The Qur’an is the holy scripture of Islam, it is the final testament and considered the word of God, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the Angel Gabriel.
The Qur’ran consists of 114 chapters (surahs) that encompass a wide range of topics, including guidance on faith, worship, morality, law, and personal conduct. It emphasizes the oneness of God (Allah), the importance of justice, compassion, and charity, and provides stories of 25 past prophets, such as Adam, Noah, Moses, and Jesus, and some that were totally unknown to the region. The Qur’an also addresses calls for spiritual reflection, patience, and humility in the face of life’s challenges and the Qur’an let us know what God expects of us and what await us after death.
The Qur’an is the most preserved book on Earth, remaining in its original form as it was 1,400 years ago, with not a single word or letter added to it (in it’s Arabic version), God promised that it will remain unchanged and unaltered by mankind until the end of time, with its preservation ensured through the careful memorization and transmission by countless individuals throughout history. Today, over 10 million Muslims have memorized the entire Qur’an in its original Arabic, word for word (all 77,000 words), earning the title of “hafiz.” Furthermore, nearly 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide have committed at least a portion of the Qur’an to memory, using it in their five daily prayers.
The Qur’an was revealed over a period of 23 years:
The Quran was revealed over 23 years to allow its message to be gradually understood and implemented in the lives of the early Muslims, adapting to changing circumstances and challenges. This gradual revelation allowed for deeper reflection, a more profound impact on people’s hearts, and practical guidance in stages, addressing specific situations as they arose. It also gave time for the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to teach, clarify, and embody the Quranic teachings in his life, making its message more accessible and impactful for the community.
The Arabic language contains over 12 million words:
The Arabs of the 6th and 7th centuries were masters of eloquence and rhetoric, and they were profoundly moved when they first encountered the Qur’an. This highlights that the Qur’an is inherently tied to its original Arabic form, and no translation can truly capture its full depth or convey its exact meaning. For this reason, many believe the Qur’an is, in essence, untranslatable.
The Arabic language contains over 12 million words, while English contains over 1 million words in all its forms, including technical terms, slang, and borrowed words from other languages. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), one of the most authoritative English dictionaries, includes over 600,000 words, and that should give you an idea of the richness of the Arabic Qur’an.
If you have read Article #1 – The Universe: God’s Creation or a Pure Accident? I provided five examples of scientific facts, some of which were only discovered in the 20th century. These examples clearly demonstrate why a man of the 7th century, who could neither read nor write, could never have produced such a work.
How to approach the Qur’an for the first time?
Studying the Qur’an is not easy for several reasons, one of the most significant being the depth and richness of its Arabic language.
Seemi Ghazi, at University of B.C. instructor in Islamic literature and arts recommends for the first time reader not to start from the front cover but to rather go to some sections that are more accessible than others, such as passages like Sura 1, titled “Fatiha;” Sura 12, titled “Joseph,” or by going to the end of the Qur’an for the smallest Sura.”
Read the Qu’ran:
In my opinion, the best English translation can be found in the version by Wahiduddin Khan, edited by Farida Khanam. You can read and download it by clicking here.
It is said that if all physical copies of the Qur’an were destroyed today, it would be restored in its entirety, exactly as it was revealed over 1,400 years ago.