The document provides an overview of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. It describes the Qur'an as revelations from God to the prophet Muhammad over 23 years. Muslims believe the Qur'an is the most accurate scripture, though it respects other monotheistic faiths. The Qur'an is organized into 114 surahs of varying lengths, except for the first, and covers themes of social justice, laws, and building the Muslim community.

1. Brief Overview
of the Qur'an
Gina Belmonte

2. The Qur'an: Revealed
 Only “Holy Book” or
“Scriptures” of Islam
– Qur'an= “recitation”
 Muslims believe it to be
revelations of Allah/God
– through angel Gabriel
– to prophet Muhammad
 First revelation during
Ramadan 610 CE
– Surah 96: Lailat al-Qadr
“night of power”
 Revelations continued 23 years
– Until Muhammad's death, 632 CE

3. The Qur'an: Written
 Muhammad memorized
individual revelations
– He "recited" them to his
followers.
– They wrote them
down, during his lifetime
 Qur'an not compiled
until 640s CE
– Under third
Caliph, Uthman ibn Arran
– All other versions
destroyed

4. Content
 Qur'an contains:
– Moral guidelines
– Laws of God
– Rules of Islamic Faith
 In form of:
– moral directives
– legal prescriptions
– exhortations
– admonitions
– condemnations
– warnings
– good tidings
– words of consolation

5. Language & Genre
 Written in Arabic
– Any translations
are considered
"interpretations"
 Only one genre:
Prophecy
– Speaker is
God, through
angel Gabriel

6. Contents & Arrangement
 114 Surahs
– With 3-285 Ayas each
 Arranged by length
– Decreasing length
– Except Intro Surah 1
 Same heading:
– "In the name of Allah,
the most Gracious,
the most Merciful"
– All except Surah 9
 Divided into 30 Juz (blocks)
– Muslims read whole Qur'an during Ramadan

7. Themes in the Qur'an
 Earlier Surahs
(1, 6-7, 10-21, 23, 25-32, 34-
46, 50-56, 67-114)
– Makkan period
• Social
justice, conversion, final
judgment, monotheism
 Later Surahs
(2-5, 8-9, 22, 24, 33, 47-49, 57-
66, 98, 110, [55, 76, 99?])
– Madinan Period
• Relationships within Muslim
Community
• Relationships with Jews and

8. “People of the Book”
 Ref. to members of
monotheistic faiths:
– Jew & Christians
 Qur'an mentions many
HB characters
 Inter-faith marriage:
– Marrying Jews or Xns
allowed for Muslim men
only, not women
 Muslims respect these
faiths, but Qur'an is
thought most accurate

9. Other Foundational Literature
 Hadiths
– Sayings & actions of
Muhammad
– Sunna ("custom")
become guidelines for
Muslim life after death
of Muhammad
– Compiled 9th cent. CE
 Biographies of
Muhammad
– Various editions

10. Summary
 Islamic Scripture: Qur'an
 Believed to be revelations of
God, through Gabriel, to Muhammad
 Respect for other monotheistic faiths,
but Qur'an is most accurate revelation
 114 Surahs, longer to shorter (except 1)
 Divided into Ayahs
 Originally in Arabic; Prophetic Genre
 Makkah Surahs: establish Islam
 Madinah Surahs: build community
 Other core writings: Hadiths, Sira