I have put this summary about the Quran for the people who do not know it. It should serve as a simple introduction. However, people can read the entire Quran, as a translation of the meanings of the Quran, by visiting the link at the bottom of this page.
Glimpses of the Quran
Because many verses of the Quran are presented on this website there is a need to give a brief summary about this holy book for the ones who did not read it. Muslims believe that the Quran is the literal word of Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu), the One and Only God. Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) revealed the Quran to His Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu alay-hi wa-sallam), who lived in the seventh century between 571 and 634 in the Arabian Peninsula, through the Angel Gabriel over 23 years. The Quran was memorized by the Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu alay-hi wa-sallam), who dictated it to his companions. They, in turn, memorized it and wrote it down. The Quran contains 114 Surahs (chapters) with varying numbers of verses. The second Surah is the longest; it is entitled Al-Baqara and has 286 verses. The smallest Surah is 108, which is entitled Al-Kauther and has three verses. The Qur’anic Surahs are not organized by topic, and one Surah might cover several different topics. According to the Quran, Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu) revealed this holy book as a guide to mankind to explain everything that they need to live happily: “… And We have sent down to you the Book [the Quran] as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims” (Quran 16: 89). The Quran discusses the creation of the universe, mankind, and life on earth. Also, it discusses all aspects of life. The following verses are just few examples of topic diversity in the Quran:
Mercy of Allah (Jalla Jalaluhu):
"And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided" (Quran 2: 186). "[O Muhammad], inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful" (Quran 15: 49). "And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's Forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful" (Quran 4: 110).
Revering parents:
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small" (Quran 17: 23-24).
Dealing with orphans justly:
“And do not approach the orphan's property except in a way that is best until he reaches maturity. And give full measure and weight in justice. We do not charge any soul except [with that within] its capacity. And when you testify, be just, even if [it concerns] a near relative. And the covenant of Allah fulfill. This has He instructed you that you may remember” (Quran 6: 152).
Greeting people:
“And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant” (Quran 4: 86).
Performing prayers:
“And to perform As-Salat (prayer), and to be obedient to Allah and fear Him, and it is He to Whom you shall be gathered” (Quran 6: 72).
Giving Zakat (Zakah):
“And perform As-Salat (prayer), and give Zakat, and whatever of good (deeds that Allah loves) you send forth for yourselves before you, you shall find it with Allah. Certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what you do” (Quran 2: 110).
Fasting:
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous” (Quran 2: 183).
Financial matters:
"O you who believe! When you contract a debt for a fixed period, write it down. Let a scribe write it down in justice between you. Let not the scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him, so let him write. Let him (the debtor) who incurs the liability dictate, and he must fear Allah, his Lord, and diminish not anything of what he owes. But if the debtor is of poor understanding, or weak, or is unable himself to dictate, then let his guardian dictate in justice. And get two witnesses out of your own men. And if there are not two men (available), then a man and two women, such as you agree for witnesses, so that if one of them (two women) errs, the other can remind her. And the witnesses should not refuse when they are called on (for evidence). You should not become weary to write it (your contract), whether it be small or big, for its fixed term, that is more just with Allah; more solid as evidence, and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves, save when it is a present trade which you carry out on the spot among yourselves, then there is no sin on you if you do not write it down. But take witnesses whenever you make a commercial contract. Let neither scribe nor witness suffer any harm, but if you do (such harm), it would be wickedness in you. So be afraid of Allah; and Allah teaches you. And Allah is the All-Knower of each and everything" (Quran 2: 282).
Moderation in eating:
“O children of Adam, take your adornment at every Masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess” (Quran 7: 31).
Breastfeeding of babies:
“Mothers shall suckle their children for two whole years; (that is) for those who wish to complete the suckling ...” (Quran 2: 233).
Writing wills and distributing inheritances:
“It is prescribed for you, when death approaches any of you, if he leaves wealth, that he makes a bequest to parents and next of kin, according to reasonable manners. (This is) a duty upon the pious” (Quran 2: 180). "Allah commands you as regards your children's (inheritance); to the male, a portion equal to that of two females; if (there are) only daughters, two or more, their share is two thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is half. For parents, a sixth share of inheritance to each if the deceased left children; if no children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased left brothers or (sisters), the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies he may have bequeathed or debts. You know not which of them, whether your parents or your children, are nearest to you in benefit, (these fixed shares) are ordained by Allah. And Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise" (Quran 4: 12).
