The Qur'aan And What It Means To Muslims
Allah states: { And if anyone of the
mushrikeen (polytheists) seeks your protection, then grant him
protection, so that he may hear the word of Allah (the Qur’aan) }[Qur’aan 9:6]
The Qur’aan was brought down by Jibreel (Gabriel) to Prophet Muhammad
(sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and over a period of 23 years it was
revealed in portions and piecemeal as circumstances warranted.
Allah states: { And truly this ( the Qur’aan) is a
revelation from the Lord of the 'aalamin (mankind, jinns and all that
exists ) which the trustworthy Ruh (Gabriel) has brought down }[Qur’aan 26: 192-193.]
And He said: { And those who disbelieved say: ‘Why
is not the Qur’aan revealed to him all at once?’. Thus (it is sent down
in parts ) that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have
revealed it to you gradually, in stages }(Qur’aan 25:32)
The Prophet peace be upon him would memorize the verses he received and
recite them to the companions and ordered them to write them down
immediately. Whatever those expert scribes and appointed recorders wrote
was checked by the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) himself. The
Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) had no formal schooling
and he is referred to by Allah as being ummee or illiterate. This adds
to the miraculous nature of the Qur’aan and the Prophet’s (sallallahu
‘alaihi wa sallam) own statements which could not have been uttered by
one such as he without divine intervention.
The Qur’aan is the last of Allah’s scriptures divided into 114 Suwar
(chapters) of unequal length. It starts with Surah Al-Faatiha (The
Opening) and ends with Surah An-Nas (Mankind). It is one of the
fundamental sources of Islamic teachings. It guards the previous
revelations and reinforces the eternal truth of monotheism.
The Qur’aan stands today as it first came down and it always will be. To
it there has never been any addition, from it there is no omission, and
in it there has occurred no corruption.
Allah said: { Do they not then consider the Qur’aan
carefully? Had it been from other than Allah they would surely have
found therein much contradictions }[Qur’aan 4:82]
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