern textbook |
| An Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur’aan | Yasir Qadhi | A popular English introduction |
| ‘Ulum al-Qur’an | Ahmad von Denffer | A short English introduction |
Facts and figures
Many basic questions belong to this field: how many surahs and ayahs the Quran has, how it is divided, its names and the language it was revealed in. Start with what is the Quran for an overview. To study these subjects with a teacher alongside the meaning of the text, see our tafseer classes.
Frequently asked questions
What is ‘ulum al-Qur’an?
‘Ulum al-Qur’an, “the sciences of the Quran”, is the field that studies everything about the Quran apart from the explanation of individual verses: its revelation, compilation, script, readings, structure and the principles of interpreting it.
Is ‘ulum al-Qur’an the same as tafsir?
No. Tafsir explains what verses mean. ‘Ulum al-Qur’an studies the tools and background a mufassir needs, such as the occasions of revelation and the Makki/Madani distinction, so it comes before tafsir.
Where should a beginner start?
With an English introduction such as those listed above, alongside short guides on the revelation, compilation and structure of the Quran. A teacher helps you through the technical terms.
Study the Quran in depth
Three free one-to-one tafseer lessons in English or Urdu, in UK time.