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The Quran (/ kɔːrˈɑːn / kor-AHN; Arabic: القرآن, Romanized: al-Qurʼān pronunciation in Arabic: [alqur'ʔaːn], which literally means "the recitation"), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text. of Islam, which Muslims believe is a revelation from God (Allah). It is widely regarded as the best work in classical Arabic literature. Slightly shorter than the New Testament, it is organized into 114 chapters (in Arabic: سورة sūrah, plural سور suwar), not according to the time they were revealed (or by themes), but according to the duration of the suras (with some exceptions ) under the guidance of divine revelation. Surah is subdivided into verses (Arabic: آية āyah, plural آيات āyāt).

Muslims believe that the Qur'an was revealed orally by God to the final prophet, Muhammad, through the archangel Gabriel (Jibril),] incrementally over a period of about 23 years, beginning on December 22, 609 CE, when Muhammad was 40 years old, and concluded in 632, the year of his death. Muslims consider the Koran as the most important miracle of Muhammad, a proof of his prophecy and the culmination of a series of divine messages that begin with those revealed to Adam, including Tawrah (Torah), Zabur ("Psalms") and the Injil ("Gospel"), and ending the revelation of Muhammad. The word "Koran" appears about 70 times in the text of the Koran, and it is also said that other names and words refer to the Koran. Unlike the Bible, Muslims believe that it is not divinely inspired, but that it is the literal word of God.

According to tradition, several of Muhammad's companions served as scribes and recorded the revelations. Shortly after his death, the Quran was compiled by the companions, who had written or memorized parts of it. The codices showed differences that motivated Caliph Uthman to establish a standard version, now known as the Uthman codex, which is generally considered the archetype of the Koran known today. However, there are variant readings, with minor differences in their meaning.

The Quran assumes familiarity with the main narratives reported in the biblical scriptures. It summarizes some, stops extensively in others and, in some cases, presents alternative accounts and interpretations of the events. The Quran describes itself as an orientation book for humanity 2: 185. It sometimes offers detailed accounts of specific historical events, and often emphasizes the moral importance of an event over its narrative sequence. Complementing the Qur'an with explanations of some cryptic Koranic narratives, and resolutions that also provide the basis of Sharia (Islamic) law (in most denominations of Islam),  are Hadith - oral traditions and writings that are believed to describe Muhammad's words and actions. During the prayers, the Quran is recited only in Arabic.

Someone who has memorized the entire Quran is called hafiz. The Quranic verse (ayah) is sometimes recited with a special kind of elocution reserved for this purpose, called tajwid. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims often complete the recitation of the entire Quran during Tarawih prayers. To extrapolate the meaning of a particular Quranic verse, most Muslims rely on exegesis or tafsir.

What is the Koran?
The miracle of Allah and a final testament to humanity
"The Quran: literally, 'what is often recited.' A network of rhythm and meaning, whose words palpitate through Muslim worship and that, at every point of the believer's life, break the surface, sanctifying existence with the scent of eternity. "[Abdul Wadod Shalabi in" Islam - Religion of life "]

The Quran represents the source of divine guidance for every Muslim. His revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his practical implementation of the revelation, completed God's blessing for humanity, by providing us with a system of beliefs and values ​​that is valid for all times.

The Quran confirms the revelations given to the previous Prophets, although they may not be accessible to us, in the way they were originally revealed. The most sublime language and a rational message that directly attracts the human heart have caused this Divine book to move nations and civilizations. He will continue to guide those who turn to God with a sincere heart, at all times.

The Quran: The Holy Book of Islam
The Quran is the holy book of the Islamic world. Collected over a period of 23 years during the 7th century C.E., it is said that the Qur'an consists of the revelations of Allah to the Prophet Muhammad, transmitted through the angel Gabriel. The scribes wrote those revelations when Muhammad delivered them during his ministry, and his followers continued to recite them after his death. At the request of Caliph Abu Bakr, the chapters and verses were compiled in a book in 632 C.E .; that version of the book, written in Arabic, has been the sacred book of Islam for more than 13 centuries.

Islam is an Abrahamic religion, which means that, like Christianity and Judaism, it venerates the biblical patriarch Abraham and his descendants and followers.

The Koran: Fast facts
The Quran is the holy book of Islam. It was written in the seventh century C.E.
Its content is the wisdom of Allah as received and preached by Muhammad.
The Quran is divided into chapters (called sura) and verses (ayat) of different duration and themes.
It is also divided into sections (juz) as a 30-day reading schedule for Ramadan.
Islam is an Abrahamic religion and, like Judaism and Christianity, honors Abraham as the patriarch.
Islam venerates Jesus ('Isa) as a sacred prophet and his mother Mary (Mariam) as a holy woman.

