A Brief Guide to Understanding the Holy Quran

The Quran , meaning recitation is the Holy Book of over 2 Billion Muslims in the world. The Quran is one of several scriptures revealed by God the Creator to mankind as a guide for their lives.

The Quran is broken down into sections or parts, and than Chapter, and Ayahs. Ayahs are another word for a sign, but many translate it as a verse.

The Quran is the only religious scripture that is still in its original form from its conception. There for each ayah is a sign, a sign of his existence, is knowledge, his wisdom and more.

The Quran has ayahs that are literal, and some that are metaphorical. For example, when you begin the Quran you read an ayah that states

This is to be taken literally, and than there are versus such as which are metaphorical, meaning it will have various interpretations. In fact. God has states this in the Quran,.

The Quran was revealed to gods last and final prophet and messenger Muhammad, in a cave through Angel Gabriel. The same Angel that appeared to Prophet Moses and reveled to him the Ten commandments.

Prophet Muhammad was unable to read or write, similar to a young child who can speak clearly and understand his or her parents at the age of three or four, but is unable to read, nor write. This was very common during his time, and in fact you will find that many Arabs today are illiterate as well.

The Quran was revealed over a period of 32 years, and stopped a little before the prophets death.

It was recorded during his life time, by his close companions and saved for safe keeping. Also during this time the Quran was taught through Oral transmission, as this is the tradition of teaching in the Arab world. Through Oral transmission, practice of recitation, and memorization.

To this day there are may that have the Quran memorized letter for letter word for word as young as the age of two.

It became even more of a necessity to teach the Quran after times of war had begun and the companions, and Wali's., protectors of the Quran had begun to die. If you read a Quran today, you will find it to be exactly as it was 1500 years ago. Every Arabic letter, and vowel the same. And that can not be said for other scriptures that have been changed, lost, translated etc

But every Arabic Quran is exactly the same. This in of its self is a miracle and a sign to the world. Non Muslim scholars of literature have been so amazed by the Quran, and such perfection has been unable to be duplicated.

In addition to the Quran itself being a miracle or sign. The Quran as well contains many miracles and signs. It contains information and prophesies that scientist have only recently learned. For example how long a woman carries a baby, and how it is formed.

Various descriptions of our world and its lands its described in the Quran, and scientist have yet to have the ability to explain its miracles, and often look to it for explanation of their own findings.

For a Muslim such as myself where Arabic is not a first language, or a language you speak at all, you will find English, Spanish, French and many other translations available. You can even find Arabic transliterations as well.

The Quran will have the Arabic in one column, the transliteration; phonetic pronunciation in Arabic, and than the language of the reader as well.

The Quran is a beautiful book even to those who are not Muslim, and you can find it, read it, and listen to it online as well.

Here are a few of my favorite online resources

Reciter.org
http://reciter.org

Quran Explorer
http://www.quranexplorer.com/

Online Quran Database
http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/quran/

Quran Flash
http://www.quranflash.com/en/quranflash.html

Sources Cited:

Quran Database
http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/maududi/