Question: What is the Quran and how can we understand and explain revelation of the Quran?
Answer: Thank you for asking about Islam and the Quran.
All
seekers of truth are invited to offer their questions about Islam, the
world's fastest growing religion, and all that it teaches.
Islam
is based on the teachings of the Holy Quran and as such it is our
distinguished pleasure to offer the following information about the
heart and soul of Islam - The Holy Quran
We
have observed in your line of reasoning within your question, a number
of misconceptions and mistakes. Therefore, we would like to start with
clarification of the following TEN POINTS:
The "Recitation of Quran"
was first heard by Muhammad, peace be upon him, from Allah's Angel,
Jibril (Gabriel). Then Muhammad, peace be upon him, memorized it and in
turn, recited it to his companions and they memorized and recited it to
the next generation and that generation memorzied and recited it to the
next and so on, until this very day.
1st - and foremost, as mentioned in another answer, the prophet, peace be upon him, did
not read or write. Therefore, it was be impossible for him to
physically write down the Quran. The meaning of the word 'Quran'
actually has the meaning of "recitation" or something "recited".
Therefore, it doesn't make sense to say, "Who WROTE it?" It might be
better to say, "Who recited it?"
2nd -
The companions wrote out their recitings on animal skins, bones of
animals and large stones and even on wide palm leaves. These were
wriiten down by companions who had memorized the Quran from the
recitation they had heard rectied to them. This was called "mushaf"
(meaning - written scriptures and is pronounced moos-haf), and was
recorded and written down during the prophet's life.
3rd - The
prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, did ask about a dozen or so of
those who memorized Quran from him, to record it. And as mentioned
earlier, they did as instructed, writing on various mediums, including
animal skins (leather), large rocks, bark and palm leaves.
He then rehearsed it with them over and over - even up until the time of him passing away.
4th - Three
of the actual Qurans printed in the time of the earliest companions of
Muhammad, peace be upon him, exist today and these are exactly as we
recite from Quran today.
One is in Tashkent, Uzbekistan museum, another in a museum in England
and the last one in the Topkopi Museum in Istanbul, Turkey.
5th - We are happy to tell you, the Quran was
written down as well as being recorded in the hearts and minds of
thousands of men and women while the prophet, was still alive. These
companions and the following generations hear, recite, memorize and
write down the Quran in much the same manner as those who had come
before them over the many centuries. This in itself, is an amazing
accomplishment.
6th - Honesty and integrity in narration of Quran is perserved along with the accuracy of the recitation of Quran in their hearts. Every
one of them was very well known. The honesty and integrity of each and
every single one of these people (called companions of the prophet) has
been attested to by many authentic narrations and writings. All of them
were known for their excellent memorization and they recited and passed
on the Quran exactly the same as each other.
7th -
There is no other book on earth like the Quran. Its style and prose in
the Arabic language is unmatched for 14 centuries. The prophecies,
predictions, scientific evidences, ease of memorization and ability to
comprehend is beyond compare. No other book on earth has ever had such
an amazing history.
8th - You
can safely put your mind to rest on this subject of preservation of the
Holy Quran, because of its presence with us even today, throughout the
entire world.
Today
every single living Muslim (over 1 billion) has memorized some portion
of the Quran in the original Arabic language that it came in, just as
the people memorized it over 1,400 years ago. And amazingly enough, over
9 million men, women and children have the entire Quran in their hearts
and can recite it for you from cover to cover.
9th - Allah Himself, has promised to preserve the Quran until the Last Days. And He has.
Consider this statement -
It
is the only book on earth that - if you destroyed every book on earth -
we would be able to bring it back, exactly as it was, every single
letter from cover to cover (by the permission of Allah)
So,
these are facts about the Quran and how it was and is, preserved just
as Allah has said, in the Quran - That He will preserve it and make it
easy to memorize.
10th - You can prove it for yourself, if you doubt.
The
Quran of today can be easily checked by Muslims anywhere on the earth.
And there can be no doubt in the mind of any Muslim whether or not what
is being recited here in India is the same as what is being recited in
Arabia or Africa or in the USA for that matter.
You are most welcome to review the facts and consider for yourself.
Now here is your chance to verify these claims, as the Quran makes these claims within itself about its own authenticity:
* "This is the Book (Qur'an) wherein there is no doubt"
*"Have not the unbelievers considered that if it were from other than
Allah, it would contain many contradictions?"
* "Allah shall show them
the Signs within themselves and on the farthest horizons."
* "If you are
in doubt about it, bring a book like it."
source site: http://www.islamnewsroom.com/news-we-need/2165
