Introduction to the Quran

First Revelation at The cave of Hira 610 Taught privately for 2 years 10 years in Mecca 10 years in Medina Complete with Al-Yawm akmaltu Today I have completed Your religion.

Quran
introducing a verse from the Quran is GodMay He be exaltedhas said. Chapter: sra Verse: ya Conventions Quran: Compare Aramaic Qeryana Recitation Fawatih or mystical letters Text: Consonants only.

History
Abu Bakr asked Muhammads secretary to prepare a copy which was given to Abu Bakrs daughter and Muhammads widow, Aisha, (some say Hafsa) approximately 633. Uthmanic recensionc. 651 agreed by all, Shia as well as Sunnis.

Orthography
First Chapter of The Quran

History
One of the earliest MSS, From the 7th Cent. Next slide: Quranic Inscription from Dome of the Rock

History
Variants: Still remembered in 10th cent. And gathered by Ibn Abi Dawud. Shia claim Ali retained his own copy but accept Uthmanic recension. 10th century: development of a fully vocalized, standard text by Ibn Muqlah and Ibn Isa in 933. Multiple reading traditions (Arabic:qira'at). Today the Egyptian, South Asian and West African versions are probably most important; also a European edition.

Ijaz al-Quran The miracle of the Quran. Sanctity of Quran

For many Muslims, the production of the Quran was Muhammads only miracle. Sanctity: Qala Allah Taallah: al-Quran alKarim la yamisahu illa al-mutahharun. A Hadith Kudsi Only the purified an touch the Noble Quran Jewish sages found God in studying and discussing the Torah. Christians assert that there is no way to God the Father except through the Son; for Muslims, an important path to God and to understanding the revelation through Muhammad is by reciting the Quranthe eternal WORD of God.

Was the Quran Created?

Ghayr makhluq: One of the big controversies of the early days was whether the Quran was created by God, or the eternal Speech of God, uncreated just as God is uncreated. This was one of the major points of the Mu'tazilis and of an "inquisition" in the 9th century.

Length and chronology:

Words: 77,934 Verses: 6236 Letters: 323,621 1st chapter: al-Fatiha Otherwise organized by Length Asbab alnuzul Causes of revelation Meccan Suras: Earliest are rhythmic, brief and often introduced by oaths. Example: sura 95

Prophets, Madina Suras

Prophets mentioned include Ibrahim (70 times) Moses (in 34 chapters) Noah, Jonah, Joseph, Saul, David, Sulayman, Harun, others Adam (10 times). 24 Medinan Suras Legal and social legislation: longer and more prosaic al-Naskh wal-Tabdil Change and Alteration e.g. 2:106, 3:71. Wine; War; nonMuslims

Reading the Quran

Begin with: Audhu b-llah min alShaytan ar-rajim "I take refuge in God from accursed Satan" End with: Sadaqa Allah al-Azim. Amin "God most Great has spoken truth. Amen. No Lectionary

Interpretation:
Legal and ethical: through sunna and hadith. Tafsir. Tawil. Tabari d. 923 Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali d. 1111 Zamakhashari d. 1144 Al-Baydawi d. 1286 Ibn Kathir 774 AH Jalalayn (Started by Jalal al-Din Al-Mahalli d. 894 AH/1459CE, completed Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti d. 911 AH/ 1505CE) Moderns: Muhammad Abduh Sayyid Qutb Maulana Muhammad Ali (Ahmadi) http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/maududi/ Syed Maududis introductions