20 Quran FAQ: A Guide to Common Questions About the Quran
Q1. What is the Quran?
The Quran is the final Revelation revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It serves as a complete guide covering every aspect of one’s life from prayer and worship to morality and justice, guiding us to live an morally upright and righteous life.
Q2. Who wrote the Quran?
The Quran was revealed through the Angel Gabriel and is the word of Allah. While the Prophet ﷺ recited, the companions memorized and recorded the verses in writing for preservation.
Q3. How was the Quran revealed and compiled?
The Quran was revealed gradually over a period of 23 years, addressing specific events and questions. It was memorized by many companions and transcribed on bone, leather, and parchment. After the Prophet’s ﷺ passed away, it was compiled under the Caliph Abu Bakr and later standardized under the third Caliph Uthman to ensure consistency and accuracy for all Muslims.
Q4. Why is the Quran only in Arabic?
The Quran was revealed in Classical Arabic, the same language of the Prophet ﷺ and those around him. The Quran itself explains that Allah sent messengers who spoke the language of their people so that the message was clear and fully understood. While accurate translations of the Quran are readily available, to fully appreciate its eloquence, uniqueness, and depth, reading it in Arabic would be most ideal.
Q5. What is the main message and themes of the Quran?
The Quran’s core message revolves around worshipping Allah alone and living a righteous and upright life in submission to His will. It emphasizes universal virtues such as morality, justice, compassion, accountability, and patience. The Quran addresses every aspect of one’s life and eloquently conveys the meaning through stories, rhetorical questions, imagery, and thoughtful reminders, inspiring reflection and action.
Q6. What is the difference between the Quran and Hadith?
The Quran is the speech of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The Hadith are the Prophet’s ﷺ sayings, actions, and approvals, inspired by Allah but expressed in his own words. Imagine the Quran as the primary instruction manual, and the Hadith as the practical application and explanation of that manual.
Q7. What’s the structure of the Quran?
The Quran is divided into 114 chapters (Surahs) and 6,236 verses (Ayahs), with each chapter having a unique name. Except for the opening chapter, Al-Fatiha, which Muslims recite in every prayer, the chapters are generally arranged from longest to shortest. Each chapter of the Quran, with the exception of one chapter, begins with the phrase: “In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful”.
Q8. Which Chapters (Surahs) of the Quran are best for beginners?
Many start off by focusing on shorter chapters of the Quran such as the opening chapter, Al-Fatiha, along with Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas (the last three chapters of the Quran). These are easy to memorize, rich in meaning and carry the core foundations of Islam.
Q9. Why should I read the Quran?
Reading the Quran will provide you with guidance and a direction in life. It will rekindle your faith, strengthen your connection with your Creator and will be your moral compass to guide you towards righteousness. Allah tells us in the Quran that happiness can only come from His remembrance.
Q10. Is the Quran only for Muslims?
The Quran addresses all of mankind and invites anyone to read and reflect on its message. It frequently uses universal phrases like “O mankind” to emphasize that its message and guidance is for all people. Many of who have reverted to Islam mention that the Quran spoke to them in unimaginable ways.
Q11. What makes the Quran so unique and special?
The Quran was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ who did not know how to read nor write yet it became a masterpiece of the Arabic language, remaining unmatched in its eloquence and and inimitable. The Quran has been preserved for over 1,400 years with millions having memorized it cover to cover. The Quran accurately describes past history, future events and natural signs, all of the knowledge the Prophet ﷺ could not accessed during his life.
Q12. How has the Quran been preserved?
The Quran has been preserved through both orally and writing since the time of the Prophet ﷺ. Allah in the Quran promised to protect it from any changes, and any place in the world you go to – the Quran is exactly the same, memorized cover to cover by millions. Muslims recite it daily in their prayers and dedicate time to reading, memorizing, and reflecting on its verses.
Q13. Is the Quran different from the Bible?
The Quran is the final Revelation from the Creator to Muhammad ﷺ and remains preserved in its entirety. It confirms the original Revelations given to the earlier Prophets and emphasizes the core message of monotheism. However, the Bible is a collection of writings by numerous known and unknown authors over centuries, undergoing countless alterations and interpretations which has obscured its core message as revealed to the Prophets.
Q14. How do Muslims show respect to the Quran?
Muslims show respect to the Quran by handling it with purity, utmost care and respect. They recite and reflect on its verses and strive to live their lives in accordance with its teachings.
Q15. Are there scientific references in the Quran?
The Quran mentions numerous scientific natural phenomena such as the big bang, expanding universe, embryonic development, etc. encouraging us to reflect and appreciate the signs and wonders of Allah.
Q16. What does the Quran say about prophets like Jesus and Moses?
The Quran honors the status Messengers like Jesus and Moses, affirming them as among the greatest Messengers sent by God.. It acknowledges their mission, message, miracles while affirming that they were sent to guide their people the truth about the worship of one God alone. In fact, Moses is mentioned by name 136 times, more than any other Prophet and an entire chapter is dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus, detailing Jesus’s miraculous birth and message. The Quran emphasizes that all the Prophet called to the same eternal truth and were simply there to show the people how to worship God.
Q17. How can I understand the Quran?
You can start by reading the translation of the Quran in your language, contemplating over its verses. There are exegesis of the Quran, Tafsir, which explain the verses in proper context and depth. Any questions you encounter along the way, give us a call anytime at: +1 (866) 475-2601 (ISLAM-01).
Q18. Do I need to perform ablution before reading the Quran?
You only need ablution when you touch the Quran Scripture which is in Arabic, but for reading or benefitting from a translation it is not needed.
Q19. What are the proper ways to handle and care for the Quran?
The Quran should be placed in a clean place and handled with utmost honor and respect as its the words of the Creator. It should never be disrespected, placed directly on the floor in any unclean area. Imagine if your loved one sent you a letter, how much respect and care would you give to it? As Muslims, we are to love the Creator more than we love ourselves, and this is why such reverence is given to it.
Q20. Where can I get a free Quran copy?
You can request a free Quran copy through our Free Quran Order Page, and we will gladly ship it to you anywhere in the USA at no cost along with a complimentary call explaining the basics of Islam.