Day of judgement:
"The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present [before it] and what it has done of evil, it will wish that between itself and that [evil] was a great distance. And Allah warns you of Himself, and Allah is Kind to [His] servants" (Quran 3: 30). "O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver" (Quran 31: 33). "On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) and inform them of what they did. Allah has kept account of it, while they have forgotten it. And Allah is Witness over all things" (Quran 58: 6). "(And remember) the Day when He will gather you (all) on the Day of Gathering, that will be the Day of mutual loss and gain (i.e. loss for the disbelievers as they will enter the Hell-fire and gain for the believers as they will enter Paradise). And whosoever believes in Allah and performs righteous good deeds, He will remit from him his sins, and will admit him to Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) to dwell therein forever, that will be the great success" (Quran 64: 9).
Orbits:
"And He it is Who has created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, each in an orbit floating" (Quran 21: 33).
"It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. They all float, each in an orbit" (Quran 36: 40).
Cloud formation:
“Do you not see that Allah drives clouds? Then, He brings them together, then He makes them into a mass, and you see the rain emerge from within it. And He sends down from the sky, mountains [of clouds] within which is hail, and He strikes with it whom He wills and averts it from whom He wills. The flash of its lightening almost takes away the eyesight” (Quran 24: 43). “Allah is He Who sends the winds, so that they raise clouds, and spread them along the sky as He wills, and then break them into fragments, until you see rain drops come forth from their midst! Then, when He has made them fall on whom of His slaves as He wills, lo, they rejoice!” (Quran 30: 48).
There are more topics in the Quran and the above-mentioned topics are just a sample. In addition to the above-mentioned diversity of topics in the Quran, there is accuracy in every aspect in the Quran. More details on the accuracy of the Quran are provided in this website in section four (the Quran and science) and section nine (the stages of the human embryo).
Translations of the Quran
The Quran was revealed in the Arabic language to an Arab Prophet (Muhammad Salla Allahu alay-hi wa-sallam), however it was a revelation for all mankind (Arabs and non-Arabs) until the Day of Judgement: "And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most of men know not" (Quran 34: 28). Because I wrote this website in English, thus there was no point in presenting the Qur'anic verses in Arabic and thus I provided an English translation. I should mention here that I did not translate any verse, but instead I provided translations prepared by well-known scholars. I cited the website from which I obtained all the translations. In fact, on the same website you can find more translations produced by other scholars as well. One note needs to be provided here is that all Muslims know that a translation of the Quran is neither a Quran, nor a version of the Quran, but rather it is only a translation of the meanings of the Quran. The Quran exists only in the Arabic language in which it was revealed. Thus the best and most accurate understanding of its meanings is achieved when it is read in the Arabic language: "And truly, this (the Quran) is a revelation from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). Which the trustworthy Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] has brought down; Upon your heart (O Muhammad) that you may be (one) of the warners, In a clear Arabic language" (Quran 26: 192-195). When you read different translations of one verse, you may notice that there are differences among translators and this normal, because no two human beings think and write exactly in the same way especially when dealing with synonyms. I will give an example of some of the differences among translations. Let us look at the following four translations of one verse of the Quran (3: 2) (there is nothing special about this verse, but I presented it here just as an example):
- Muhsin Khan translation:
Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists.
- Pickthall translation:
Allah! There is no god save Him, the Alive, the Eternal.
- Yusuf Ali translation:
Allah! There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-Subsisting, Eternal.
- Sahih International translation:
Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence.
According to the four above-mentioned translations, you can see that every translator tried to provide the most accurate meanings of the verse based on his/her knowledge of both the Arabic language and the English language by using a slightly different style and word choice. Obviously this resulted in producing some form of a translation difference for someone who do not know the Arabic language. Therefore, I can say that there is no one single perfect translation, but there are good translations. Also, I can say based on my readings in the four above-mentioned English translations that the main message of the Quran is well-presented in all of them. But, when it comes to some details here and there regarding some verses, a person needs to read the four translations of the same verse to have a better understanding of its meaning(s). Moreover, there is a very good and assuring fact here, which is that Arabic is a spoken language and is not an extinct or a dead language. It was used by the people of the Arabian Peninsula before the revelation of the Quran, and by the Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu alay-hi wa-sallam) and the people of his time. Today, it continues to be used by several hundred millions of people in the world. Its words, grammar, and all of its other aspects are accurately known and well-preserved. The verses of the Quran in the Arabic language represent the original text and carry the original meanings from which people derive all the translations. At any time, people can always read the Quran in Arabic and get the correct meaning(s) of any verse. In this website, most of the time I used the translation of Muhsin Khan because he provided extra words in parentheses to clarify the meanings of some Arabic words in order to give as much meaning as possible. Also, I used the Sahih International translation.
After knowing some information about the Quran now it is the time to know why it is a unique holy book. GO TO NEXT PAGE.
References:
[1] Qur’an. Available online: http://quran.com/
[2] Sahih Al-Bukhari. Available online: https://sunnah.com/bukhari/67/61
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