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Qurʾan

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The Qurʾān (Arabic: al-Qurʾān, lit. “the Recitation”) is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the word of God (*Allāh*) revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of approximately twenty-three years. It serves as the primary source of Islamic belief, law, ethics, and spirituality, and is recited and memorized as an act of worship (Britannica, 2024).[1]

For Muslims, the Qurʾān represents the final and complete divine revelation, confirming and correcting earlier scriptures while emphasizing the unity of God (*tawḥīd*), moral responsibility, and accountability in the hereafter (Esposito, 2016).[2]

Etymology and Terminology

The word Qurʾān derives from the Arabic root q-r-ʾ, meaning “to recite” or “to read aloud.” This reflects the oral character of the revelation, which was transmitted primarily through recitation before being compiled in written form (Watt, 1970).[3]

The Qurʾān refers to itself using several terms, including kitāb (book), dhikr (remembrance), and furqān (criterion), each highlighting a different aspect of its religious function (Neuwirth, 2019).[4]

Revelation and Compilation

Revelation

According to Islamic belief, the Qurʾān was revealed to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel (*Jibrīl*) beginning in 610 CE. Revelations occurred in varying circumstances and addressed theological, ethical, legal, and social matters relevant to the emerging Muslim community (Esposito, 2016).[5]

The revelations are traditionally classified as either Meccan or Medinan, reflecting differences in style, length, and thematic emphasis, with Meccan verses focusing on faith and morality and Medinan verses addressing communal organization and law (Watt, 1970).[6]

Compilation

Muslim tradition holds that the Qurʾān was memorized by companions of the Prophet and written on various materials during his lifetime. Following Muhammad’s death, the text was compiled into a single codex under the caliph Abu Bakr and later standardized during the caliphate of ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān (Donner, 2010).[7]

Structure and Content

The Qurʾān consists of 114 chapters (*sūras*), varying in length and arranged largely by decreasing size rather than chronological order. Each sūra is composed of verses (*āyāt*), which are regarded as signs of divine communication (Neuwirth, 2019).[8]

Major themes of the Qurʾān include:

  • the oneness and mercy of God (*tawḥīd*),
  • prophethood and revelation,
  • moral accountability and justice,
  • social responsibility and compassion,
  • and the afterlife.

These themes collectively articulate a comprehensive ethical and spiritual worldview centered on divine unity and human responsibility (Rahman, 1980).[9]

Language and Style

The Qurʾān is written in classical Arabic and is widely regarded for its distinctive linguistic and rhetorical qualities. Islamic tradition holds that the Qurʾān is inimitable (*iʿjāz*), meaning that its language cannot be replicated by human effort (Abdel Haleem, 2010).[10]

Its style includes narrative, exhortation, legal discourse, and poetic imagery, often employing repetition and rhythmic patterns to reinforce meaning and facilitate memorization (Neuwirth, 2019).[11]

Interpretation (*Tafsīr*)

The interpretation of the Qurʾān, known as *tafsīr*, has been a central discipline in Islamic scholarship. Classical commentators such as al-Tabari, al-Zamakhshari, and Ibn Kathir developed interpretive methodologies drawing on language, prophetic traditions, and theological principles (Calder et al., 2003).[12]

In addition to legal and theological interpretation, mystical traditions within Sufism emphasize inner and symbolic meanings of Qurʾānic verses, viewing the text as a guide for spiritual realization and ethical transformation (Nasr, 2002).[13]

Role in Islamic Life

The Qurʾān occupies a central place in Muslim devotional and communal life. Its recitation forms a core component of daily prayers, and memorization (*ḥifẓ*) is widely practiced across Muslim societies (Esposito, 2016).[14]

Beyond ritual practice, the Qurʾān informs Islamic law (*sharīʿa*), ethics, art, and education, serving as a unifying reference point across diverse cultures and historical contexts (Nasr, 2006).[15]

Academic Study

Modern academic study of the Qurʾān employs historical, literary, and comparative approaches, examining the text within the context of Late Antiquity and Near Eastern religious traditions. While methodologies differ from traditional Islamic scholarship, contemporary research increasingly engages with Muslim exegetical traditions to provide nuanced understandings of the text (Donner, 2010).[16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024). Qurʾān. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Quran
  2. ↑ Esposito, J. L. (2016). Islam: The Straight Path. Oxford University Press.
  3. ↑ Watt, W. M. (1970). Bell’s Introduction to the Qurʾān. Edinburgh University Press.
  4. ↑ Neuwirth, A. (2019). The Qurʾān and Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press.
  5. ↑ Esposito, J. L. (2016). Islam: The Straight Path. Oxford University Press.
  6. ↑ Watt, W. M. (1970). Bell’s Introduction to the Qurʾān. Edinburgh University Press.
  7. ↑ Donner, F. M. (2010). Muhammad and the Believers. Harvard University Press.
  8. ↑ Neuwirth, A. (2019). The Qurʾān and Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press.
  9. ↑ Rahman, F. (1980). Major Themes of the Qurʾān. University of Chicago Press.
  10. ↑ Abdel Haleem, M. A. S. (2010). Understanding the Qurʾān. I.B. Tauris.
  11. ↑ Neuwirth, A. (2019). The Qurʾān and Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press.
  12. ↑ Calder, N., Mojaddedi, J., & Rippin, A. (2003). Classical Islam: A Sourcebook of Religious Literature. Routledge.
  13. ↑ Nasr, S. H. (2002). The Heart of Islam: Enduring Values for Humanity. HarperOne.
  14. ↑ Esposito, J. L. (2016). Islam: The Straight Path. Oxford University Press.
  15. ↑ Nasr, S. H. (2006). Islamic Philosophy from Its Origin to the Present. SUNY Press.
  16. ↑ Donner, F. M. (2010). Muhammad and the Believers. Harvard University Press.

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