Organization
The Quran is divided into 114 chapters of different themes and lengths, known as a sura. Each sura is composed of verses, known as ayat (or ayah). The shortest sura is Al-Kawthar, composed of only three verses; the longest is Al-Baqara, with 286 verses. The chapters are classified as Meccan or Medinan, depending on whether they were written before Muhammad's pilgrimage to Mecca (Medinan), or later (Meccan). Medinan's 28 chapters deal primarily with social life and the growth of the Muslim community; The 86 Meccan deal with faith and beyond.

The Quran is also divided into 30 equal sections or juz '. These sections are organized so that the reader can study the Quran over the course of a month. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are recommended to complete at least one full reading of the Quran from beginning to end. The ajiza (plural of juz ') serves as a guide to perform that task.

The themes of the Quran are intertwined throughout the chapters, rather than presented in chronological or thematic order. Readers can use a concordance, an index that lists each use of each word in the Qur'an, to search for particular topics or themes.

Creation according to the Quran
Although the creation story in the Qur'an says "Allah created the heavens and the earth, and everything in between in six days," the Arabic term "yawm" ("day") could best be translated as "period". Yawm is defined as different lengths at different times. The original couple, Adam and Hawa, are considered the fathers of the human race: Adam is a prophet of Islam and his wife Hawa or Hawwa (in Arabic, Eva) is the mother of the human race.

Women in the Koran
Like the other Abrahamic religions, there are many women in the Koran. Only one is explicitly called: Mariam. Mariam is the mother of Jesus, who is a prophet in the Muslim faith. Other women who are mentioned but not mentioned include the wives of Abraham (Sara, Hajar) and Asiya (Bithiah in the Hadith), the wife of Pharaoh, Moses' adoptive mother.

The Quran and the New Testament
The Quran does not reject Christianity or Judaism, but refers to Christians as "people of the book," that is, people who received and believe in the revelations of God's prophets. The verses highlight the points in common between Christians and Muslims, but consider Jesus a prophet, not a god, and warn Christians that worshiping Christ as a god is sliding toward polytheism: Muslims see Allah as the only one True god.

"Certainly, those who believe, and those who are Jews, and Christians, and the wise, who believe in God and the last day and do good, will receive their reward from their Lord. And there will be no fear for them, they will not grieve "(2:62, 5:69 and many other verses).
Mary and Jesus

Mariam, as the mother of Jesus Christ in the Qur'an is called, is a fair woman in her own right: Chapter 19 of the Quran is entitled The Chapter of Mary, and describes the Muslim version of the immaculate conception of Christ.

Jesus is called 'Isa in the Qur'an, and many stories found in the New Testament are also in the Qur'an, including the stories of his miraculous birth, his teachings and the miracles he performed. The main difference is that in the Quran, Jesus is a prophet sent by God, not his son.

Getting along in the world: interfaith dialogue
Juz '7 of the Koran is dedicated, among other things, to an interfaith dialogue. While Abraham and the other prophets call on people to have faith and leave false idols, the Quran asks believers to be patient with the rejection of Islam by non-believers and not take it personally.

"But if Allah had wanted, they would not have partnered. And we have not appointed you over them as a guardian, nor are you an administrator over them." (6: 107)
Violence
Modern critics of Islam say that the Quran promotes terrorism. Although written during a period of violence and revenge between trials, the Quran actively promotes justice, peace, and moderation. He explicitly urges believers to refrain from falling into sectarian violence, violence against brothers.

"As for those who divide their religion and separate into sects, you have no part of them in the least. Their adventure is with Allah; in the end, he will tell them the truth of everything they did." (6: 159)
The Arabic language of the Quran
The Arabic text of the original Arab Qur'an is identical and has not changed since its revelation in the 7th century AD. C. About 90 percent of Muslims worldwide do not speak Arabic as their mother tongue, and there are many translations of the Quran available in English and other languages. However, to recite prayers and read chapters and verses in the Qur'an, Muslims They use Arabic to participate as part of their shared faith.

Reading and recitation
Prophet Muhammad instructed his followers to "beautify the Koran with their voices" (Abu Dawud). The recitation of the Quran in a group is a common practice, and the precise and melodious task is a way in which adherents preserve and share their messages.

While many English translations of the Quran contain footnotes, certain passages may need an additional explanation or should be placed in a more complete context. If necessary, students use the Tafseer, an exegesis or comment, to provide more information.