How do I cite the Quran in Chicago?

To cite the Quran in Chicago (18th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

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

In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is Footnote: 1. Qur’an 2:255, trans. M. A. S. Abdel Haleem (Oxford University Press, 2008).

How to Cite the Quran in Chicago (18th edition)

Learn how to cite the Quran, in Arabic or in translation in Chicago format (18th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Chicago Bibliography Format

Here is the standard Chicago format for citing the Quran in your bibliography:

Cite in a note, not the bibliography: 1. Qur’an Surah:Verse, trans. Translator Name (Publisher, Year).

Chicago Example for the Quran

Chicago does not give the Quran an entry in the bibliography — it is cited in a note only. Here is that note, written by hand and checked against the official Chicago guidance:

1. Qur’an 2:255, trans. M. A. S. Abdel Haleem (Oxford University Press, 2008).

Chicago In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

Footnote: 1. Qur’an 2:255, trans. M. A. S. Abdel Haleem (Oxford University Press, 2008).

Narrative

Shortened note: 2. Qur’an 24:35.

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

Chicago 18 cites sacred texts in notes or in parenthetical references in the text and normally leaves them out of the bibliography.
References to the Qur’an follow the form of Bible references: surah and verse separated by a colon, never a page number.
Identify the translation in the first note; later notes can give the surah and verse alone.
Do not italicize Qur’an in notes or running text.

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 Chicago (18th 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 bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Chicago 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

Chicago Manual of Style — citation quick guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite the Quran in Chicago?: To cite the Quran in Chicago (18th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Chicago format for the Quran citation?: The Chicago format for the Quran is: Cite in a note, not the bibliography: 1. Qur’an Surah:Verse, trans. Translator Name (Publisher, Year).
What does the in-text citation look like for the Quran in Chicago?: In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is Footnote: 1. Qur’an 2:255, trans. M. A. S. Abdel Haleem (Oxford University Press, 2008).