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Discover the Qur'an, Islam's revered holy book believed to be revelations from Allah to Prophet Muhammad through Angel Gabriel. Dive into its moral guidelines, laws, and rules of faith written in Arabic. Learn about its 114 Surahs and themes covering social justice, monotheism, relationships within the Muslim community, and more. Explore its significance alongside Hadiths and Sira in shaping Muslim life and belief.
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Brief Overview of the Qur'an Gina Belmonte
The Qur'an: Revealed • Only “Holy Book” or “Scriptures” of Islam • Qur'an= “recitation” • Muslims believe it to be revelations of Allah/God • through angel Gabriel • to prophet Muhammad • First revelation during Ramadan 610 CE • Surah 96: Lailat al-Qadr “night of power” • Revelations continued 23 years • Until Muhammad's death, 632 CE
The Qur'an: Written • Muhammad memorized individual revelations • He "recited" them to his followers. • They wrote them down, during his lifetime • Qur'an not compiled until640s CE • Under third Caliph, Uthman ibn Arran • All other versions destroyed
Content • Qur'an contains: • Moral guidelines • Laws of God • Rules of Islamic Faith • In form of: • moral directives • legal prescriptions • exhortations • admonitions • condemnations • warnings • good tidings • words of consolation
Language & Genre • Written in Arabic • Any translations are considered "interpretations" • Only one genre:Prophecy • Speaker is God, through angel Gabriel
Contents & Arrangement • 114 Surahs • With 3-285 Ayas each • Arranged by length • Decreasing length • Except Intro Surah 1 • Same heading: • "In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful" • All except Surah 9 • Divided into 30 Juz(blocks) • Muslims read whole Qur'an during Ramadan
Themes in the Qur'an • Earlier Surahs(1, 6-7, 10-21, 23, 25-32, 34-46, 50-56, 67-114) • Makkan period • Social justice, conversion, final judgment, monotheism • Later Surahs(2-5, 8-9, 22, 24, 33, 47-49, 57-66, 98, 110, [55, 76, 99?]) • Madinan Period • Relationships within Muslim Community • Relationships with Jews and Christians
“People of the Book” • Ref. to members of monotheistic faiths: • Jew & Christians • Qur'an mentions many HB characters • Inter-faith marriage: • Marrying Jews or Xns allowed for Muslim men only, not women • Muslims respect these faiths, but Qur'an is thought most accurate
Other Foundational Literature • Hadiths • Sayings & actions of Muhammad • Sunna ("custom") become guidelines for Muslim life after death of Muhammad • Compiled 9th cent. CE • Biographies of Muhammad • Various editions
Summary • Islamic Scripture: Qur'an • Believed to be revelations of God, through Gabriel, to Muhammad • Respect for other monotheistic faiths, but Qur'an is most accurate revelation • 114 Surahs, longer to shorter (except 1) • Divided into Ayahs • Originally in Arabic; Prophetic Genre • Makkah Surahs: establish Islam • Madinah Surahs: build community • Other core writings: Hadiths, Sira