I Heard a Chapter in the Quran Is Named “Muqashqisha.” Which Chapter Is This, and Are There Other Names for Chapters besides This Unusual Name?

Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa

Question

I heard a chapter in the Quran is named “al-Muqashqisha.” Which chapter is this, and are there other names for chapters besides this unusual name?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Yes, there is a chapter that has been referred to as “al-Muqashqisha.” This name is shared by several chapters, namely al-Ikhlas, al-Tawba, al-Kafirun, al-Falaq, and al-Nas. “Al-Muqashqisha” is a name or title given to a chapter to indicate some of its contents.

“Qashqasha” refers to the healing or restoration of a wound in the Arabic lexicon, “Lisan Al-‘Arab.”

The two chapters referred to as “Muqashqishatan” are Surat al-Ikhlas and Surat al-Nas because they heal from hypocrisy.

They were also described as chapters that heal from disbelief and hypocrisy just as medicine heals a patient. Abu ‘Ubaida said that when a man has healed from his ailment, it is said: “He has become well (or he has recovered, using the word تقشقش (taqashqasha) as a figurative term for healing).” [Ibn Manzur, Lisan al-Arab, 6.337; Suyuti, Al-Itqan, 1.197]

Other Names of the Chapter (Sura)

The most famous chapter referred to as “al-Muqashqisha” is “al-Tawba” (The Repentance). It has many other names apart from “al-Muqashqisha” including:

• Al-Tawba (The Repentance): Named so because it mentions Allah’s forgiveness to the three who lagged behind in the expedition to Tabuk, a significant event. The Sura often calls for repentance, commands it, and emphasizes its importance, stating that repentance is dearer to Allah (Most High) than punishing His servants. Zaid ibn Thabit said, “Abu Bakr sent for me, and I sought the Quran until I found the last part of Sura Tawba with Abu Khuzaima Al-Ansari, and I did not find it with anyone else.” [Bukhari (6989)]
• Al-Bara’a (Disavowal): Named after its starting word, which means disavowal or dissociation.
• Al-Muqashqasha: Derived from a verb which means to clear or rid. It refers to the Sura’s capacity to rid and purify those who believe in its content from hypocrisy and polytheism. The Sura calls for sincerity, describes the characteristics of the hypocrites, and clears one from hypocrisy.
• AL-Mukhlisa (The Purifier): It purifies its reciter from hypocrisy and disbelief.
• aL-Fadiha (The Exposer): Because it exposes the hypocrites. Sa’id ibn Jubayr asked Ibn Abbas about Surat al-Tawba, “Is it al-Tawba?” He replied, “No, it is al-Fadiha. It kept revealing, mentioning the hypocrites until they thought no one was left unmentioned.” [Muslim (3031)]
• Al-Muba‘thira: This means the one that scatters or reveals the secrets of the hypocrites.
• Al-Bahuth (The Inquirer): This is because it inquires about the secrets of the hypocrites and the polytheists.
• Al-Munaqqira: Referring to it drilling into what’s in the hearts of the polytheists. It’s synonymous with the previous name, ‘al-Bahuth.’
• Al-Mudamdima: From the word ‘Damdam,’ which means to destroy, as it destroyed the polytheists.
• Al-‘Adhab (The Punishment): Hudhayfa ibn Al-Yaman said, ‘You call it Surat al-Tawba, but it is the Sura of Punishment.’ [Hakim, Al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihayn, 3274; Tabarani, Al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat, 1330; Abu ‘Ubaid al-Qasim ibn Salam, Fada’il al-Qur’an, p.241]
• Al-Muthira: As it unveiled the defects of the hypocrites.
• Al-Hafira: As if it dug out the hypocrisy in the hearts of the hypocrites and exposed it to the Muslims.

Additionally, Zamakhshari mentioned other names: Al-Munakkila (The Down-grader) and Al-Mukhzia (The Humiliator). Zarkashi added Al-Musawwira (The Formatter).

We note that all these names or titles are derived from what the chapter (Sura) did to the hypocrites in terms of exposure, investigation, and disgrace…

[Sam‘ani, Tafsir al-Quran, 2.284; Zamakhshari, Tafsir al-Kashaf, 2.241; Ibn al-Jawzi, Zad al-Masir, 2.230; Qurtubi, Tafsir al-Qurtubi, 8.40; Zarkashi, Al-Burhan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran, 1.269; Suyuti, Al-Itqan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran, 1.192; Taher ibn ‘Ashur, Al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir, 10.95; Qasimi, Mahasin al-Ta’wil, 5.343; Ibrahim Muhammad al-Jarmi, Mu‘jam ‘Ulum al-Quran, p. 108]

Surat al-Kafirun is also called “al-Muqashqisha” because it absolves one from shirk (associating partners with Allah). The term “qashqasha” is used to describe a camel throwing off its mange or scabs. [Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman; Alusi, Tafsir Ruh al-Ma‘ani]

It is also referred to as Surat al-Munabadha or al-Mu’abada and Surat al-Ikhlas, meaning sincerity in worship. [Jawi, Marah Labid]

Chapters (Suras) with multiple names

These include the following:

• Al-Baqara: it is called the “Al-Fustat” of the Quran due to its greatness and splendor and the “hump” of the Quran. Surat Al-Baqara and Ali ‘Imran are called “Al-Zahrawain”.
• Ali ‘Imran: It is said that its name in the Torah is “Al-Tayba.” [Qurtubi, Tafsir al-Qurtubi, 4.1]
• Al-Anfal: It is called Surat al-Badr.
• Al-Nahl: It is named Surat al-Na‘m (the bounties) due to the bounties Allah mentioned therein for His servants.
• Al-Isra’: Also called Surat “Subhana” and Surat Bani Israel.
• Al-Shura: It is named “Ha Mim ‘Ayn Sin Qaf.”
• Al-Jathiya: It is also named al-Shari‘a.
• Muhammad, Allah bless him and give him peace: It is called Surat al-Qital.
• Al-Ma’ida: al-‘Uqud and al-Munqidha.
• Ghafir: al-Tawl, and Mu’min.
• Al-Fatiha: It is mentioned to have around twenty names: Umm al-Kitab, Umm al-Quran, al-Sab‘ Al-Mathani, al-Salah, al-Kanz, al-Shafiya, al-Shifa’, al-Kafiya, al-Asas, Quran al-Adhim, al-Nur, Surat al-Hamd, Surat al-Shukr, Surat al-‘Ula, Surat al-Hamd al-Qusra, Surat al-Ruqya, Surat al-Du‘a, Surat al-Munaja, Surat al-Tafwid, and Surat al-Su’al. [Zarkashi, Al-Burhan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran, 1.269; Suyuti, Al-Itqan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran, 1.187]

Note: Suyuti mentioned that the multitude of names for a Sura indicates its honor, as the multitude of names indicates the honor of the named. [Suyuti, Al-Itqan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran, 1.187]

Finally, there is no explicit text naming each chapter of the Quran with a specific name. However, many hadiths mention naming many chapters, such as al-Fatiha, al-Baqara, Ali ‘Imran, and others.

What preceded confirms the opinion of those who said that naming the Quranic chapters was not standardized among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah; blessings and peace be upon him. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have named them with names other than what’s mentioned in them. Allah knows best.

May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, his Family, and Companions.

[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa

Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.

He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.

He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.

Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.