Question

Please respond to the following questions with 200 words:

1. What is the origin and importance of the Qur’an?

Answer 1

• The word Quran means recitation and its verses are recited by Muslims throughout the world. The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad in Ramadan, the holy month of the Islamic calendar, in the year 610CE.
• It was revealed in stages to the Prophet Muhammad over 23 years.Qur'anic revelations are regarded by Muslims as the sacred word of God, intended to correct any errors in previous holy books such as the Old and New Testaments.The Qur'an is treated with immense respect by Muslims because it is the sacred word of God.
• The Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by God in Arabic.Some Qur'anic fragments have been dated as far back as the eighth, and possibly even the seventh, century. The oldest existing copy of the full text is from the ninth century.
• Although early variants of the Qur'an are known to have existed, Muslims believe that the text we have today was established shortly after the death of the Prophet by the Caliph Uthman.
• There are 114 chapters in the Qur'an, which is written in the old Arabic dialect.All the chapters except one begin with the sentence Bismillahir rahmanir raheem, 'In the name of Allah the most merciful and the most kind'. This is the thought with which Muslims should start every action.
• A person who has memorized the whole of the Quran is called a Hafiz .The Quran was sent mainly as a reminder of previous scriptures, the Torah, the Zabur (Psalms) and the Injil (Gospel). It was also sent to lay down new rules. As so many people were worshipping idols instead of prophet Muhammed to bring forgetful human beings back to the right path.
• It is a book of guidance and a sea of knowledge for those who take inspiration from it. As the word of God revealed to the Holy Prophet, it contains historical parables, jurisprudential information, ethical advice, and values which we need to instill in our lives.
• The Quran contains rules and laws in Islam. It contains teachings that cover all areas of this life, and the life after death. It contains principles, doctrines and directions for every part of human activity.
• Every word of the Quran is a revealed word from Allah; this is why Muslims believe that the Quran is the last and final revelation, which is why so much care and respect is given to it.The Book helps Muslims turn away from their lower passions, towards the higher aspirations of worshiping and obeying God.