What Do You Know About Al Quran? by Sh. Kifah Mustapha
The origin of the word (Al Quran) comes from the verb (Qara’- to read) which means: (Jama’a) or to put together.[1] It is called Al Quran as it brings the letters together to make the words and it brings the chapters of the Quran together and because all knowledge is put together in this book, Al Quran.
The Quran is the word of Allah, revealed in the Arabic language to Mohammad (PBUH) by the angel Jibreel, and it is read as an act of worship during Salah. The Quran has mainly five names and many descriptions. The names are: Al Quran {Indeed, this Quranguides [humanity] to that which is most upright} 17:9; Al Kitab (the Book) {this is the Book [of God]. There is no doubt therein, it is guidance for the God –fearing} 2:2; Al Furqan (the Criterion) {Blessed be the One who has sent down upon His servant [the Quran} as the Criterion, so that he might be a forewarner to all the worlds} 25:1; Al Thikr (the Reminder) {Indeed, it is We who have sent down the ]Quran as a revealed[ Reminder} 15:9; Attanzeel (the Revealed) {Now this ]Quran[ is, indeed, a revelation from the Lord of ]all[ the Worlds} 26:192. It is described as: Annoor (the light) {O humankind! Truly ]decisive[ proof ]of the true religion[ has come to you from your Lord ]in this Quran[. And ]herein[ have We sent down to you a manifest light} 4:174; Al Huda (the Guidance); Al Shifa’ (the Cure) {O humankind! There has come to you ]in this Quran[ an ]inspired[ admonition ]of imminent Judgment[ from your Lord- and a healing for all that is in the ]human[ breast, as well as guidance ]for your salvation[, and a mercy for the ]well-being of the[ believers} 10:57, and many other descriptions.
It was revealed on the night of Al Qadr - the empowering decree, in the month of Ramadan. {Indeed, ]it is[ We ]who[ have sent this ]Quran[ down ]from on high[ on the Night of ]empowering[ Decree} 97:1. Allah revealed the verses through Angel Jibreel during a period of 23 years to the prophet Mohammad (PBUH), from the revelation of the first verses at the age of 40 until his death at the age of 63. The revelation from Allah to the prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was in more than one form: Directly, through true dreams or during the trip of Al Isra’ & Al Mi’raj where Allah spoke directly to His prophet (PBUH); or Verbatim, through the angel Jibreel. The revelation through the angel Jibreel was heard like the sound of a bell, and at times the angel Jibreel took the shape of a human being to meet with the prophet (PBUH).
The Quran consists of verses or chapters revealed during two periods known as Makkee and Madani, according to where the verses were revealed to the prophet Mohammad, either in Mecca (Makkee) or Madina (Madani). The Makkee period of revelation was prior to the trip of migration (Hijra) of the prophet (PBUH) from Mecca to Madina, and the Madani period was after the migration.
The first verses revealed to the prophet (PBUH) were: {Read, ]O prophet[, in the name of your Lord who has created! He has created man from a clinging clot. Read! For your Lord is the most gracious ]One[, who has taught by the pen, has taught man what he has known not!} 96:1-5, and most likely the last verse revealed was: {Thus fear a Day ]Hereafter[ in which you shall be returned to God. Then each soul shall be rendered in full what it has earned- and never shall they be wronged ]in the least[.} 2:281. The sequence of the verses within each Surah and the sequence of the Surahs within the Quran were arranged by the prophet (PBUH) as was instructed through the angel Jibreel. The authentic Hadith confirms 
that the prophet (PBUH) read the Quran with Angel Jibreel every year in Ramadan from beginning to end, and in the last year before his death (PBUH) he read it with Angel Jibreel twice, exactly the same way the verses and chapters were set then and now.
