Muslim Trivia Blog
How well do you know the Quran? Take this free quiz with 20 questions covering surahs, prophets, ayahs, and Quranic sciences — from beginner basics to scholar-level challenges.
The Quran is the foundation of Islam. It is the unchanged, literal word of Allah, preserved in its original Arabic for over 1,400 years. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5027). Yet many Muslims, even those who recite the Quran daily, may not be fully familiar with its structure, themes, and the stories it contains.
Testing your knowledge is not about showing off or competing — it is about identifying what you know and, more importantly, what you still need to learn. The Quran itself encourages reflection: "Do they not then reflect on the Quran?" (Quran 4:82). A quiz format makes this reflection engaging and accessible for people of all ages.
The 20 questions below progress from foundational knowledge that every Muslim should have to more advanced topics that challenge even dedicated students of the Quran. Each answer comes with a source reference so you can verify it yourself and explore the topic further.
These questions cover the absolute basics — the kind of knowledge that Muslim children learn in weekend school and that new Muslims pick up in their first months of study. If you are just beginning your journey with the Quran, start here. These questions address the structure of the Quran, its most well-known surahs, and the prophets whose stories are told within its pages.
Question 1
What is the holy book of Islam?
Source: Quran 56:77-80
The Quran is the word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through the angel Jibril (AS) over a period of 23 years.
Question 2
What is the first surah (chapter) of the Quran?
Source: Quran 1:1-7
Surah Al-Fatiha (The Opening) is the first surah of the Quran and is recited in every unit (rakah) of prayer.
Question 3
Which prophet was swallowed by a whale?
Source: Quran 37:142
Allah says: 'Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy.' (Quran 37:142). Prophet Yunus (AS) called upon Allah from the belly of the whale and was saved.
Question 4
Which prophet built the Ark and survived the great flood?
Source: Quran 11:37-48
Allah commanded Prophet Nuh (AS) to build an ark to save the believers from a great flood sent as punishment for those who rejected his message after 950 years of preaching.
Question 5
How many surahs (chapters) are in the Quran?
Source: Scholarly consensus (Ijma)
The Quran contains 114 surahs, starting with Surah Al-Fatiha and ending with Surah An-Nas. This is agreed upon by all Muslim scholars.
Question 6
Which prophet was given the miracle of parting the sea?
Source: Quran 26:63
Allah commanded Musa (AS) to strike the sea with his staff, and it parted into two halves, allowing the Children of Israel to escape from Pharaoh's army.
Question 7
What is the shortest surah in the Quran?
Source: Quran 108:1-3
Surah Al-Kawthar has only 3 verses, making it the shortest surah in the Quran. It was revealed to comfort the Prophet ﷺ, promising him a river in Paradise called Al-Kawthar.
Once you are comfortable with the basics, it is time to test your knowledge of specific surahs, their themes, and the context in which they were revealed. At the intermediate level, you should be familiar with the major divisions of the Quran, the significance of key ayahs used in daily prayer, and the stories of prophets as told in detail across multiple surahs. The Quran is not a book that you read once and set aside — it rewards repeated study with ever-deeper understanding.
Question 8
Which surah of the Quran is known as the declaration of Allah's oneness?
Source: Quran 112:1-4
Surah Al-Ikhlas declares the pure monotheism of Islam: 'Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.' The Prophet ﷺ said it is equal to one-third of the Quran.
Question 9
What is the longest surah in the Quran?
Source: Quran 2:1-286
Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) has 286 verses, making it the longest surah in the Quran. The Prophet ﷺ said that reciting it in a house keeps Shaytan away.
Question 10
What was the first word revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the Quran?
Source: Quran 96:1
The first word revealed was 'Iqra!' (Read!) from Surah Al-Alaq (96:1). The angel Jibril (AS) commanded Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to read, marking the beginning of Quranic revelation.
Question 11
Which surah is the longest in the Quran?
Source: Quran 2:1-286
Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) is the longest surah in the Quran with 286 ayahs. It covers many fundamental topics including faith, law, and the story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS).
