The Qur'aan And What It Means To Muslims

Allah states: { And if anyone of the mushrikeen (polytheists) seeks your protection, then grant him protection, so that he may hear the word of Allah (the Qur’aan) }[Qur’aan 9:6]

The Qur’aan was brought down by Jibreel (Gabriel) to Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and over a period of 23 years it was revealed in portions and piecemeal as circumstances warranted.

Allah states: { And truly this ( the Qur’aan) is a revelation from the Lord of the 'aalamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists ) which the trustworthy Ruh (Gabriel) has brought down }[Qur’aan 26: 192-193.]

And He said: { And those who disbelieved say: ‘Why is not the Qur’aan revealed to him all at once?’. Thus (it is sent down in parts ) that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you gradually, in stages }(Qur’aan 25:32)

The Prophet peace be upon him would memorize the verses he received and recite them to the companions and ordered them to write them down immediately. Whatever those expert scribes and appointed recorders wrote was checked by the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) himself. The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) had no formal schooling and he is referred to by Allah as being ummee or illiterate. This adds to the miraculous nature of the Qur’aan and the Prophet’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) own statements which could not have been uttered by one such as he without divine intervention.

The Qur’aan is the last of Allah’s scriptures divided into 114 Suwar (chapters) of unequal length. It starts with Surah Al-Faatiha (The Opening) and ends with Surah An-Nas (Mankind). It is one of the fundamental sources of Islamic teachings. It guards the previous revelations and reinforces the eternal truth of monotheism.

The Qur’aan stands today as it first came down and it always will be. To it there has never been any addition, from it there is no omission, and in it there has occurred no corruption.

Allah said: { Do they not then consider the Qur’aan carefully? Had it been from other than Allah they would surely have found therein much contradictions }[Qur’aan 4:82]