The Quran is a book sent down to us by God to provide guidance to those who fear Him.
You can find this definition in chapter two verse two (Q2:2) of the Quran. The next three verses that follow further explain who those people who fear God are. They are: Those who believe in the unseen, and are steadfast in the prayer, and they spend of what God has provided them. They are also those who believe in what has been sent to Prophet Muhammad and what was sent down before Prophet Muhammad, and these people are sure of the hereafter. These are the people who are on guidance from their Lord and those people, they are the prosperous.
Please read Quran 2:1-5 to confirm that I have told you the truth.
The people who fear God can also be further defined as the pious or those who are dutiful to God. The Arabic word used in Quran chapter two verse two (Q2:2) encompasses these meanings.
Perhaps you know that what was sent down to Prophet Muhammad is the Quran, but you are not sure of what was sent before Prophet Muhammad. If you continue reading the Quran, you will read about some of the other books God has sent down. For example you will read about the Torah and the Gospel and the Psalms. The Torah was given to Prophet Moses, The Gospel was given to Prophet Jesus and The Psalms were given to Prophet David.
I encourage you to continue reading the Quran to find out more. You can download a free e-copy of the English translation of the Quran by clicking this text.
The first three verses of chapter twenty-seven of the Quran (Q27:1-3) provide more information about what the Quran is, I encourage you to read them. The verses tell us that the Quran is a clear book that provides guidance for the believers. Then it goes on to tell us who the believers are. They are: Those who are steadfast in the prayer, and give alms, and they are those who are sure of the hereafter.
Please read Quran 27:1-3 to confirm that I have told you the truth.
Did you notice that in the first three verses of chapter twenty-seven there is a name given to those whom the Quran is for? They are called "The Believers" If you are not a believer, then you are a disbeliever. And if you are a disbeliever, you will not be guided by the Quran. Please read Quran chapter two verses six to twenty (Q2:6-20) to understand better.
Why not continue reading chapter two till you get to verse thirty-nine (Q2:1-39)? This way you will understand how it all began.
Even more details about what the Quran is can be found in chapter two verse ninety-seven (Q2:97). In this verse we are told that the Quran is a verification of what was before it, and that it is a guidance and glad tidings to believers. This verse also tells us that Gabriel revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad's heart by God's permission.
Please read Quran 2:97 to confirm that I have told you the truth.
Hopefully, you now know what the Quran is.
Below are some other details about the Quran:
- The Quran contains one hundred and fourteen (114) chapters. Generally speaking, the chapters close to the end of the book are quite short, having as little as three verses. While the chapters close to the beginning of the book are much longer, having more than a hundred verses.
- The Quran is not chronological. However, you are advised to read it from the beginning to the end.
- Some of its chapters are long while others are short. Also, some verses have many words while others have very few words. For example chapter one (1) is only seven verses long, while chapter two (2), which is the longest chapter, is two hundred and eighty six verses long. Also, chapter thirty-seven (37) may seem long because it has one hundred and eighty-two verses, but it is actually not so long because most of its verses contain very few words compared to other chapters of the Quran.
- Some chapters focus on one main topic. For example: Chapter twelve (12) which tells the story of Prophet Joseph and chapter seventy-one (71) which tells the story of Prophet Noah. Many of the chapters touch on several topics.
- Prophet Moses is by far the most mentioned messenger of God in the Quran. Some of those mentioned by name in the Quran include: Adam, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Saul, Lot, Hud, Jonah, Mary, Zachariah, John, Jesus, Pharaoh, Korah, Haman, Shuayb, Salih, Job, David, Solomon, Muhammad, Joseph, Luqman, …
- The Quran is a book that provides details then repeats or expands on the information given in the chapters that follow. You have already seen an example of this in the write-up above where information was provided in chapter two (2), then then more details were provided in chapter twenty-seven (27).
- God constantly tells the reader to think and use reason. He does not approve of guessing, assumption, suspicion or conjecture.
- The Quran has what I call hidden treasures. For example God might be discussing one topic then embedded in the discussion of that topic will be a piece of salient information that may be seemingly unrelated to the topic being discussed. For example: 2:152 and 2:186.
- There are certain phrases that are repeated in the Quran. Some of them are: "God is swift in the reckoning", "God is severe in punishment", "God is powerful over all things", "God is knower of all things", "God is witness over all things", "Fear God", …
- You can find God's names scattered all over the Quran. For example in chapter eighty-seven (87) and ninety-two (92) God says He is The Most High.