Question 12
What is the name of the chapter of the Quran that mentions the story of Prophet Yusuf (AS) in detail?
Source: Quran 12:1-111
Surah Yusuf (Chapter 12) tells the complete story of Prophet Yusuf (AS) from beginning to end. The Quran itself calls it 'the best of stories' (Ahsan al-Qasas) in verse 3.
Question 13
What is Ayat al-Kursi?
Source: Quran 2:255
Ayat al-Kursi (The Verse of the Throne) is Quran 2:255. The Prophet ﷺ described it as the greatest verse in the Quran. It speaks of Allah's sovereignty, knowledge, and power over all creation.
Question 14
Which surah of the Quran is recommended to be recited on Fridays?
Source: Sahih Muslim 879a
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Friday, will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.' It contains four important stories with profound lessons.
At this level, the questions move beyond general knowledge into the realm of Quranic sciences (Ulum al-Quran). You will encounter questions about the circumstances of revelation (asbab al-nuzul), the arrangement of surahs, the distinction between Makki and Madani revelations, and the rhetorical brilliance of the Quran's Arabic. These are the kinds of questions that students of knowledge discuss in advanced study circles. Do not be discouraged if you find them challenging — that is the whole point. Every gap in knowledge is an invitation to learn.
Question 15
Which surah of the Quran does not begin with 'Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem'?
Source: Quran 9:1
Surah At-Tawbah is the only surah in the Quran that does not begin with the Basmalah. Scholars have given various reasons, including that it was revealed as a declaration of disavowal from the polytheists, so it begins with a tone of severity.
Question 16
In Surah Al-Baqarah, which foods does Allah explicitly mention as prohibited?
Source: Quran 2:173
Allah says in Quran 2:173: 'He has only forbidden you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah.' However, in cases of extreme necessity where life is at risk, exceptions apply as stated in the same verse.
Question 17
How many surahs are in the Quran?
Source: Quran 1:1-114:6
The Quran contains 114 surahs (chapters), starting with Surah Al-Fatiha and ending with Surah An-Nas. They vary greatly in length, from 3 verses (Surah Al-Kawthar) to 286 verses (Surah Al-Baqarah).
Question 18
Which surah of the Quran contains the Basmalah twice — once at the beginning and once within the text?
Source: Quran 27:30
Surah An-Naml contains the Basmalah at its beginning like most surahs, and also within the text in verse 30, where it quotes the letter of Prophet Sulayman (AS) to the Queen of Sheba: 'Indeed, it is from Sulayman, and it is: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.'
Question 19
What is the term for the 'occasions of revelation' that describe the context in which specific Quranic verses were revealed?
Source: Al-Wahidi, Asbab al-Nuzul
Asbab al-Nuzul (occasions/reasons of revelation) is the branch of Quranic sciences that studies the historical context and specific events that prompted the revelation of particular verses. Al-Wahidi wrote one of the earliest comprehensive works on this subject.
Question 20
Which surah was revealed in its entirety during the Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj)?
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 349
While Surah Al-Isra discusses the Night Journey, it was not revealed during it. The primary gift from the Mi'raj was the obligation of the five daily prayers, which were initially fifty and reduced to five through the Prophet's ﷺ repeated appeals, as advised by Musa (AS).
If this quiz revealed areas where your knowledge could grow, here are practical steps you can take:
The Quran is not a historical relic — it is a living guide that speaks to every generation. Allah says: "This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah" (Quran 2:2). Every question you answer correctly reinforces your connection to that guidance. Every question you get wrong is an opportunity to learn something new about the most important book in your life.
Whether you scored perfectly or discovered topics you had never encountered, the journey of Quranic knowledge never ends. Share this quiz with friends and family, and challenge each other to grow together.
Ready for the full challenge? Play Who Wants to Be a Scholar and test your Quran knowledge in a Millionaire-style game with lifelines and a score ladder.
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