The commonly accepted highest number of verses in the Quran is 6,346, when including all unnumbered Bismillahs.
While there is generally agreed upon text of the Quran, the precise verse count can vary slightly depending on the counting methodology and whether or not the Bismillah (the phrase "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful") at the beginning of each chapter is counted as a verse.
Here's a breakdown:
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Standard Verse Count: Many scholars cite the number of verses (excluding the Bismillah) as being around 6,236.
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Including Bismillah: When the unnumbered Bismillah at the beginning of each chapter (except for Surah At-Tawbah (9)) is counted, the total comes to 6,346 (6236 + 110). Note: there are 114 Surahs, but only 113 contain the Bismillah as the opening verse.
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Different Schools of Thought: There are different schools of thought regarding verse counting (Kufan, Basran, Syrian, etc.), which can result in minor variations. These differences usually arise from the way longer verses are split or joined.
Therefore, the 6,346 figure is often considered the most comprehensive, as it accounts for every segment of the Quranic text, including the universally accepted Bismillahs. This number reflects the total segments identified across different counting traditions when considering the Bismillahs as part of a verse structure.
