Quran

The Quran is the holy book of Islam. Muslims believe it contains the words of God, revealed to the prophet Muhammad. These revelations began around the year 610 CE in the Arabian Peninsula. The Quran is written in Arabic and is central to Islamic belief and practice. It is read, memorized, and recited by Muslims around the world.

According to Islamic belief, the Quran was revealed to Muhammad over a period of about 23 years. The messages were delivered by the angel Gabriel. At first, the verses were memorized and recited aloud. Some were written down on materials such as parchment, bone, or palm leaves. After Muhammad’s death in 632 CE, the verses were collected and organized into a single book.

The Quran is divided into chapters called surahs. There are 114 surahs in total. Each surah is made up of verses called ayahs. The surahs vary in length. Some are very short, while others are much longer. The arrangement of the Quran is not in time order. Instead, surahs are generally ordered by length, with longer ones placed earlier.

The Quran covers many subjects. It speaks about belief in one God, stories of earlier prophets, rules for daily life, and guidance on worship. It also describes events from the past and ideas about the afterlife. Some passages are written in clear statements, while others use poetry and imagery. Because of this, meaning is often explained through study and commentary.

Arabic is considered the language of the Quran. Muslims believe that the original Arabic text is the true form of the book. Translations into other languages exist, but they are usually described as explanations of meaning rather than exact copies. When Muslims pray, they recite verses from the Quran in Arabic, even if Arabic is not their first language.

The Quran has been carefully preserved over time. Early copies were written by hand, and later copies were printed. Many Muslims memorize the entire Quran. A person who memorizes the whole book is called a hafiz. Today, the Quran is available in printed books, audio recordings, and digital formats, while its text remains the same as in early Islamic history.