The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 4
Thus, by seeking <mark>the</mark> protection of God while reciting <mark>the</mark> <mark>Quran</mark> we pray, firstly, that we may not miss any teaching of <mark>the</mark> <mark>Quran</mark> through weakness or negligence or in consequence of our sins, or under <mark>the</mark> influence of evil company; secondly, that we may not fail to correctly understand it any teaching of <mark>the</mark> <mark>Quran</mark>; thirdly, that, having understood it, we may not relapse into ignorance. <mark>The</mark> prescribed words for <mark>the</mark> prayer are: a secl "I seek <mark>refuge</mark> with Allah from <mark>Satan</mark>, <mark>the</mark> rejected," which must precede every recitation of <mark>the</mark> <mark>Quran</mark>. <mark>The</mark> Meaning and Significance of <mark>the</mark> Word Sūrah A chapter of <mark>the</mark> <mark>Quran</mark>, and <mark>the</mark>re are 114 of <mark>the</mark>m, is called a Sūrah. <mark>The</mark> word Surah rendered into English as 'chapter means: (1) rank and eminence; (2) a mark or sign; (3) an elevated and beautiful edifice; and (4) something full and complete (Aqrab & Qurtubi). <mark>The</mark> chapters of <mark>the</mark> <mark>Quran</mark> are called Surahs because, (a) one is exalted in rank by reading <mark>the</mark>m and attains through <mark>the</mark>m eminence; (b) <mark>the</mark>y serve as marks for <mark>the</mark> beginning and <mark>the</mark> end of <mark>the</mark> different subjects dealt with in <mark>the</mark> <mark>Quran</mark>; (c) <mark>the</mark>y are each like a noble spiritual edifice, and (d) each of <mark>the</mark>m contains a complete <mark>the</mark>me. <mark>The</mark> name Surah for such a division has been used by <mark>the</mark> <mark>Quran</mark> itself as in 2:24 and 24:2. It has been used in Ḥadīth also. Says <mark>the</mark> Holy Prophet: "Just now a Surah has been revealed to me and it runs as follows" (Muslim). From this, it is clear that <mark>the</mark> name Surah for a division of <mark>the</mark> <mark>Quran</mark> has been in use from <mark>the</mark> very beginning and is not a later innovation. 4