Living Quran

Surah Ash-Shuraa (The Consultation)

Ash-Shuraa means "The Consultation," taken from a description of the believers as those who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation.

Surah Ash-Shuraa is the forty-second chapter of the Quran, a Meccan surah of 53 ayahs and one of the Hawamim group that opens with the disjointed letters "Ha-Meem" — here followed by a second unusual set of letters, making its opening distinctive among the surahs. It takes its name from a passage praising believers who settle their affairs through mutual consultation. A major theme is the unity of divine revelation: the surah affirms that God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad the same essential faith enjoined upon earlier prophets such as Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, and Isa, calling humanity to uphold religion without division. It emphasizes God's oneness, sovereignty, and knowledge, and points to His mercy in sending rain and sustaining creation. The surah discusses divine decree, the differing lots of people in this life, and the lasting reward of the Hereafter. It also weighs justice and the right to redress against the higher merit of forgiveness and reconciliation, and affirms that guidance ultimately comes through God's revelation.
Surah number
42
Revelation
Meccan
Ayahs
53
Arabic
الشورى

Read Surah Ash-Shuraa online — full Arabic text with the Pickthall English translation.

Main themes

  • Mutual consultation (shura) as a mark of the believing community
  • The unity of the message revealed to all the prophets
  • God's oneness, sovereignty, and encompassing knowledge
  • Divine mercy in creation and provision
  • Divine decree and the differing circumstances of people
  • The balance between just redress and the greater merit of forgiveness

Why this surah matters

Ash-Shuraa is well known for giving its name to the principle of shura, mutual consultation, which many Muslims regard as an important value in collective and communal affairs. As one of the Hawamim, it shares the group's emphasis on revelation, God's oneness, and the Hereafter. The surah is also noted for affirming the continuity of the prophetic message across Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, and Isa, presenting Islam as a restoration of the one religion enjoined upon them. Its counsel that forgiveness ranks above retaliation is frequently cited in discussions of ethics and reconciliation.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called "The Consultation"?

The name comes from a verse praising believers who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation (shura). This principle of consultation gives the surah its name and is often cited as a communal value.

What is unusual about the surah's opening?

It begins with the disjointed letters "Ha-Meem" followed by a second, separate set of letters — an opening structure unique among the surahs. Their meaning is not definitively established and is left unexplained in tradition.

Is Surah Ash-Shuraa Meccan or Medinan?

It is commonly held to be Meccan, consistent with its focus on the oneness of God, the unity of the prophetic message, and the Hereafter, though some scholars have discussed particular verses separately.

Read Surah Ash-Shuraa

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