Summary
The Holy Quran is the sacred text of Islam. Muslims believe it to be the Word of God, which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (sa) over 1400 years ago. The Quran is unique compared to sacred texts of other religions as it addresses all mankind and has been preserved throughout time. The original Quranic text is in Arabic, but it has been translated into many languages over time. Along with the Hadith and sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (sa), the Quran is the main source of Islamic teachings and a spiritual guidebook for Muslims.
Table of contents:
What is the sacred text of Islam?
Islam’s sacred text is the Holy Quran, believed by Muslims to be the Word of God. The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (sa) over 1400 years ago (“The Quran,” 1994). The Quran contains teachings, guidance, and commandments for the spiritual, moral, and social evolution of people. The Quran is unique among all sacred texts as it addresses not just a specific group of people, but all of mankind for all of time.
Muslims believe the Quran is the last sacred text revealed by God. The Quran has also been preserved exactly as it was revealed. God Himself has promised to safeguard the Quran in verse 10 of Surah Al-Hijr, where He says: “Verily, We Ourself have sent down this Exhortation, and most surely We will be its Guardian.”
Definition of the term “Quran”
The Arabic word Quran means that which is often read or recited. In fact, the first word of the Quran to be revealed to Prophet Muhammad (sa) was iqra, which means to read, recite or convey. The word Quran itself contains a prophecy that it would be a much-recited book. Many portions of the Quran are recited in Arabic in the five daily prayers prescribed in Islam.
Muslims are encouraged to read the Quran regularly. The Promised Messiah and founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), has said that the Quran should be read carefully and attentively. Muslims can only gain blessings from the recitation of the Quran if they reflect on its teaching and put them into practice. The Promised Messiah (as) has further said: “It is good to read the Holy Quran in a fine and melodious manner” (Ahmad, 2024).
What are some other sacred texts of Islam?
One of the key principles of faith in Islam is the belief in the Books of God:
These are all considered sacred texts in Islam (Lajna Imaillah USA, 1996).
In fact, in verse 16 of Surah Ash-Shura, God says: “And be thou steadfast as thou art commanded, and follow not their evil inclinations, but say, ‘I believe in whatever Book Allah has sent down, and I am commanded to judge justly between you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us is the reward of our works, and for you the reward of your works. There is no quarrel between us and you. Allah will gather us together, and to Him is the return.’”
Here, God commands Prophet Muhammad (sa) to tell the followers of other Prophets that he believes in all revealed books.
Muslims believe that God’s laws and commandments were revealed over time through His prophets. All the previous holy books eventually culminated in the Quran, the most perfect book. Over time, the other holy books have become distorted or corrupted, while the Quran has been preserved in its original form. The previous sacred texts were also limited to a specific time and addressed a specific group of people. In contrast, the Quran was revealed for all mankind for all of time (Lajna Imaillah USA, 1996).
According to a Hadith: “Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) advised Muslims not to seek guidance from people who follow other religious books, like the Jews and Christians, as they, Muslims, have been bestowed with the Quran, which is the most recent and unchanged revelation from Allah. He further added that followers of other scriptures, at one point in time, altered their books and falsely claimed it was from Allah to suit their desires” (Ghumman, 2023). This Hadith demonstrates that the sacred texts of other religions were corrupted. It also declares the Quran to be the most perfect of all revealed books.
Why is the Quran considered sacred?
The Quran is considered sacred because Muslims believe it to be the Word of God. The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (sa) from God through the angel Gabriel.
The Quran contains teachings about Islamic law and serves as a spiritual guidebook for its readers. God has perfectly described the importance and greatness of the Quran in verse 3 of Surah Al-Baqarah: “This is a perfect Book; there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for the righteous.” Reciting the Quran, understanding its meanings and putting them into practice can bring about a spiritual evolution within the reader.
What language is the Quran (sacred text of Islam) written in?
The sacred text of Islam was originally revealed in Arabic to Prophet Muhammad (sa). God says in verse 3 of Surah Yusuf: “We have revealed it — the Quran in Arabic — that you may understand.” As the language of Prophet Muhammad (sa) was Arabic, the Quran was revealed to him in Arabic so it would be clear to him and his people. Since Arabic is a comprehensive and eloquent language, it has all the suitable words to express the meanings and ideas of the Quran precisely.
