What is the Qur'aan?

What is the Qur'aan?

The Qur'aan is the final revelation of Allaah to all of mankind, which was spoken by Allaah the Exalted Himself and conveyed through the Arch-Angel Gabriel in Arabic to the Prophet Muhammad, in sound, word and meaning. The Qur'aan, (sometimes incorrectly spelled Koran), was then relayed to the Prophet's companions, and they diligently memorized it verbatim and meticulously complied it into written form. The Holy Qur'aan has been continually recited by the companions of the Prophet and their successors until the present day. In short, the Qur'aan is the revealed book of Divine scripture from Allaah to all humanity for their guidance and salvation.

Today the Qur'aan is still memorized and taught by millions of people. The language of the Qur'aan, Arabic, is still a living language to millions of people. Unlike the scriptures of some other religions, the Qur'aan is still read in its original language by countless millions of people. The Qur'aan is a living miracle in the Arabic language, and it is known to be inimitable in its style, form and spiritual impact, as well as the unique knowledge that it contains. The Qur'aan was revealed in a series of revelations to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. In contrast to many other religious books, the Qur'aan was always believed to be the exact Word of Allaah. The Qur'aan was recited publicly in front of both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities during the life of the Prophet Muhammad, and thereafter. The entire Qur'aan was also completely written down in the lifetime of the Prophet, and numerous companions of the Prophet memorized the entire Qur'aan word-for-word as it was revealed. The Qur'aan was always in the hands of the common believers: it was always thought to be God's word; and, due to wide-spread memorization, it was perfectly preserved. Never was any part of it altered or decreed by any religious council. The teachings of the Qur'aan comprise a universal scripture addressed to all of mankind and not to any particular tribe or ‘chosen people’. The message that it brings is nothing new but the same message of all of the prophets: 'submit to Allaah the One God and worship Him alone and follow Allaah's Messengers for success in this life and salvation in the hereafter'. As such, Allaah's revelation in the Qur'aan focuses on teaching human beings the importance of believing in the Oneness of Allaah, and framing their lives around the guidance which He has sent, which is articulated in the Islamic Law. The Qur'aan contains the stories of the previous prophets, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, peace be upon all of them, as well as commands and prohibitions from God. In our modern times, in which so many people are caught up in doubt, spiritual despair and social and political alienation, the Qur'aanic teachings offer solutions to the emptiness of our lives and the turmoil that is gripping the world today.

Ameeen Weake