The Qur’an (Arabic: القرآن) is the holy book of Islam. The Qur’an is considered by Muslims to be “The Word of Allah (God)”. This book is different from other religious texts in that it is believed to be the literal words of God, through the prophet Muhammad. Some Muslims call it the Final Testament.
It has been written and read only in Arabic for more than 1,400 years. But, because many Muslims around the world do not understand Arabic, the meaning of the Qur’an is also given in other languages, so that readers can understand better
what the Arabic words in the Qur’an mean. These books are like dictionaries to the Qur’an – they are not read as part of the religion of Islam, to replace the Arabic Qur’an. Muslims believe that these translations are not the true Qur’an; only the Arabic copy is the true Qur’an.For most self-identified Muslims, the Qur’an is used with the hadith to interpret Sharia law.
Muslims believe the Qur’an was first revealed to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel in a cave on the mountain of Hira in Mecca, and then over a period of twenty-three years until his death.