In fact, Prophet Muhammad (sa) was illiterate. Therefore the Quran was revealed to him verbally in Arabic by God through the angel Gabriel. The revealed verses of the Quran were memorized by Prophet Muhammad (sa) and his companions and scribes helped record the Quranic revelations for posterity (“The Quran,” 1994).
Arabic is considered the mother of all languages and is a language revealed by God, rather than a human invention (Ahmad,1979). Unlike the ancient languages used in other sacred texts, Arabic is still commonly spoken to this day. Not only is the Quran widely read in its original language, but through translation, the Quran has become accessible to even greater audiences around the world. This unique characteristic of the Quran highlights its relevance in modern day, even though it was revealed over 1400 years ago (Hayat, 2024).
What are the Surah and Ayah in the Quran (sacred text of Islam)?
The Quran is divided into 114 surah or Chapters, each with a unique name based on its subject matter. Each chapter contains ayah or verses and there are a total of 6,348 verses in the Quran. There are 86,430 words, and 323,760 letters in the Quran (Hadi, 2008).
The Quran is organized in 30 equal parts, but the chapters of the Quran vary in length. The longest chapter of the Quran is Surah Al-Baqarah and Surah Al-Kauthar is the shortest.
For more information on the structure of the Quran, see the article How Many Words are in the Quran?
Can the Quran (Sacred text of Islam) be translated?
When the Quran was revealed over 1400 years ago, it was memorized, recorded and shared in Arabic. The Quranic revelations were compiled during the time of the first Caliph, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), and copies of the text were made and distributed during the time of the third Caliph, Hazrat Usman (ra) (“The Quran,” 1994). The authentic Arabic version of the Quran remains unchanged and has been preserved by God to this day.
Over time, the Quran has been translated into many languages to help spread the message of Islam and its teachings. However, since Arabic is a complex language, translations may have errors in them and cannot capture the essence of the original Arabic text. Therefore, many commentaries of the Quran have also been written to provide additional context and explain the nuances in the Quran.
As of September 2017, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has translated the Quran into 76 languages, including Urdu, English, French, Dutch and Japanese to name a few (“Published Translation,” 2017).
What is the difference between the Quran (sacred text of Islam) and the Hadith?
The Quran is the Word of God as revealed to Prophet Muhammad (sa) over 1400 years ago. On the other hand, Hadith are the sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (sa), which were compiled from diverse narrators (“Authenticity of Hadith,” n.d.).
Unlike the Quran, which has been preserved throughout time, there are some sources of Hadith which are stronger and more reliable than others (“Authenticity of Hadith,” n.d.). Some authentic books of Hadith include Sahih Al Bukhari, Sahih Al Muslim, Sunan Abu Daud, Tirmidhi, Ibne Maja and Nisai (“What is the difference,” n.d.).
Aside from Quranic teachings and the Hadith, Muslims also rely on the sunnah or practice of Prophet Muhammad (sa) as a source of guidance and Islamic jurisprudence.
The importance of Hadith has been highlighted in verse 8 of Surah Al-Hashr in the Quran, where God says: “And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain from that. And fear Allah; surely, Allah is Severe in retribution.”
Prophet Muhammad (sa) has further emphasized the blessings associated with learning the Hadith: “Whoso, with a view to the welfare and reformation of my people, committed to memory at least forty of my Aḥadith, Allah, the Excellent, will raise him up on the Day of Resurrection as a jurist and religious Divine, and I will be his intercessor with Allah and a witness to his faith.”
Compare sacred text of Islam with other religions (Shared beliefs and different beliefs)
Unlike the Quran, which has been perfectly preserved throughout time, earlier sacred texts have been changed by humans from their original versions. Therefore, the Quran serves as the ultimate universal guidebook for all mankind.
Similar to the sacred texts of other religions, the Quran contains stories of past prophets and historical religious characters, such as Prophet Adam (as), Prophet Moses (as), Prophet Noah (as), Prophet Abraham (as), Prophet Jesus (as) and his mother Mary.
At their core, other major world religions like Judaism and Christianity, are based on the foundational belief of monotheism. However, over time, their books have become corrupted. For example, the current Bible promotes the concept of God as a father, the divinity of Christ and the Trinity (Khan, 1978). The Quran, on the other hand, makes it clear that God is One and has no partner and that Prophet Jesus (as) was one of His messengers.
