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 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 phrase: “In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.” The Qur’an emphasizes the oneness of God, as well as the importance of justice, compassion, and charity and peace, the word “war” is mentioned 9 times in the Qur’an and the word “peace” is mentioned 50 times. 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.
The Qur’an 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.
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 to it in its Arabic version. God promised in the Qur’an that, unlike the previous scriptures, the Qur’an will remain unchanged and unaltered by mankind until the end of time (as you will see in the short video at the bottom of this page). Its preservation has been ensured through careful memorization and transmission by countless individuals throughout history. 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 has been maintained over centuries, as confirmed by ancient manuscripts like 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 UK, shows with 95% accuracy that it dates back to before 671 CE, just 39 years after the death of Prophet Muhammad. The manuscript matches today’s Qur’an exactly, with no letters or words missing or added.
Memorizing the entire Qu’ran word for word is considered a great honour, and over 10 million Muslims have the entire Qur’an memorized in its original Arabic, word for word (all 77,000 words), earning the title of “Hafiz.” Additionally, 2 billion Muslims worldwide have committed at least a portion of it to memory, using it in their five daily prayers. 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 1,400 years ago, due to the vast number of people who have memorized it.
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 teaching, 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’ve had a chance to read pages 01 and 12, 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.
For example verse: “God does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.” Qur’an 2:286. This verse was revealed in the context of the early Muslim community, who were facing great trials and burdens, particularly in relation to the new obligations of prayer, fasting, and other aspects of the faith. There was concern among the Muslims that they might be overwhelmed by the demands of these religious duties. This verse was revealed to reassure them that God would not place upon them anything that was beyond their capacity to handle, giving them comfort and hope.
The Qur’an doesn’t tell a story in order like a timeline. 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. Instead of being like a regular storybook, the Qur’an is a guide that shows how to grow spiritually and live a good, moral life.
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:
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.