Throughout the period of revelation, the prophet Mohammad (PBUH) ordered the companions to memorize and write every verse as it was revealed. The first writings were written on animal skins and kept in various houses with sahabah. The entire written Quran was collected twice. The first time was by order of Abu Bakr (RAA) after many Sahabah who had memorized the entire Quran died in the battle of Yamamah, and people feared the loss of the Quran. Abu Bakr (RAA), the Caliph after the death of the prophet (PBUH), ordered Zaid Ibn Thabet (RAA) in the year 12 Hijra to collect all the pieces the Quran was written or carved on, and put them together in one place. The second collection was during the time of Caliph Othman (RAA). During the time of revelation, the prophet (PBUH) had approved some slight variances in the tribal languages for reciting the Quran. During Othman's (RAA) caliphate many new Muslims did not understand the differences in the dialects of the tribal Arabic language that the prophet (PBUH) had approved Sahabah to use when reading the Quran. Othman (RAA), like Abu Bakr before him, ordered Zaid Ibn Thabet (RAA) in year 25 Hijra to collect the pieces in one book using the dialect of the main tribe in Arabia (Quraish) which the Quran was revealed in.
The Quran was protected by the will of Allah (SW) from any changes, Allah said: {Indeed, it is We ]alone[ who have sent down the ]Quran instead as a revealed[ Reminder ]to humanity of the way of God[. And, indeed, We ]alone[ shall ]forever[ preserve it.} 15:9. The two collections mentioned above kept the Quran safe from changing any letters or words, and if you add to that the vast number of Muslims around the world who memorize the Quran by heart, generation after generation (the term is called Sanad), you will be certain that no changes whatsoever happened to the words of Al Quran. In other words, everyone who memorizes the Quran through the Sanad means that he memorized it from his sheikh who memorized it from his sheikh, and so on, all the way back to the generation of Sahabah who memorized it from the prophet (PBUH), who received it from Angel Jibreel, who heard it from Allah (SW). We are now in the generation number 29 in the chain of memorization from the time of the prophet (PBUH).
The Quran was revealed in the Arabic language. Translation to any other language is only permitted as a translation of the meaning or interpretation of the Quran. A translation of the Quran into any language other than the original Arabic it was revealed in cannot be called the "words of Allah." Only the words of the Quran in the original Arabic language as it was revealed to the prophet (PBUH) are called the words of Allah (SW).
The Quran is the last revelation from Allah to the last prophet, Mohammad (PBUH), {this day: I have perfected for you your religion! And I have completed my grace upon you! And I am well-pleased for you with Islam as your religion} 5:3. It is inclusive of everything people need for living their lives as individuals, communities or countries. The Quran is connected to the same message that came with all prophets sent by Allah, {He has laid down for you whatever he has ]already[ revealed to you ]O Mohammad-all the tenets[ of ]Heavenly[ religion, ]the likes[ of which He had ]first[ enjoined upon Noah, and that which he had ]thereafter[ enjoined upon Abraham, and ]upon[ Moses and ]upon[ Jesus; namely: You shall be steadfast in establishing the religion ]of God[. And you shall not divide therein} 42:13. At the same time, it overrules everything before it, for it is the last and final revelation, {now We have sent down to you, ]O Mohammad,[ the scripture ]of the Quran[ with the truth, as a confirmation of all the scripture that preceded it- and as a guardian over it ]to preserve divine guidance[.} 5:48.
The Quran speaks about faith and doctrines, about spirituality and acts of worship, about rulings and Sharia, about morals and ethics, about examples and stories of prophets and messengers sent by Allah. The Quran is the guidance for the righteous life on earth and a lead for the eternal happiness in Heaven at the Day of Judgment.
Our duties toward the Quran are:
1. To believe in it as the word of Allah.
2. To rule our life by its verses.
3. To hold onto its orders and keep away from what was prohibited.
4. To recite it with focus (khoushou’), starting with (a’ouzou billahi mina shaytan irrajeem), while on Tahara, facing Qiblah, reciting it slowly (Tarteel; the correct pronunciation for each letter) and in the beautiful voice as much as we can.
5. To learn it, memorize it, and teach it to others.
6. To strive to exemplify the character of the righteous people mentioned or described in the Quran.
7. To try not to contradict, while reading it, what it says for it will witness against you at the Day of Judgment instead of witnessing for you.
8. To respect the words of Allah and listen when hearing someone else reading it.
9. To make Sujood tilawah whenever the verse is recited. You still make Sujood Tilawah when you are reading or hearing someone reciting even if you are not on Wudu as the fatwa given by Sheikh Ibn Baz states.
10. To study the (Seerah) life of the prophet (PBUH) as he was the real life example of how the Quran is to be lived and practiced.
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