Qur'an
Also known as: Koran, al-Qur'an, Qur'an al-Karim, The Quran
The Qur'an is the central scripture of Islam, revealed in Arabic to Muhammad and compiled as a single codex in the mid-seventh century. It presents monotheistic doctrine, guidance, narratives of earlier prophets, and eschatological warning and hope.
Description
Revered by Muslims as God's uncreated word, the Qur'an proclaims strict monotheism, moral law, and guidance for worship and community life. Its 114 chapters (suras) mix exhortation with narratives of earlier prophets—Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Mary, and Jesus—framing their stories as signs that confirm a single, continuous revelation. The text emphasizes accountability before the Last Day, promising reward for faith and righteousness and warning of judgment for injustice and unbelief. Not arranged chronologically, it alternates Meccan proclamations of faith and eschatology with Medinan legislation and communal guidance, interwoven with hymnic praise, parables, and rhetorical appeals to reason and remembrance.
Historiography
According to Islamic tradition, the revelations were memorized and written during Muhammad’s lifetime and collected after his death; a standardized codex is attributed to the caliph Uthman, with regional copies disseminated and variant materials withdrawn. Early parchment fragments (e.g., Hijazi scripts) indicate transmission within decades of the Prophet. Canonical reading traditions (qirāʾāt) preserve slight orthographic and vocalic variants. A vast tafsīr literature—from al-Tabari onward—systematized exegesis, law, and theology; medieval and modern scholarship analyzes textual history, orality, and manuscript evidence.
Date Notes
Revelations proclaimed by Muhammad (610–632 CE); canonization associated with the Uthmanic codex (mid-7th century). Earlier fragments attest text within decades of Muhammad's death.
Major Characters
- Allah
- Muhammad
- Moses
- Abraham
- Noah
- Joseph
- Jesus
- Mary
- Iblis
- Pharaoh
Myths
- Creation and Adam
- Noah and the Flood
- Abraham’s Trials
- Moses and Pharaoh
- Mary and the Birth of Jesus
- The Night Journey (Isra and Mi‘raj)
Facts
- Comprises 114 suras divided into Meccan and Medinan periods.
- Standardized recension traditionally attributed to Caliph Uthman in the mid-7th century.
- Contains approximately 6,236 verses (ayahs), with minor counting differences across traditions.
- Written in Classical Arabic using early consonantal script, later supplemented by vowel pointing and diacritics.
- Organized largely by decreasing sura length, not chronological order of revelation.
- Central liturgical role in daily prayers and recitation; memorization (hifz) is a major devotional practice.
- Multiple canonical reading traditions (qira'at) preserve minor orthographic and phonetic variants.
- Sura 9 uniquely lacks the standard opening basmala in most recensional traditions.
- Early manuscripts and fragments attest to rapid codification within decades of Muhammad’s death.
- A vast tafsir tradition interprets language, law, theology, and narrative context.