The Qur’an is divided into 30 parts and comprises 6,666 verses in 114 chapters. Of these, 93 chapters were revealed in Mecca, while the rest were revealed in Medina. The word ‘Qur’an’ is frequently mentioned in the Qur’an itself and applies to the whole Book as well as to any part of its text.
The Qur’an is neither authored by many men nor by one man. It is Allah who authored the Qur’an and revealed it to the Prophet, who in turn sought the assistance of a scribe to write down the revelation in man’s language. The Qur’an, which is “a revelation from One who is All Wise and Worthy of all praise” (42: 42), mentions that it is the ‘Final Message’, a ‘Reminder’ for mankind, revealed through Archangel Gabriel, the angel who also conveyed the essence of Islam to all earlier prophets, including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. The Qur’an is thus for all mankind, not for the Arabs only. It “is nothing less than a message to all.” (68:52)
In the Qur’an, the Prophet never speaks; it is Allah who speaks to the Prophet or addresses mankind directly. Allah either refers to the Prophet or addresses him directly, like, “O Muhammad” or “O Prophet” and so on, or to people, like, when in informing that the Qur’an is for all mankind, Allah says:” We have explained in detail in this Qur’an, for the benefit of mankind, every kind of similitude.” (18:54) and “We have put forth for men, in this Qur’an every kind of parable so that they may receive admonition.” (39:27). Addressing the Prophet, Allah says:” Verily, We have revealed the Book (the Qur’an) to thee (O Muhammad) in truth for instructing mankind. He, then, that receives guidance benefits his own soul: but he that strays injure his own soul.” (39:41)
Being the “Reminder” and the “Final Message”, the Qur’an is a unique Book which cannot be produced by human beings. Allah says:” This Qur’an is not such as can be produced by anyone other than Allah.” (10:37). He also says:” If the whole of mankind and the jinn were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help.” (17:88)
There is much thought in this statement for people who think that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) wrote the Qur’an. How could he have written such a marvelous book when, first of all, he could not read or write? Had he written it, he could not have so daringly made such a bold statement as to go unchallenged by the learned Arabs of his time and afterwards!
Allah thus challenges the doubters:” Do they not consider the Qur’an (with care)? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy.” (4:62)
Abdullah Yusuf Ali, in commenting on this verse in his English translation of the Qur’an, says:” From a mere human point of view, we should have expected much discrepancy, because (1) the Messenger who promulgated it was not a learned man or philosopher, (2) It was promulgated at various times and in various circumstances, and (3) It is addressed to all grades of mankind. Yet, when properly understood, its various pieces fit together better than a jigsaw puzzle even when arranged without any regard to chronological order. There was just the One Inspirer and the One inspired.”
The Qur’an, which means “The most read Book”, also connotes “that which is to be read and recited.”
And true to the spirit of the name, the Qur’an is read and recited throughout the ages, since the time of the Prophet, who himself showed how it should be read and recited.
The Qur’an, although in Arabic, does not elude human memory. A very large number of Muslims have memorized the entire Book since the time of the Prophet.
Muslims recite many long verses of the Qur’an during their daily prayers. The whole Book is also read in the fasting month, Ramadan, in all mosques of the world immediately after tarawih prayer, the special daily nocturnal prayer, performed during this month. Ramadan is the month when the Qur’an was first revealed.
The Qur’an is in Arabic, revealed to the Prophet, a living language that has today become one of the most recognized world languages. This scripture of Islam is a masterpiece of the Arabic language. It is noted for the grandeur of its diction, the elegance of its style, and the variety and magnificence of its imagery.
The Qur’an has been translated into all the major languages of the world. But by the word Qur’an, it exclusively refers to the Qur’an in Arabic and not to the translated works. This is so because, first, the Qur’an was not authored by a human being, and second, translated works cannot equal the original text in delivery and impact. The Qur’an itself says that it should be in Arabic. “It is a Qur’an in Arabic.” (39:28)
Shaik A. Kadir
