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Quran

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The Quran is the central religious text of Islam.

Birmingham Quran manuscript full
Birmingham Quran manuscript full

Muslims believe it is a direct revelation from God, known as Allah. It serves as a complete code of conduct for all parts of life. The word "Quran" is an Arabic term meaning "the recitation" or "the lecture."

Allah-green
Allah-green

This name highlights the importance of speaking the words aloud. The text is organized into 114 chapters called surahs. These surahs are composed of individual verses called ayahs. Many people also refer to the text using synonyms like "the book" or "the wisdom."

Muslims believe the revelation occurred incrementally over 23 years.

Ibrahim's sacrifice of Emsaeil is stopped by Jibril delivering a sheep instead uncropped
Ibrahim's sacrifice of Emsaeil is stopped by Jibril delivering a sheep instead uncropped

This process began in 610 CE when Muhammad was 40 years old. The first revelation happened in the Cave of Hira on the Laylat al-Qadr. According to tradition, the angel Gabriel brought these messages to Muhammad. The final verse was revealed in 632 CE, the year of his death. This period is often divided into the Meccan and Medinan periods. The Meccan period includes revelations that make up two-thirds of the Quran.

During the prophetic era, the Quran was primarily an oral tradition.

Folio from a Koran (8th-9th century)
Folio from a Koran (8th-9th century)

Muhammad did not write the text himself, as he is described as "ummi." Instead, several companions served as scribes to record the revelations. They wrote on various materials like tablets, bones, and palm tree leaves.

Bifolium from the "Nurse's Qur'an" (Mushaf al-Hadina) MET DP167065
Bifolium from the "Nurse's Qur'an" (Mushaf al-Hadina) MET DP167065

Some followers memorized the entire text by heart. A person who has achieved this feat is called a hafiz. This oral transmission helped preserve the poetic and repetitive style of the verses.

After Muhammad died in 632 CE, leaders began the process of compilation.

4.8-17-1990-Guld-koranside-recto-og-verso
4.8-17-1990-Guld-koranside-recto-og-verso

The first caliph, Abu Bakr, ordered the text to be collected into one volume. He appointed Zayd ibn Thabit to lead this task. Zayd gathered material from written scraps and from men who had memorized it. This draft was eventually kept by Muhammad's widow, Hafsa bint Umar. This early collection was a vital step in ensuring the text was not lost.

As Islam spread to places like Persia and North Africa, new challenges arose.

Men reading the Koran in Umayyad Mosque, Damascus, Syria
Men reading the Koran in Umayyad Mosque, Damascus, Syria

By the 650s, different groups were using different readings of the text. These differences were sometimes called "ahruf," or syllables. To resolve these conflicts, the third caliph, Uthman, ordered a standard version. This is known as the Uthmanic codex.

Page from the Qur'an of Sultan Ibrahim (TKS EH 209)
Page from the Qur'an of Sultan Ibrahim (TKS EH 209)

This standard version is the archetype of the Quran used by Muslims today.

Today, the Quran remains a central part of Islamic worship and study.

Jemaah salat tarawih
Jemaah salat tarawih

During prayers, the text is recited only in its original Arabic. Many Muslims use a special method of recitation called tajwid. This involves a specific prosody, or rhythmic pattern, for the verses. To understand the deep meanings of the text, scholars use tafsir, which is a form of commentary. This is necessary because the Quran often uses an allusive style to summarize narratives.

The Quran also connects to other religious traditions and academic fields. It alludes to stories found in the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel. However, it does not quote these sources directly. Instead, it summarizes them to focus on moral lessons. Modern scholars engage in a field called Quranic studies to research the text. There is also a specialized study known as "Ilm-al Qira'a." This field looks deeply into the various historical readings and narrations of the holy text.

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🖼️ Images & Media (42)
File:Allah3.svg
Allah3.svg
File:Allah-green.svg
Allah-green.svg
File:Mortier, Situation du Paradise Terrestre, 1700 Cornell CUL PJM 1014 01.jpg
Mortier, Situation du Paradise Terrestre,...
File:Birmingham Quran manuscript full.jpg
Birmingham Quran manuscript full.jpg
File:Iskandar (Alexander) builds a wall against Gog and Magog (CBL Per. 395.1).jpg
Iskandar (Alexander) builds a wall...
File:Quran divided into 6 books.jpg
Quran divided into 6 books.jpg
File:Bifolium from the "Nurse's Qur'an" (Mushaf al-Hadina) MET DP167065.jpg
Bifolium from the "Nurse's Qur'an"...
File:Jonah and the Whale, Folio from a Jami al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Chronicles).jpg
Jonah and the Whale, Folio from a Jami...
File:Jemaah salat tarawih.jpg
Jemaah salat tarawih.jpg
File:4.8-17-1990-Guld-koranside-recto-og-verso.jpg
4.8-17-1990-Guld-koranside-recto-og-verso.jpg
File:Ibrahim's sacrifice of Emsaeil is stopped by Jibril delivering a sheep instead uncropped.jpg
Ibrahim's sacrifice of Emsaeil is stopped...
File:Edinburgh Oriental Manuscript 20 fol 9r.jpg
Edinburgh Oriental Manuscript 20 fol 9r.jpg

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