Holy Quran Introduction

Holy Quran

And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember, then is there any that will remember (or receive admonition)?  ( Chapter No 54, Verse No 22 – Holy Quran )

THE QURʾAN is the supreme authority in Islam. It is the fundamental and paramount source of the creed, rituals, ethics, and laws of the Islamic religion. It is the book that ‘differentiates’ between right and wrong, so that nowadays, when the Muslim world is dealing with such universal issues as globalization, the environment, combating terrorism and drugs, issues of medical ethics, and feminism, evidence to support the various arguments is sought in the Qurʾan. This supreme status stems from the belief that the Qurʾan is the word of God, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) via the archangel Gabriel, and intended for all times and all places.

The Quran is the literal, spoken Word of Allah revealed to the last Prophet Muhammad(PBUH), may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, through Gabriel, the Angel of Revelation, transmitted to us by numerous channels, both verbally and in written form.  Inimitable and unique, it is divinely protected from corruption. God says:

‘Indeed, it is We who sent down the message [i.e., the Qur’an] and indeed, We will be its guardian.’ (Quran 15:9)

Holy Quran is the most widely read book in the world. The Quran was repeatedly revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)  through Angel Jibril(AS) who is the king of all Angels.

Holy Quran was revealed at once to Bait ul Aizzah in the month of Ramazan. After then it was revealed on earth towards Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) in different time periods according to the situation and this revelation process lasted for approximately twenty-three  years.

Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) received his first revelation in the cave of Hira where he spent lot of time worshipping Allah. Holy Quran is the miracle of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH).

The revelation of  Quran started when Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) was 40 years old and it ends when his age was approximately 63 years.

The Holy Quran was collected by Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) companions and is written and memorized to pass it to the next generations. It was revealed part by part, ayet by ayet and occasionally as whole chapters. It is the most memorable book and is fully memorized by millions of people all over the world.

The companions of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) served in transferring the Islamic holy book to future generations. The Quran was compiled into a book in the time of the first caliph, Abu Bakr(RA).

During the 23 years of Muhammad’s(PBUH) time as a prophet, the verses of the Quran were memorized as they were revealed, and about 42 scribes wrote the verses on different materials such as paper, cloth, bone fragments and leather.

The delegation of 12 people, including famous figures such as Uthman ibn Affan(RA), Ali ibn Abi Talib(RA), Talha ibn Ubaydullah(RA), Abdullah ibn Masood(RA), Ubayy ibn Kab(RA), Khalid ibn al-Walid(RA), and Hudhaifah(RA) , came together in Umar’s(RA) house and collected all the materials on which verses from the Quran were written.

Holy Quran is the finest piece of literature available in the world in Arabic language. It is the only book in the world that is in its original form after its revelation 1400 years ago.

Holy Quran consists of 114 chapters.  Out of 114 chapters, 86 chapters were revealed when Prophet(PBUH) was in Meeca and 28 chapters were revealed when Prophet(PBUH) was in Madina.  Each Chapter covers various aspects like rules and restrictions, rewards and the punishment.

All the chapters except one begin with the sentence Bismillahir rahmanir raheem, ‘In the name of Allah the most merciful and the most kind’. This is the thought with which Muslims should start every action.

The longest chapter of the Qur’an is Surah Baqarah (The Cow) with 286 verses and the shortest is Surah Al-Kawther (abundance) which has 3 verses.

The arrangement of surahs does not correspond to the chronological order in which they were revealed.

The Qur’an is sometimes divided into 30 roughly equal parts, known as juz’. These divisions make it easier for Muslims to read the Qur’an during the course of a month and many will read one juz’ each day, particularly during the month of ramadan.

The first chapter of the Quran is repeated in daily prayers and in other occasions. This chapter, which consists of seven verses, is the most often recited chapter of the Holy Quran:

Bismillah1

“All praise belongs to God, Lord of the Universe, the Beneficent, the Merciful and Master of the Day of Judgment, You alone We do worship and from You alone we do seek assistance, guide us to the right path, the path of those to whom You have granted blessings, those who are neither subject to Your anger nor have gone astray.”
The Quran is not simply an inspired scripture. It is a divine book brought down from heaven by the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad(PBUH), and its message is the key to heaven. Join us for an exploration of the scripture that is the word of God to over a billion people.

Holy Quran Names

Quran Majeed has lot of names , among all 6 are most popular.

  1. Al-Kitab     (Surah- AlBaqrah- 2)
  2. Al-Quran   (Surah- AlBaqrah- 185)
  3. Al-Zikar     (Surah- Alhijr- 9)
  4. Al-Wahyi   (Surah- AlAnbiya-45)
  5. Al-Furqan  (Surah- AlFurqan- 1)
  6. Al-Rooh     (Surah- AlShurah- 53)

Quran is a source of spiritual guidance for every Muslim. It is a holy book that is sent down by the ALLAH Almighty for guidance of the whole of mankind. It is the only book which is remained in its original form. It is also said in the Holy Quran that and “without any doubt we sent down the message and we will assuredly guard it from corruption”.

It should always be kept in mind that the Holy Quran is not only the holy book but it provides us the complete code of life whether it is related to the religion, economy, sociology, family, education, law, politics or any other field of the life. The holy Quran also says that “And we have sent down a book to thee which explaining all the things”.

Quran has a clear focus on education as it starts with “Read with the name of ALLAH who created you”. In Islam, getting an education is compulsory for all men and women.

Quran gives us judicial guidance as well. Quran orders to cut the hands of the thieves. Besides that, there are instructions that the eye is for an eye, the nose is for nose, the ear is for ear, life is for life and money in the revenge of money but if someone wants to forgive, it is better as ALLAH Almighty likes forgiveness.

