How do I cite the Quran in APA?

To cite the Quran in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What is the APA format for the Quran citation?

The APA format for the Quran is: The Qur’an (A. A. Translator, Trans.). (Year). Publisher.

What does the in-text citation look like for the Quran in APA?

In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (The Qur’an, 2008, 2:255)

How to Cite the Quran in APA (7th edition)

Learn how to cite the Quran, in Arabic or in translation in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

APA Reference List Format

Here is the standard APA format for citing the Quran in your reference list:

The Qur’an (A. A. Translator, Trans.). (Year). Publisher.

APA Example for the Quran

A complete APA reference for the Quran, written by hand and checked against the official APA guidance for this source:

The Qur’an (M. A. S. Abdel Haleem, Trans.). (2008). Oxford University Press.

Matching in-text citation: (The Qur’an, 2008, 2:255)

APA In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(The Qur’an, 2008, 2:255)

Narrative

The Qur’an (2008, 2:255) describes...

Key APA Formatting Rules

APA 7 puts religious works in the reference list and treats them as having no author, so the entry begins with the title of the edition and names the translator in parentheses.
Use the year of the edition you consulted; the original date of the Qur’an is not given because it is not a single publication date.
Cite the surah and verse, separated by a colon, instead of a page number, for example (The Qur’an, 2008, 2:255).
Italicize the title of the edition in the reference and in the in-text citation, as for any work without an author.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your Quran.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the APA (7th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match APA requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples on this page are written by hand from the style's own published guidance and checked against it, because the general CSL styles do not encode this source's rules. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

Metadata to collect

the translator’s name
the title of the edition as printed
the publisher and the year of the copy you used
the surah and verse numbers
the series or edition, if the translation was revised

Common metadata traps

Translations differ in wording, so a surah and verse number alone does not tell the reader which text you quote; always name the translator.
Some older European translations use a different verse numbering from the standard Cairo numbering used by Abdel Haleem, so check that your verse numbers match your edition.
Page numbers change between printings of the same translation, so cite surah and verse, never a page.

Editorial sources

APA Style — references →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite the Quran in APA?: To cite the Quran in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the APA format for the Quran citation?: The APA format for the Quran is: The Qur’an (A. A. Translator, Trans.). (Year). Publisher.
What does the in-text citation look like for the Quran in APA?: In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (The Qur’an, 2008, 2:255)