How do I cite the Quran in Harvard?

To cite the Quran in Harvard (Cite Them Right), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What is the Harvard format for the Quran citation?

The Harvard format for the Quran is: The Qur’an (Year) Translated by Initials Surname. Publisher.

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

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

How to Cite the Quran in Harvard (Cite Them Right)

Learn how to cite the Quran, in Arabic or in translation in Harvard format (Cite Them Right). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Harvard Reference List Format

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

The Qur’an (Year) Translated by Initials Surname. Publisher.

Harvard Example for the Quran

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

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

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

Harvard In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(Qur’an 2:255)

Narrative

The Throne Verse of the Qur’an (2:255) states...

Key Harvard Formatting Rules

Cite Them Right cites the Qur’an by surah and verse in the text and does not use page numbers, because they vary between printings.
The reference names the translator after Translated by and gives the year and publisher of the edition you used; since the 2025 update, the place of publication is no longer included for books.
Some university versions of Cite Them Right put the surah and verse in the reference itself (Qur’an 2:219 (2008) Translated by ...), so follow the version your institution uses.
Use the same translation throughout, or name the translator in the text when you compare translations.

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 Harvard (Cite Them Right) 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 Harvard 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

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite the Quran in Harvard?: To cite the Quran in Harvard (Cite Them Right), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Harvard format for the Quran citation?: The Harvard format for the Quran is: The Qur’an (Year) Translated by Initials Surname. Publisher.
What does the in-text citation look like for the Quran in Harvard?: In Harvard, the in-text citation for the example above is (Qur’an 2:255)