The Quran (القرآن — The Recitation) is the holy scripture of Islam — the direct, literal word of Allah revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through the angel Jibreel (Gabriel, AS) over a period of 23 years, from 610 CE to 632 CE. Muslims believe it to be the final and unchanged word of God, superseding all previous scriptures, and the ultimate guide for all of humanity until the Day of Judgement.
Indeed, it is We who sent down the Quran and indeed, We will be its guardian.
How was the Quran revealed?
The first revelation came to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the Cave of Hira on Mount Nur, outside Makkah, in 610 CE during Ramadan. The angel Jibreel (AS) appeared and commanded: 'Iqra!' — 'Read!' or 'Recite!' The Prophet ﷺ replied that he could not read. Jibreel embraced him and repeated the command three times, after which the first five verses of Surah al-Alaq (96:1–5) were revealed.
Revelation continued for 23 years — 13 years in Makkah and 10 years in Madinah after the Hijra. Makkan revelations tend to focus on theology: the oneness of Allah (tawhid), resurrection, and the nature of faith. Madinan revelations address social, legal and community matters. The Quran was not revealed all at once — it was sent down in portions to strengthen the Prophet's heart and address specific circumstances.
Is the Quran preserved exactly as it was revealed?
Muslims believe the Quran is the only scripture in the world preserved in its exact original form since revelation. During the Prophet's lifetime, verses were memorised by thousands of Companions and written on parchment, bones, leather and flat stones. After the battle of Yamama (633 CE) — in which many memorisers (huffaz) were killed — the Caliph Abu Bakr (RA) commissioned the first full written compilation. Uthman ibn Affan (RA) later standardised a single authorised written copy (the Uthmani mushaf) and distributed it to the major cities.
Today, millions of Muslims worldwide have memorised the entire Quran (those who do so are called Huffaz, plural of Hafiz). Historical manuscripts like the Birmingham Quran (held at the University of Birmingham, carbon-dated to 568–645 CE) confirm the antiquity and consistency of the text.
Structure of the Quran
- 114 surahs (chapters) — ranging from Surah al-Baqarah (286 verses, the longest) to Surah al-Kawthar (3 verses, the shortest).
- 6,236 ayahs (verses) in total.
- 30 juz (parts/sections) — dividing the Quran into equal portions, one per day during Ramadan.
- 7 manzil (stations) — an older division for recitation over one week.
- Opens with Surah al-Fatiha (The Opening) — the most-recited surah, recited in every unit of every prayer.
- First word revealed: 'Iqra' (Read/Recite) — Surah al-Alaq 96:1.
- Last verse revealed: 'Today I have perfected your religion for you…' — Surah al-Ma'idah 5:3, revealed at Arafah during the Farewell Pilgrimage.
The language of the Quran
The Quran was revealed in classical Arabic — the purest form of the Arabic language. It is considered the benchmark of Arabic eloquence and has never been equalled in its literary style. The Quran itself issues a challenge (called the Tahaddi) to produce even a single surah of equal quality: 'And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our servant, then produce a surah the like thereof.' (Surah al-Baqarah 2:23). In over 1,400 years, no one has met this challenge.
How do Muslims interact with the Quran?
- Salah: Al-Fatiha is recited in every single rak'ah (unit) of the five daily prayers — making it the most frequently recited text in history.
- Tilawah: Daily recitation of the Quran outside of prayer, ideally with tajweed (rules of pronunciation).
- Hifz: Memorisation of the entire Quran — a major act of worship practised by millions worldwide.
- Tafsir: Study of Quranic commentary and exegesis to understand the deeper meanings of verses.
- Listening: Listening to Quran recitation — even without understanding Arabic — is an act of worship.
- Du'a from the Quran: Many Quranic verses are used as supplications (e.g., Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah — 2:201).
Key surahs every Muslim should know
- Surah al-Fatiha (Chapter 1) — recited in every unit of prayer; 7 verses.
- Ayat al-Kursi (2:255) — the greatest verse in the Quran, on Allah's sovereignty.
- Surah al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112) — equal in reward to one-third of the Quran (Sahih al-Bukhari 5013).
- Surah al-Falaq (Chapter 113) and Surah an-Nas (Chapter 114) — the seeking-refuge surahs, recited morning and evening.
- Surah al-Kahf (Chapter 18) — recommended to recite on Fridays; protects from Dajjal.
- Surah Ya-Sin (Chapter 36) — called the heart of the Quran.
- Last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah (2:285–286) — the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever recites them in the night, they will suffice him.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 5009)
Frequently asked questions about the Quran
How many words are in the Quran?
The Quran contains approximately 77,449 words (counts vary slightly by how compound words are counted), 323,671 letters, 6,236 ayahs and 114 surahs.
What is the difference between the Quran and Hadith?
The Quran is the direct, literal word of Allah revealed to the Prophet ﷺ through Jibreel (AS). The Hadith are the recorded sayings, actions and approvals of the Prophet ﷺ — not the word of Allah but divinely guided prophetic wisdom. Both are sources of Islamic law (Shari'ah), but the Quran is the primary and supreme source.
Can non-Muslims read the Quran?
Yes. Non-Muslims are permitted to read and study a translation of the Quran. The requirement for ritual purity (wudu) before touching the Arabic mushaf applies to Muslims. Many non-Muslims have become Muslim after reading the Quran. The Quran is a message to all of humanity: 'This is a reminder to the worlds.' (Surah at-Takwir 81:27)
What is Tajweed?
Tajweed (تجويد — improvement/beautification) is the set of phonological rules governing the correct pronunciation of Quranic Arabic. It covers elongation (madd), nasalisation (ghunnah), stopping (waqf), and letter characteristics (makhraj). Learning Tajweed is an individual obligation (fard 'ayn) for every Muslim — the Quran should be recited as the Prophet ﷺ recited it, preserving the sounds exactly as revealed.
How long does it take to read the whole Quran?
Reading the Quran at a comfortable pace typically takes 10–15 hours for the complete 114 surahs. During Ramadan, many Muslims complete one full reading (khatm) of the Quran by reciting one juz (one-thirtieth) per day. Some huffaz recite the entire Quran in a single night of Tarawih prayer.