What is the Qur’an?
The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam, it is considered the final message and the word of God, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the Angel Gabriel. It is a single book, not a collection of different books.
The Qur’an is not like any book, it has no beginning and no end. The Qur’an repeatedly invites people to reflect, think, and use their reason rather than just follow blindly. It often calls people to look at the creation of the heavens, the earth, the stars, the alternation of day and night, and even within themselves as signs of God’s existence and wisdom.
The Qur’an consists of 114 chapters (surahs) that encompass a wide range of topics, including guidance on faith, worship, morality, law, and personal conduct. Every chapters, except one, all begin with the same phrase: “In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.” The first verse revealed to Prophet Muhammad, on the 27th night of the month of Ramadan, was: “Read in the name of your Lord,” emphasizing the importance of learning and gaining knowledge, and that only by becoming knowledgeable can one differentiate truth from falsehood.
The Qur’an emphasizes the oneness of God, as well as the importance of justice, compassion, and charity and peace. It also contains stories of 25 prophets, such as Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Joseph, David, Salomon, and Jesus. Muhammad’s name is mentioned 4 times in Qur’an, Jesus is mentioned 25 times and his mother Marie 34 times (peace be upon them all).
Additionally, the Qur’an calls for spiritual reflection, patience, and humility in the face of life’s challenges. It teaches us what God expects of us and what awaits us after death.
Who does the Qur’an belong to?
The Qur’an does not belong to anyone, it is not the property of an institution, the property of a nation, the property of a specific race, or for certain time in history; it transcends time, cultures, and languages.
Is there physical proof that the Qur’an has remained the same since its revelation?
Yes, the Qur’an is the most preserved book on Earth, remaining in its original form as it was revealed 1,400 years ago, with not a single word or letter added in its Arabic version. God promises in the Qur’an that, unlike previous scriptures, it will remain unchanged and unaltered by mankind until the end of time (as you can see in the short video at the bottom of this page). Its preservation has been ensured through careful memorization from day one to the present, passed down from generation to generation. During the first caliphate of Abu Bakr (immediately after the death of Prophet Muhammad), the Qur’an was compiled into written text, and it was standardized during the third caliphate of Uthman. This consistency and its memorization have been maintained over centuries, as confirmed by ancient manuscripts such as the Sanaa manuscript, discovered in 1972 during renovations of the Great Mosque of Sanaa in Yemen. Radiocarbon dating of the parchment at the University of Oxford in the UK shows, with 95% accuracy, that it dates back to before 671AD, just 39 years after the death of Prophet Muhammad. The manuscript matches today’s Qur’an exactly, with not a single letter or word missing or added.
How many people worldwide have the Qur’an memorized?
From the time of the prophet Muhammad to this date, memorizing the entire Qur’an word for word is considered a great honor. In mosques around the world, special classes are dedicated to learning and memorizing the Qur’an for its protection and preservation. Today, over 10 million Muslims have memorized the entire Qur’an in its original Arabic—word for word, all 77,000 words—earning the respected title of “Hafiz”. Additionally, nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide have committed at least a portion of it to memory, reciting and preserving its verses in their daily prayers.
It is said that if all physical copies of the Qur’an on earth were destroyed today, it would be restored in its entirety, exactly as it was revealed over 1,400 years ago, just as God’s promised in the Qur’an.
Contradictions and Discrepancies:
“Do they not reflect upon the Qur’an? If it had been from anyone other than God, they would have found within it many contradictions.” Qur’an 4:82:
Several non-Muslim scholars, academics, and intellectuals from different backgrounds have studied the Qur’an critically, looking for errors, contradictions, or inconsistencies. Some, unable to find any, eventually converted to Islam. Among the most notable are a few scholars whose work you can explore yourself. If you have doubts, you can try examining the Qur’an and see if you can challenge Verse 4:82
Arthur J. Arberry (1905–1969), spoke and read Arabic perfectly and his conclusion: The Qur’an’s remarkable linguistic coherence and unity, especially given its length and mode of revelation presents no contradiction or discrepancies.
William Montgomery Watt (1909–2006): Acknowledged the Qur’an’s internal consistency and rejected claims of careless compilation or confusion.
Angelika Neuwirth (b. 1943): Argues that the Qur’an shows a strong internal structure and thematic unity, countering claims of disorder or contradiction.
Kenneth Cragg (1913–2012): Anglican bishop and scholar: While theologically critical of Islam, he acknowledged the Qur’an’s textual integrity and consistency.
John Burton (1929–2010): British scholar: Concluded that the Qur’an’s text shows no evidence of missing verses or internal textual chaos.
Maurcie Bucaille (1920-1998) : French scholar: Did not find scientific errors or internal contradictions in the Qur’an.
The Qur’an was revealed over a period of 23 years, but why?
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 teaching, making its message more accessible and impactful for the community.
Did you know that 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 the English language 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 the chance to read pages 01 and 12 of this website, you’ll find few examples of scientific facts, some of which were only discovered in the 19th and 20th centuries. These examples help show why it’s very unlikely that a man from the 7th century, who couldn’t read or write, could have produced the Qur’an.
How to approach the Qur’an for the first time and what to expect?
Studying the Quran for the first time can be challenging for many reasons, primarily due to the depth and richness of its language (the Arabic language), as well as the importance of understanding the historical context in which some verses were revealed. As mentioned earlier, the Quran was revealed over a period of 23 years, addressing specific situations as they arose. This means that sometimes it can be difficult to understand certain verses without knowing the context in which they were revealed.
The Qur’an doesn’t tell a story in order like a timeline, it has no beginning or end. Instead, the verses are grouped by themes or topics. Each verse has a lesson or message, and while it talks about some historical events, it mostly focuses on the lessons we can learn from them, rather than telling the full details of the events in order. The Qur’an uses repetition, and pictures in words to help teach important lessons. It helps people think deeply and understand things better.
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 chapter 1 titled “The opening;” Chapter 12, titled “Joseph,” or Chapter 19, titled “Marie” or by going to the end of the Qur’an for the smallest chapters.”
Read the Qu’ran:
As a person who speaks both English and Arabic, my opinion of the best English translation is the one by Wahiduddin Khan, edited by Farida Khanam. You can read and download it by clicking here.