Qu’Ran

609-632 CE

The book of Islamic revelation; scripture. The term means “recitation.” The Quran is believed to be the word of God transmitted through the Prophet Muhammad . The Quran proclaims God’s existence and will and is the ultimate source of religious knowledge for Muslims. The Quran serves as both record and guide for the Muslim community, transcending time and space. Muslims have dedicated their best minds and talents to the exegesis and recitation of the Quran. Because the Quran is the criterion by which everything else is to be judged, all movements, whether of radical reform or of moderate change, whether originating at the center or at the periphery of the Islamic world, have grounded their programs in the Quran and used it as a support.

Revelation of the Quran to Muhammad began in 610 with the first five verses of surah 96. No further revelations followed for a period of up to two years, at which point Muhammad received reassurance that the revelation was from God, not the devil. Thereafter, revelation continued without interruption until his death in 632 , at which time the Quran was considered complete. Partial collections of the Quran were made during Muhammad’s lifetime by his wives, companions, and scribes.