The Qur’an

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What is the Qur’an?

Core Book

by James S. Coates

(Video recitation of Qur’anic Chapter: The Benificent)

Al-Qur’an – Literally translates to English as “The Recitation.” To start, it is a poetic work of art. If you listen to the recitation of its verses, you will quickly discover that.

It is comprised of “only the words of God” relayed through the angel Gabriel in a “first person conversation” to the Prophet Muhammad about situations happening “in his lifetime over 1,400 years ago.” The words of Muhammad are not in the Qur’an, only the words of God. Muhammad did not write the Qur’an, nor author it. He was unlettered. He relayed it from the Angel Gabriel, who is the angel in charge of relaying God’s many revelations to mankind throughout history (including the Torah of Moses and the Gospel of Jesus).

As Muhammad relayed it, it was written down by many hundreds of companions and memorised by many thousands more. An initial compilation was made under the first Caliph, Abu Bakr, shortly after the Prophet’s death. It was then standardised and distributed in its current form approximately 18 years after his death by the third Caliph, Uthman, with the work overseen by the Prophet’s personal secretary Zaid ibn Thabit. Original manuscripts from that era exist in museums today, allowing us to verify that the text has been preserved as authorised by the Prophet Muhammad.

Understanding the Qur’an: A Comparison

To understand what “only the words of God” means, consider this example from the Bible.

If you read Exodus 3:11-12, it says:

“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ And God said, ‘I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.'”

The words of the narrator and of Moses do not count as the words of God. The only words of God here are: “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” So, you must learn context to understand the real meaning of this verse, or it may be misunderstood.

The Qur’an Is Not a “User’s Manual”

Likewise with the Qur’an. Historical context isn’t a suggestion—it is imperative to learn in order to understand its verses, and that context is not always evident in the text because there is no third-party narration. The Qur’an is not written in the third person as a set of stories like the Bible. It is not a “user’s manual” for Muslims like you would get with your new TV set. It is not an instruction book for every aspect of our lives.

It is a guide that we interpret meaning from in order to find a way to live righteous lives, using the example of the historical situations that the Prophet dealt with over 1,400 years ago. It is subject to a variety of interpretations, like any other ancient text, because it is an ancient text.

The Qur’an’s Authority

The Qur’an is our primary authoritative source of understanding Islam and extrapolating information that defines:

  • The Five Pillars of our faith (actions of a Muslim)
  • The Six Basic Beliefs (beliefs of a Muslim)
  • Ihsan (characteristics of a Muslim; working towards perfection)

Article by BrJimC © 2016, revised 2026