The Qur'an
("Qor-Ann") is a Message from Allah (swt) to humanity. It was
transmitted to us in a chain starting from the Almighty Himself (swt) to the
angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (saw). This message was given to the
Prophet (saw) in pieces over a period spanning approximately 23 years (610 CE
to 632 CE). The Prophet (saw) was 40 years old when the Qur'an began to be
revealed to him, and he was 63 when the revelation was completed. The language
of the original message was Arabic, but it has been translated into many other
languages.
The Qur'an
is one of the two sources which form the basis of Islam. The second source is
the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw). What makes the Qur'an different from the
Sunnah is primarily its form. Unlike the Sunnah, the Qur'an is literally the
Word of Allah (swt), whereas the Sunnah was inspired by Allah but the wording
and actions are the Prophet's (saw). The Qur'an has not been expressed using
any human's words. Its wording is letter for letter fixed by no one but
Allah.
Prophet
Muhammad (saw) was the final Messenger of Allah to humanity, and therefore the
Qur'an is the last Message which Allah (swt) has sent to us. Its predecessors
such as the Torah, Psalms, and Gospels have all been superseded. It is an
obligation - and blessing - for all who hear of the Qur'an and Islam to
investigate it and evaluate it for themselves. Allah (swt) has guaranteed that
He will protect the Qur'an from human tampering, and today's readers can find
exact copies of it all over the world. The Qur'an of today is the same as the Qur'an
revealed to Muhammad (saw) 1400 years ago.
