The Quran is the holy book of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the literal word of God (Allah) as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ over a period of approximately 23 years, beginning in 610 CE when Muhammad ﷺ was 40 years old, until his death in 632 CE. The Quran is written in Arabic and is divided into 114 chapters, known as surahs, which vary in length and cover a wide range of topics including theology, law, morality, guidance for personal conduct, and narratives about earlier prophets.

It’s also important to note that the wording of the Quran has and never will be changed.

Key Features of the Quran

Divine revelation

Muslims believe that the Quran was revealed to Muhammad ﷺ by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel (Jibril in Arabic). The revelations were transmitted orally to Muhammad ﷺ, who then recited them to his followers.

Structure and content

The Quran is composed of 114 surahs, each made up of verses called ayahs. The surahs are not arranged in chronological order but rather roughly by length, with the longer surahs generally at the beginning and the shorter ones at the end.

The content of the Quran includes guidance on how to live a righteous life, laws for social and personal conduct, stories of previous prophets, and descriptions of the afterlife.

Language and style

The Quran is written in classical Arabic, known for its rich and poetic language. It is considered the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language, and its style is both rhetorical and highly expressive, employing repetition, parallelism, and other literary devices.

Inimitability (I’jaz al-Quran)

Muslims believe that the Quran is miraculous in its language and content, claiming that no human could produce anything similar to it, which is known as the concept of I’jaz al-Qur’an.

Preservation and memorisation

The Quran has been meticulously preserved over the centuries, both through written texts and oral memorisation. It is common for Muslims to memorise the entire Quran, a practice known as Hifz, and those who do are honoured with the title Hafiz.

Role in Islamic life

The Quran is the primary source of Islamic theology, law (Sharia), and morality. It is recited during daily prayers (Salah), and Muslims are encouraged to read and reflect on it regularly. The Quran also serves as a guide for resolving disputes and making decisions in both personal and communal matters.

Interpretation (Tafsir):

To understand the Quran’s deeper meanings and apply its teachings, scholars have developed Tafsir, which is the exegesis or commentary on the Quran. Tafsir helps to explain the context of revelations, clarify ambiguous passages, and relate the teachings of the Quran to different aspects of life.

The Quran’s impact

The Quran has had a profound impact on Islamic civilisation and continues to influence the lives of Muslims around the world. It is not only a religious text but also a source of inspiration for art, literature, and culture within the Islamic world. Its teachings have shaped the legal, social, and ethical systems of Muslim-majority countries, and its recitation remains a central practice in the daily lives of Muslims.