The Quran was revealed as a perfect culmination of all other sacred texts. It contains the basic teachings of previous books, and affirms the truths contained in other sacred texts while simultaneously correcting the errors in them. The Quran is therefore complete and everlasting.
What does the Quran contain?
The Quran contains religious teachings, stories of past prophets and their people, descriptions of the natural and spiritual world, and prophecies about the future. The Quran also contains codes for good moral behaviour, guidance for people on their responsibilities within society, and teachings about self-reformation and personal growth.
The core teachings of the Quran are based in the belief that God is One. It also teaches that the purpose of human existence is to worship God. It outlines other aspects of Islamic law as well, such as prayers, fasting, pilgrimage and financial sacrifice. For more information on the contents and teachings of the Quran, see the article: What Does the Holy Quran Teach?
Some more facts about the Quran
The Quran fulfils prophecies mentioned in earlier books:
The Quran itself makes the claim that it is a revelation that has fulfilled previous prophecies contained in the Torah and the Gospels. For instance, the Quran was revealed word by word, and verse by verse in fulfillment of a prophecy in the Bible. This Biblical prophecy can only apply to the Quran and no other book as the Quran is the only sacred text that was revealed after the Bible:
“For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.” (The Holy Bible, Isaiah 28:11-13)
The linguistic style of the Quran is unique:
The Quran sets forth its claims and then goes a step further by providing evidence and arguments in support of its claims. It explains truths in various ways and repeats these truths to ensure the readers’ understanding. It further challenges its readers to refute its claims as well. No other sacred text even remotely uses this kind of linguistic style, except the sacred text of Islam. For example, the Quran claims it is a perfect book and challenges its readers to find any flaw in it. In verse 89 of Surah Bani Isra’il, God says: “If mankind and the Jinn gathered together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like thereof, even though they should help one another.”
Conclusion
The Holy Quran is the Word of God and the sacred text of Islam. It teaches the fundamentals of Islamic law and promotes spiritual, social and moral goodness within its readers. God Himself describes the Holy Quran as a perfect book, glorious, illuminating, wonderful, clear, eloquent and noble. It is a guidance for the righteous, as described in verse 10 of Surah Bani Isra’il: “Surely, this Quran guides to what is most right; and gives to the believers who do good deeds the glad tidings that they shall have a great reward.” Unlike the sacred texts of other religions, the Quran is complete, without errors and everlasting. Just as its name suggests, the Quran is recited regularly by Muslims, who also memorize it, read its translation and ponder over its commentary.
References
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Aḥmad, H. M. G. (2024). Malfuzat (Vol. 5) (A. M. Khan, Trans.). Islam International Publications Limited. (Originally published 1984)
Ali, Maulana Muhammad, editor. The Holy Qurʾān: Arabic Text, English Translation and Commentary. New ed., Redesigned, Retypeset, with Expanded index, Ahmadiyyah Anjuman Isha’at Islam Lahore, Inc. U.S.A, 2002.
American Bible Society. The Holy Bible: King James Version. American Bible Society, 2004.
Authenticity of Hadith. (n.d.). https://www.alislam.org/library/articles/Authenticity-of-Hadith.pptx
Ghumman, M. (2023, December 22). Abrogation of the Bible: An Islamic point of view. Al Hakam. https://www.alhakam.org/abrogation-of-the-bible-an-islamic-point-of-view/
Hadi, S. A. (2008). Allah & His Message. In Basics of Religious Education (pp. 35–36). Islam International Publications Limited.
Hayat, A. S. (2024, April 5). Unrivalled preservation and spiritual significance of the Holy Quran. Al Hakam. https://www.alhakam.org/unrivalled-preservation-and-spiritual-significance-of-the-holy-quran/
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Lajna Imaillah USA. (1996). Pathway to paradise. Womens’ Auxiliary, Ahmadiyya Movement In Islam, Inc. U. S. A. https://www.alislam.org/book/pathway-to-paradise/#online_text
Published Translations of the Holy Quran by Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. (2017, September 30). https://www.alislam.org/quran/translations.pdf
The Quran – history of text. (1994, February). The Review of Religions. https://www.alislam.org/articles/quran-history-of-text/
What is the difference between Ahmadi Muslims and other Muslims? (n.d.). Al Islam. Retrieved January 23, 2025, from https://www.alislam.org/question/difference-between-ahmadi-muslims-others/