As far as prayers are concerned, there are clear orders of ALLAH Almighty in the Holy Quran to offer prays. Reminders are given many times in the Quran to offer Namaz and to pay the Zakat. Namaz is the prayer to whom the first question will be asked on the day of judgment. It is also a pillar of Islam. Clear instructions are also given for Zakat as well. Fasting and Hajj are also discussed in detail in the Holy Quran.

There are very clear instructions about family and how to maintain relationships with family members.

It should always be kept in mind that the Quranic laws are everlasting. No one can change them.

Quran is an eternal guide for us with its basic and fundamental beliefs. It is an authentic and dependable channel from where we can take guidance for our whole life. It covers all aspects of human life including spiritual aspects as well. The holy Quran is a book of guidance that guides us towards the right path where the rewards are waiting for us and stops us to adopt the wrong path where punishment will be given to those who adopted it.

Holy Quran Topics

Quran Majeed discusses all those points which are necessary for success of human beings in this life and hereafter. Some of the topics discussed by Allah(SWT)  in Quran are as follows:

  1.  Oneness of Allah
  2.  Religious doctrine
  3.  Morality
  4.  History
  5.  Stories of past prophets
  6.  Science
  7.  Theology
  8.  Reward and Punishment
  9.  Laws
  10.  Economics
  11.  Social Life
  12.  Domestic Life
  13.  Politics

The most important features of Quran’s style in discussing these themes are:

(1)  The use of parables to stir curiosity of the reader and explain deep truths.

(2)  More than two hundred passages begin with the Arabic word Qul – ‘Say’ – addressing Prophet Muhammad to say what follows in reply to a question, to explain a matter of faith, or to announce a legal ruling.  For example:

“Say: ‘O People of the Scripture!  Do you disapprove of us for no other reason than that we believe in Allah, and the revelation that has come to us and that which came before (us), and because most of you are rebellious and disobedient?’”  (Quran 2:59)

(3)  In some passages of the Quran, Allah takes oaths by His marvelous creation, both to strengthen an argument or to dispel doubts in the mind of the listener:

“By the sun and its brightness,

By the moon when it follows it,

By the day when it displays it,

By the night when it covers it,

By the sky and He who constructed it,

By the earth and He who spread it,

By the soul and He who proportioned it…” (Quran 91:1-7)

Sometimes Allah takes an oath by Himself:

“But no, by your Lord, they will not (truly) believe until they make you, (O Muhammad), judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves, and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in (full, willing) submission.” (Quran 4:65)

Everybody must read it and act it accordingly because no one can know the correct path better than the Creator himself .  Every chapter begins with the name of Allah except one chapter.

Holy Quran also contains historic events information that appeared in past so that people can learn from it. It also contains information and life of some of the previous Prophets. This book has health and guidance for people. Quran and the last Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) are the blessings of Allah(SWT).

Holy Quran is a complete code of life along with the sayings of the last Prophet Muhammad(PBUH).  Quran has translations available in various languages of the world so that people can understand it in their native language.

Quran Majeed is the last Holy book and there will be no Holy book after it and it is the book for all the people in the world. It also attests previous Holy Books and the Prophets.

Quran Majeed is a book that guides the people to spend their life in the best way, it has rules and states different rewards for the people who are obedient and follow it and also states the punishment for the people who are disobedient and do not follow it. It has solutions to all the problems of humanity.  It is a miracle and no human can create content like it.

We can say that Quran is a letter of instructions from the lord Allah towards human beings. We must try to read and understand it and concentrate on the instructions mentioned in it.

Holy Quran Features

  1.  By reading only a single word of Quran Majeed you get 10 points or rewards from Allah.
  2.  By Reading 3 times Chapter No 112 which only contains 3 verses you will get the reward of reading full Quran.
  3.  The devil went away from the homes of the people in which people read the last 2 verses of Chapter No 2 at night.
  4.  Holy Quran attests all the Prophets as true Prophets because all of them were sent from Allah.
  5.  Quran Majeed contains the biographies of some past Prophets.
  6.  Not even a single word of  Quran is changed or replaced since its revelation 1400 years ago.
  7. Quran Majeed is a miracle, pure and true words from Allah.
  8.  Holy Quran is the most memorized book in the world.
  9.  Quran is the only book in the world that covers all the aspects of life for the guidance of human beings.
  10.  Prophet Muhammad(PBUH)  life is a complete picture and a working example of Holy Quran.
  11.  Previous Holy Books were revealed at once or sent from Allah but Quran was revealed according to the situation in 23  years.
  12. Quran Majeed offers lots of benefits and favors for the human beings that were not there in previous Holy books.
  13.  No other Holy book is in its original form but Quran is the only Holy Book.
  14.  Quran is the base of modern sciences and technologies.
  15.  Quran Majeed is a blessing and health source for human beings.
  16.  Holy Quran is a book for Conquers not for Slaves.

A beginner should know a few points about Quran translations.

First, there is a distinction between the Quran and its translation.  In Christian view, the Bible is the Bible, no matter what language it may be in.  But a translation of the Quran is not the word of God, for the Quran is the exact Arabic words spoken by God, revealed to Prophet Muhammad by Gabriel.  The word of God is only the Arabic Quran as God says:

“Indeed, I revealed it as an Arabic Quran.” (Quran 12:2)

A translation is simply an explanation of the meanings of the Quran.  That is why one modern English translation has been titled “The Meaning of the Glorious Quran”: it strives only to give the meaning, but falls short, as any translation must, of reproducing the form of the Holy Book.  The translated text loses the inimitable quality of the original, so be aware of the degree to which a translation reflects the original message at every level of meaning, and that it will probably not match it.  For this reason, all which is regarded as ‘recitation’ of the Quran is to be done in Arabic, such as the recitation of the Quran in the five daily prayers of the Muslims.