The Qur'an
By Adel Dakhlallah
Facts behind the Qur'an
The Qur’an is the most sacred book in the religion of Islam. The creator of this book is the prophet Muhammad. The first words in the Qur’an were shared around 632 AD. Before the Qur’an was made, people memorized all of Muhammad’s words orally. Abu Baker made the first Qur’an in print after Muhammad’s death. The Qur’an is usually read at mosques before Friday prayer begins. The opening of the Qur’an is called Al Fatihah. Muhammad received the word from the angel Gabriel. He told him to spread the word across Saudi Arabia. Most people did not believe him so he went to Palestine and spread the word. The people there believed him.
Qur'an Before the Book
Before people started to make the Qur’an in print they wrote it on anything they could find, such as tree bark, grass, leaves, etc. The Qur’an states some things that are in the Bible. Before the Qur’an was even spoken of, people believed that there was more than one god, (polytheistic). The Qur’an says that there is only one god (Allah) and Muhammad is his messenger. The first 93 chapters were revealed to Makkah and the other twenty-two were revealed to Madena. The people of Palestine who had heard and followed whatever Muhammad said all went to heaven no matter the sins of their past. These people were the first followers of Muhammad. This is an honor only few have had. Many had the chance, but most passed the chance to be a follower of Islam. If you had the chance to be a follower of a new faith, would you leave your faith?
The Split in the Muslim Nation
There were two groups that divided because of their beliefs. Both groups were Muslim, but one had more Islamic duties than the other. This latter group is called a Jihad. The other believed in multiple gods. These groups have fought for a long time. Although both groups believe in only one god today, they are still at war with one another because of other differing ideas. The "lesser jihad" is the physical struggle against the enemies of Islam. This physical struggle can take a violent form or a non-violent form. The proponents of the violent form translate jihad as "holy war"although some Islamic study scholars disagree. The Dictionary of Islam and British-American Orientalist Bernard Lewis both argue jihad has a military meaning in the large majority of cases. Some scholars maintain non-violent ways to struggle against the enemies of Islam. An example of this is written debate, often characterized as "jihad of the pen".
The Qur'an Today
The Qur'an effects all Muslims in a certain way because they have to follow all the rules and must be obedient to the holy Qur'an. This also effects us because every Muslim must read the book at least once in their life. The rules in the Qur'an effect everyone. Take for example, women; they have to wear a scarf in order to show everyone that they are Muslim. If you wish to go to heaven, then you must follow all the rules of the Qur'an.
Many non-Muslims who have never read the Qur'an believe that the Islamic faith promotes violence. People who have read and studied the Qur'an will know all about the religion of Islam and its treasures.
Many non-Muslims who have never read the Qur'an believe that the Islamic faith promotes violence. People who have read and studied the Qur'an will know all about the religion of Islam and its treasures.
Works Cited
Britanica. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Britanica. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/eb/article-9011583?query=The%20Quran&ct=null>.
Islam. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Britanica. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/comptons/article-228636?query=The%20Quran&ct=null>.
Islam city. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/ihame/Ref1.htm>.
Islam web english. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=articles&id=88535>.
"The Koran." Britanica. Britanica. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/elementary/article?articleId=353346&query=The%20Quran&ct=null>.
omline. Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/300_3208349>.
Online. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Britanica. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/eb/article-261901?query=The%20Quran&ct=null>.
"online." britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/151_2512576>.
"online." Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/115_3849247>.
"online." Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/115_2755937>.
online. Britannica Student. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/search?query=The+Quran&x=0&y=0>.
Online. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Britannica Student. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/eb/article-251799?query=The%20Quran&ct=null>.
Quran. Brianica. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/300_3196753>.
Qu'ran on a shelf. Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/>.
Tanzil. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://tanzil.net/pub/ebooks/History-of-Quran.pdf>.
Britanica. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Britanica. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/eb/article-9011583?query=The%20Quran&ct=null>.
Islam. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Britanica. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/comptons/article-228636?query=The%20Quran&ct=null>.
Islam city. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/ihame/Ref1.htm>.
Islam web english. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=articles&id=88535>.
"The Koran." Britanica. Britanica. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/elementary/article?articleId=353346&query=The%20Quran&ct=null>.
omline. Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/300_3208349>.
Online. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Britanica. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/eb/article-261901?query=The%20Quran&ct=null>.
"online." britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/151_2512576>.
"online." Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/115_3849247>.
"online." Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/115_2755937>.
online. Britannica Student. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/search?query=The+Quran&x=0&y=0>.
Online. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Britannica Student. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/all/eb/article-251799?query=The%20Quran&ct=null>.
Quran. Brianica. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/300_3196753>.
Qu'ran on a shelf. Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. <http://quest.eb.com/images/>.
Tanzil. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://tanzil.net/pub/ebooks/History-of-Quran.pdf>.